AFL CAIRNS LAUNCHES LANDMARK CLUB DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
Five new full-time positions will ensure all seven AFL Cairns clubs have dedicated football resources in a model believed to be a national first
AFL Cairns has announced a landmark two-year club development initiative that will introduce five new full-time Club Development Officer positions across the competition.
South Cairns and Centrals Trinity Beach already employ dedicated full-time football staff. The new initiative will provide a full-time Club Development Officer at each of the other five member clubs, all of which deliver senior, junior and women’s football programs.
For the first time, all seven AFL Cairns clubs will have dedicated full-time football resources supporting their players, volunteers and programs. AFL Cairns believes this will be a national first for a regional community football competition and an important benchmark for how community clubs can be supported into the future.
This initiative builds on the significant annual sponsorship and ongoing support provided by the Cazalys Group to AFL Cairns football. That partnership underpins the delivery of football across the region and gives AFL Cairns the capacity to continue reinvesting in its clubs, volunteers, participants and pathways.
AFL Cairns General Manager Craig Lees said the initiative represented a significant investment in the people responsible for delivering community football.
“This will fundamentally change the level of support available to our clubs and volunteers,” Mr Lees said.
“Our volunteers do an incredible job, but the demands involved in running junior, women’s and senior football programs continue to grow. These positions are about backing those volunteers with dedicated people who can provide practical football operations and development support every day.
“South Cairns and Centrals Trinity Beach deserve enormous credit for their leadership and commitment to the bigger picture. Their investment in full-time football staff has helped create the opportunity to build a complete development structure across our competition.
“For the first time, every one of our seven clubs will have a dedicated full-time football resource. We believe that is a national first for a regional community competition and something that can become a benchmark for community football across Australia.”
The Club Development Officers will work alongside club committees, coaches and volunteers to support:
- Football operations and the planning and delivery of club programs
- Junior development and pathways into senior football
- Women’s and girls’ participation and program growth
- Coach development and football support
- Volunteer engagement, retention and capability building
- Club governance, planning and long-term sustainability
The new positions will complement AFL Cairns’ existing Operational staff, Game Development staff, Women and Girls Lead and Umpire Manager, creating a stronger football system for players, coaches, volunteers and umpires.
Having dedicated resources within the seven member clubs will also give AFL Cairns’ Game Development team greater capacity to work directly with junior football and grow its competitions.
This will provide more targeted support to Gordonvale and an additional layer of support to Cairns Eagles, complementing the important work already being delivered by the AFL Cape York Foundation.
AFL Cairns’ dedicated Umpire Manager will continue to lead umpire recruitment, development and retention, ensuring competition growth is supported by a strong and sustainable umpiring pathway.
AFL Cairns Board Chair David Williams said the initiative demonstrated the organisation’s values and long-term commitment to its clubs.
“This is what community, professionalism, integrity and vision look like in action,” Mr Williams said.
“We are investing in people because strong clubs require supported volunteers, capable committees, quality football programs and clear pathways for participants.
“This initiative will help build stronger and more sustainable clubs while creating better opportunities for players, coaches, volunteers and umpires across the entire competition.”
The initiative directly supports the AFL Cairns 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and its ambition to lead regional community football in Australia.
Recruitment for the five new Club Development Officer positions will commence in the coming weeks.
ENDS
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