Football Australia and Northern NSW Football acknowledge Swansea Football Club as the Club Changer, Club of the Month for being true ambassadors of women's football and leading the progression in attaining 50/50 gender parity at their club, in roles of both players and club leaders.
Swansea FC attained their Club Changer 1 Star status in April 2023. The club reached this achievement by creating an action plan with a key focus on developing a Female Football Strategy that identified ways to increase women and girls' participation through running event days, participation programs, access to female cut uniforms, and developing female leadership at the club.
With almost 700 members, and 44.4% female, Swansea FC continue their emphasis on reaching 50/50 representation at the club, including a strong female presence in the committee, with the club president and secretary both taking part in recent legacy-funded Leadership Programs to continue development.
"The girls can grow up through soccer in this beautiful atmosphere, where they're all welcome. They've got girls teams, boys teams, mixed teams, whatever they want to join it's there for them." - Corinne Smith, Under 6's Coach & Senior Player
Offering opportunities for all ages and utilising experienced coaches at the club to provide clinics and extra training opportunities to members, Swansea FC prides itself on being able to develop high-performing players in a welcoming environment.
"The club are great ambassadors for football especially female participation." - Phillip Andrews, NNSWF Project Manager - Club Development
Brooklyn, Bella and Maddy are all players who also volunteer and referee at Swansea FC and highlighted that their favourite part about their club was "the community", "being able to connect so well to everyone" and "the spirit of the club".
As well as delivering numerous MiniRoos Kick Off and Kick On for Women programs, Swansea FC have also taken part in the over 30 Ladies competition, and hosted their first All Age Women's 7-aside competition in March of this year. Naomi Turnbull, the club's Senior Vice President, emphasized the club's focus of 'being inclusive' and having 'access for all' as a key to the success of Swansea FC.
"I look at my daughter who is nearly eleven and her world around women's football is completely different to how ours did back then, this club is ahead of the game on that" - Kate Terrey, Under 7's Coach & Senior Player
Club President, Billie Price, recognised the value Club Changer has had in allowing Swansea FC to access resources provided and support their "ever-growing club".
"Don't be afraid to just give (Club Changer) a go. Sometimes people are scared it's going to be too much or too complicated; sometimes it is just about the small things… it's just about what little changes you can make." - Natasha Johnston, Club Secretary
