‘Trailblazers’

2024 saw Trailblazers announced as a Stan Original documentary. It was released on Stan on June 4, in the lead up to the Paris Olympics.

The vision for the impact campaign for the film was to build momentum to further progress gender equality and leadership, and to increase investment and opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport at all levels. The impact campaign came to fruition in 2024, driven by Documentary Australia with the support of our major partner MECCA M-POWER. By partnering with organisations such as the PFA, Women Onside, Women Sport Australia, Correct the Internet and Inspiro, Trailblazers connected audiences with tangible actions to make progress on gender equality in sport and beyond.

On June 24, Trailblazers education resources were released on Cool.org. The 15 free lesson plans for students in grades 5 to 10 tackle themes of gender equality, media bias, and representation.

Supported by a grant via the June Canavan Foundation, Trailblazers launched a community screening program which saw the film reach clubrooms, boardrooms and classrooms across the country, driving conversation and action to make progress on gender equality in sport and beyond. Over 40 organisations have registered for community screenings, with 15 screenings already completed.

Some highlights of the screening program so far include:

– A screening for staff at Sport Integrity Australia, featuring a discussion between former Matilda, lawyer and Churchill Scholarship Recipient, Tal Karp and SIA’s o Empowering Women and Girls in Sport Integrity Program Manager Delfina Shakespear.

– A screening at the Perth International Football Cup hosted by Women Onside, Gaining Ground, The Female Football Project and Women in Sport WA to celebrate 50 years since the establishment of the Australian Women’s Soccer Association

– A screening at Mcdonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, hosted by Matildas Alumni. The event featured a panel MCed by NBN News sports journalist Mitchell Hughes in discussion with Matildas alumni Cheryl Salisbury, Trae McGovern, Renaye Iserief, Shelley Youman, Joey Peters, Jo Powell and Dr Karen Menzies. Peri Roberts (World Champion Kite Surfer) was also a guest speaker.

– A screening at law firm Gilbert + Tobin, hosted by Matildas Alumni/Gilbert + Tobin partner Moya Dodd and the Gilbert + Tobin Media and Entertainment team on the eve of the Olympics. The screening featured a lively panel discussion on the topic of support and investment. The panel was moderated by Moya Dodd (former Vice Captain & partner at Gilbert + Tobin), featuring: Maggie Miles (Trailblazers Co-Director), Kate Gill (Executive Producer & Co-chief executive, PFA), Luke Haynes (Strategy Director at M&C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment) a consultant on the Matildas sponsorship deal with Commbank.

– Screenings in grassroots football clubs across the country including screenings in Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT.

View more information here

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On June 4, Trailblazers premiered on Stan as a Stan Original Documentary. The film, which charts the rise of the Australian Women’s Football Team and their fight for equality, is now available to stream.

31st August:
Trailblazers impact partner, Women Onside, who support women’s leadership in football, held a screening of Trailblazers at the State Library during the Perth International Football Cup. The event was a collaboration with The Female Football Project, Gaining Ground and Women In Sport WA and featured an exciting panel discussion on fostering inclusion and belonging in sport. Attendees included several Matildas alumni and Hon. Samantha Helen Rowe MLC, representing the WA Minister for Sport, David Templeman.

22nd August:
Balga Soccer Club in Perth hosted a screening of Trailblazers for members of all genders and ages, to highlight the power of women’s leadership.

20th August:
Launceston Football Club hosted a pizza night and screening of Trailblazers for junior and senior female players as part of efforts to strengthen the connection of female players with the wider club.

““A lot of our players are in their teenage years where it is extremely easy to disengage these days. By hosting these evenings we hope to keep the girls together and create a sense of community and belonging for them within the club.” – Jalyssa O’Byrne (U14/U16 Team Manager)

On June 24, Trailblazers education resources were released on Cool.org for students in grades 5 to 10, with the support of major impact partner MECCA M-POWER. The lessons include vignettes, factsheets, presentation decks and student worksheets that tackle themes of gender equality, media bias and representation.

Download the free lesson plans: https://cool.org/trailblazers-film-education-resources

26th July:
To celebrate the Olympics, St Charles Primary School in Waverley screened Trailblazers for approximately 80 students from Years 5 & 6. The response from students was overwhelmingly positive, with some saying that “Trailblazers inspired me to start playing football” and “It inspired us to stand up for what we believe in.”

Survey responses showed that 82% of students were interested in speaking up for gender equality after watching the film.

On the eve of the Olympics, law firm Gilbert + Tobin hosted a screening of Trailblazers for clients, staff, individuals from football/sports and Matildas alumni with a focus on driving the case for investment in women’s sport.

The audience listened to a lively panel on the topic of support and investment. The panel was moderated by Moya Dodd (former Vice Captain & partner at Gilbert + Tobin), featuring:
– Maggie Miles (Trailblazers Co-Director)
– Kate Gill (Executive Producer & Co-chief executive, PFA)
– Luke Haynes (Strategy Director at M&C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment) a consultant on the Matildas sponsorship deal with Commbank.

Trailblazers received major production and impact funding from MECCA M-POWER. MECCA were the first to support this project an have been incredible allies. In combination with other generous donations via Documentary Australia Trailblazers project and impact campaign phase 1 are now fully resourced.