Fitzroy Tigers Futsal Club has become the first futsal club in Victoria to achieve 1-Star Club Changer accreditation – a landmark achievement for the sport and a testament to the club’s ongoing commitment to growth and inclusion.
The club has shown strong leadership through its well-developed women and girls program and have launched a dedicated women’s training initiative to actively grow both junior and senior women's teams.
Club President Jimmy Soufis described the milestone as a “significant moment” in the club’s journey.
“This is a big moment for our club and our members as we continue to strengthen our programs and processes,” said Soufis.
“We hope this is just the beginning – and that more clubs will follow our lead, achieve their 1-Star accreditation, and invest in the future of the game.”
Established in 2006, Fitzroy Tigers are now nearing their 20th season, and with it, a renewed focus on creating inclusive participation opportunities. While the long-term vision is to reach 50/50 gender participation, the club has set its sights on building a strong base by establishing more junior girls teams in the short term.
This year, the club expanded its Junior Girls Program, facilitated regular Senior Women’s training sessions, and actively promoted the women’s space via social media. With venues often a barrier to growth in futsal, the club credits support from local partners – including Brunswick Secondary College, which now hosts regular Senior Women’s sessions.
Soufis encouraged other futsal clubs to begin their Club Changer journey.
“Get in touch with the Growth and Development team at Football Victoria. They’ll help set your club up with the foundations needed to grow sustainably and inclusively.”
Fitzroy Tigers’ accreditation highlights what’s possible when clubs commit to inclusive development across all levels of the game – and stands as an inspiring example for futsal clubs across Victoria.