Celebrating our Women & Girls Chartered Clubs: Leading the way in gender equity 

The VAFA is proud to celebrate the incredible progress of our clubs in advancing gender equity through the Women & Girls Charter initiative. Since introduction of the Charter last year, 16 VAFA clubs have become officially Chartered; a significant milestone in creating more inclusive and sustainable environments for women and girls in community football. 

Among these leaders are Old Haileybury and Collegians football clubs, who have not only completed the Charter but gone a step further by undertaking AFL’s comprehensive Gender Equity Education Program. Their commitment to inclusion and long-term sustainability sets an inspiring example for others across the competition. 

Why become a Women & Girls Chartered Club? The benefits are clear: 

• Stronger recruitment and retention of women and girls in football programs 

• Greater long-term sustainability for W&G teams 

• Priority access to AFL funding and grant opportunities 

• Enhanced support for council funding applications through a formal Charter document 

• Increased backing for facility development, aligning with council Fair Access Policies 

To help more clubs complete their Charter journey, the VAFA in partnership with AFL Victoria is hosting two upcoming face-to-face workshops. These sessions will guide clubs through the final steps and support their growth in the women and girls’ space. 

We congratulate all Chartered clubs for their leadership and look forward to seeing many more follow in their footsteps. Let’s continue building a stronger, more inclusive future for all in VAFA football.