Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with Team Up, the Australian Government’s sport-for-development programme funded through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
As the primary sponsor of OFC’s flagship Football for Good programme, Just Play, this renewed partnership marks another significant step toward transforming lives across the Pacific through the power of football. The collaborative work of OFC and Team UP aims to deliver inclusive, safe, and accessible football programs for girls, boys, and people with a disability.
The partnership between OFC and Team Up has been instrumental in shaping communities and empowering children through sport. Lavenia Yalovi, OFC’s Regional Just Play Manager, highlighted the importance of this continued collaboration:
“The Team Up partnership is not only valuable, it is helping us reach more schools and communities, improving children’s and people’s lives through football,” Yalovi said.
“The continuous partnership from DFAT through Team Up has enabled football to reach more than 500,000 children over the years. It is also helping football attract and retain women, girls, and people with disabilities, as well as men and boys.”
The renewed partnership will support the delivery of the Just Play programme in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
Thanks to the ongoing support of Team Up, OFC has recently introduced two new Just Play curriculums designed to address the region’s unique social and environmental challenges. One key initiative equips children and communities with the knowledge and practical skills needed to prepare for and respond effectively to natural disasters.
Member Associations have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, with inspiring stories of resilience emerging as participants apply what they’ve learned to protect themselves and their communities.
Another curriculum which has gained momentum focuses on gender equality and breaking down barriers that limit girls’ participation in football. It is empowering girls and young women to participate confidently in football while fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and diversity. By challenging traditional stereotypes and encouraging collaboration, this curriculum is helping to shape a more balanced and inclusive culture across Oceania.
Yalovi notes that the impacts are already being seen:
“We are receiving a lot of positive feedback and stories from our member associations, and we cannot wait to share these changes and impacts more in the coming months.”
One of the most profound outcomes of the Just Play programme has been its ability to create pathways from grassroots football to national representation.
“We are now seeing participants who started their football journey through the Just Play programme representing their countries at national and international levels,” Yalovi said.
“Just Play truly contributes to making dreams come true.”
The extension of the OFC and Team Up partnership reflects a renewed commitment to shaping a brighter future for Pacific communities. Together, the organisations will continue to expand Just Play’s reach, giving even more children access to its unique blend of sport, education, and life skills, while harnessing the unifying power of football to build a healthier, more inclusive, resilient, and flourishing Oceania.