UNSW FC helps foster young female athletes’ resilience

By participating in the Empower Her program, UNSW Football Club continues to champion broader wellbeing for women in sport.

Published on the 08 July 2026

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The UNSW Football Club (FC) has participated in the Empower Her program, Football NSW’s body-image and wellbeing initiative for teenage female athletes. Supported by the NSW Office of Sport, the program is designed for young female athletes competing in NSW high-performance Under 14 and Under 15 teams.

UNSW FC’s participation in the program recognises the club’s longstanding contribution to football development in NSW as well as its world-class facilities and player development environment.

The Empower Her program delivered an interactive session at UNSW FC’s Kensington facilities promoting positive body image, self-confidence, wellbeing and goalsetting. It provided players with practical tools they could use on and off the pitch.

"Football is Australia’s highest participation sport, particularly among young people. It has a unique capacity to foster inclusion, confidence, wellbeing and connection"

Associate Professor Nicholas Apoifis
UNSW FC President

“These principles are central to both the club and the University, and underpin the way we approach sport, development and participation.”

Feedback from participating UNSW FC players was overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating high levels of engagement and impact.

Promoting young women’s participation

Empower Her was developed by Football NSW’s Women and Girls Department in partnership with The Evolve Academy as part of the NSW Office of Sport’s Play Her Way strategy, promoting young women’s participation in sport with confidence, positive body image and freedom from judgement. A

A/Prof. Apoifis researches sport as a site for social change, leadership and community development within UNSW’s School of Social Sciences. He says the Empower Her initiative highlights the value of partnerships between universities, sporting organisations and government in supporting women and girls in sport,

"Programs like Empower Her strengthen pathways and set positive examples for women’s football and the football community more broadly."

UNSW FC’s participation in the program builds on its ongoing investment in and demonstration of best practice in coaching, athlete wellbeing, community engagement and football development.

A key strength of the initiative was the delivery of practical resources for coaches and athletes focused on wellbeing, confidence, empowerment and balanced development, A/Prof. Apoifis says.

The program provided targeted mental health resources and support services for teenage athletes, ensuring that conversations around wellbeing continue beyond the workshops.

“The resources delivered through the program provide lasting tools that can continue to shape coaching practice and athlete support across the club,” A/Prof. Apoifis says.

Digital content produced through the program showcased UNSW’s sporting facilities and campus environment, highlighting the University’s leadership in sport, wellbeing and community engagement. The content has generated more than 7000 views across platforms through promotion by UNSW Sport and Football NSW.

“UNSW FC is proud to have supported the delivery of such an important initiative and help advance equity, engagement and community leadership,” A/Prof. Apoifis says.

"The club’s participation in the Empower Her program represents an outstanding opportunity to showcase football at UNSW and to highlight the important role the sport plays within the broader community."