FOOTBALL Federation Victoria (FFV) this week released the 2016 Women in Football Network (WiFN) Pre-season Report, which details its progress on recommendations made in the FFV WiFN 21st Century Town Hall Meeting Participant Report.

The FFV WiFN 21st Century Town Hall Meeting was held at the MCG in November 2015 to address the gender imbalance in leadership positions in football in Victoria. The outcomes of discussions were collated in a Participant Report distributed to all attendees on the day, and FFV committed to monitor and report progress with a gender equality scorecard.

The FFV WiFN 2016 Pre-season Report gives a snapshot of FFV’s progress against the recommendations made at the FFV WiFN 21st Century Town Hall Meeting, and an insight into what is planned for the rest of the 2016 season.

The actions taken by FFV, detailed in the report, are in line with a number of key recommendations made by the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation.

Click Here to view the 2016 FFV WiFN Pre-Season Report

Highlights of what has been achieved so far since the FFV WiFN 21st Century Town Hall Meeting include:

• 50% female representation the FFV board with the election of Antonella Carè in March this year.
• Launching the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Victoria Women’s (NPLW).This completes the Talented Player Pathway, linking grassroots juniors to the Westfield Matildas via community clubs, PS4 NPLW then the Westfield W-League. PS4 NPW consists of eight clubs, and more than 550 players, creating the strongest, most competitive women’s and girls’ competition in Victoria, both on and off the pitch.
• Launching the inaugural Female Football Week, seven days devoted to promoting and celebrating women and girls in football. More than 250 women involved in all aspects of football from referees, to coaches, to administrators and developing leaders took part in 2016 for what will now be an annual event.

FFV has also launched a new FFV WiFN website.
  
The new FFV WiFN website showcases women and girls in football, serving as an information hub for all who want to be involved in the game.

The new FFV WiFN website will increase the visibility of female role models, and promote a transparent pathway for advancement of players, coaches, referees and administrators.

A WiFN Post-season Report will be released in October.