Nominations open for AFLW Community Ambassador Program

By SANFL Media

The 2024 AFLW Community Ambassador Program has been launched, with the AFL and SANFL calling for nominations of individuals who have been pivotal in the development and progression of women and girls’ football in their communities.

In its fifth season, the program calls on the football community from around the country to nominate someone from their club who has made a change and played a significant role in the growth and success of women and girls footy.

Nominations will be open until June 16 with seven people to be recognised – one each from South Australia, New South Wales/ACT, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

It could be a volunteer, coach, administrator, player, umpire – anyone making a difference or having an impact.

Winners will be announced in August, around the start of the 2024 NAB AFLW season.

Each AFLW Community Ambassador receives a $1,000 grant from the Women’s Football Fund to donate to their club, as well as a money can’t buy 2024 NAB AFLW Grand Final experience.

Participants selected for the 2023 program included Lockleys Football Club’s Kathryn Lee for her outstanding contribution to the club’s growth of female junior football.

Kathryn established a distinct female pathway within Lockleys Football Club in her first season as Junior Football Director. This saw the girls teams at Lockleys go from one team in 2021 to three teams in 2022. To ensure sustainability within the girl’s football pathway, Kathryn implemented a girls academy with Marijana Rajcic which links to the Lockleys Football Club Women’s Team.

Kathryn was also a part of the group who implemented the Demons Academy Pathway which aims to improve U16 and U17.5 boys and girls physical capabilities, as well as teaching them adaptable tools which they can use to perform better in their relationships, study and overall wellbeing.

Kathryn worked closely with the Club’s Senior Director of Football to advocate for a regulation change that women and girls aren’t required to wear white shorts at games. Further, all Club changerooms are now stocked with female products to ensure menstruation surprises don’t stop our girls from playing football.

If you know someone who has impacted women and girl’s footy in your community, nominate them via the link below.