WFNL PAIR PAVING THE WAY IN WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

Earlier this year AFL Victoria celebrated the successful delivery of the inaugural Lead Your Way program, aimed at supporting women and gender diverse people who hold current leadership positions as a volunteer at a community football club.

An AFL Women & Girls Game Development Action Plan initiative, it featured a variety of tailored sessions with the purpose to strengthen leadership capabilities, build confidence, and develop a strong support system while providing opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

The Lead Your Way program welcomed 54 participants from across the state including two leaders from the Western Football Netball League – Yarraville Seddon president Angela Ballard and Werribee Centrals president Kate Eichler.

The WFNL’s two representatives took part in the program having filled several different roles at their respective clubs.

Angela Ballard has been the treasurer at Yarraville Seddon since October 2019 and at the end of 2023 put her hand up to be club president while also remaining as treasurer.

Kate started volunteering as the coordinator at Werribee Centrals Auskick and then joined the club’s executive committee as a co-vice president before being appointed president for 2023 and 2024.

“I applied for the Lead Your Way program as I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to learn from other women and gender diverse people about how to continue to grow as a leader within a sporting environment,” Kate said.

“Attracting and retaining volunteers can be challenging, especially with the busy lives people have. There can be barriers for women to step into what has previously been a male dominated space, but I hope that as more women are provided with leadership opportunities and embraced by their football communities, those barriers will reduce significantly.

“This program is a must for community football club volunteers looking to take the next step in their leadership development.”

This year’s Lead Your Way program involved three in-person sessions and was supported by two national online workshops in partnership with BHP.

Participants were provided with information, resources and support to take back to their clubs to improve the environments and experiences of players, coaches, and volunteers.

Commenting on her time as a volunteer Angela added, “I’ve learnt a lot about the highs and lows of how committees work and about member expectations. It’s a great feeling when things go well but there can be quite a few down sides.

“I feel that people can be wary about volunteering thinking that all roles require considerable effort but that’s not the case. There’s more than likely something that everyone could do if they reach out. Even a one-off help with something is valuable and appreciated.

“At Yarraville Seddon we have a growing number of volunteers, and many are women. Our women’s football and netball programmes have grown this year, and this has brought fresh enthusiasm and helpers which is most welcome.”

With the success of Lead Your Way in 2024 the participant network is set to grow in the future with a supportive group for women and gender-diverse leaders.

Applications for the 2025 Lead Your Way program are now open and will close on Monday 17th January.

If there is someone at your club you think should be involved in this exceptional opportunity make sure to let them know and encourage them to apply.

You can find out all you need to know about the program HERE.