From their performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup to their journey ahead of the Paris Olympics, the Matildas have captivated the nation while kicking serious goals when it comes to conversations around the representation of women in football, and sport, more generally.
As the countdown continues to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Stan has released a new documentary called Trailblazers. The doco delves deep into the rise of women’s football in Australia, and the Matildas’ journey to fight for equality and success.
With the likes of inaugural captain Julie Dolan, Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and more, viewers gain an insight into the ins and outs of the game, plus the perspectives of key personalities who have helped drive some of the biggest conversations in recent times around women’s participation and viewership in sport. But of course, the discourse doesn’t end there, and Documentary Australia wants to make sure of this with its social impact campaign around the doco’s launch.
Aiming to inspire viewers to “Blaze a Trail” for gender equality in sports and beyond, the campaign focuses on promoting leadership, increasing investment, and enhancing infrastructure and opportunities for women and girls at all levels of sport.
Katrina Gorry and daughter Harper in Trailblazers. Photo: Maggie Eudes via Stan
“This campaign for Trailblazers has enormous potential to bring about change for women and girls in sports and society more broadly,” said Documentary Australia’s Impact Director, Lisa Kanani in an official press statement. “It will invite audiences to blaze a trail for gender equality in sport by taking action.
“The rise of women’s football mirrors the progress of gender equality across society. However, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality, both in sport and broader society. At a community level, girls are participating in sports at significantly lower levels than boys. At the elite level, women receive unequal support, pay and media coverage. Women are also underrepresented in leadership positions at all levels of sport.”
With all of this in mind, the campaign has five key goals it strives to achieve:
Celebrate and acknowledge the legacy of the Australian women’s football team and grow the women’s football movement in Australia
Educate and drive action for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in sports
Support increased representation of women in sports leadership and decision-making
Support partners and campaigns working for equal investment, conditions, and opportunities
Encourage viewing, engagement, and participation in women’s sport and increase the visibility and representation of women’s sport in the media.
The campaign created by Documentary Australia is supported by major partner MECCA M-POWER, and will be implemented in collaboration with partners such as Professional Footballers Australia, Correct the Internet, Inspiro Health, Women Onside, and Women Sport Australia.
Trailblazers is now streaming on Stan. After seeing the film audiences can #BlazeATrail for gender equality at the film’s website.