Following a Special General Meeting (SGM) held on Saturday, 20 June, voting Members of Touch Football Australia (TFA) have unanimously approved two amendments to the organisation’s Constitution.
The amendments are a result of the Constitution’s first substantial review in more than a decade, informed by extensive stakeholder consultation, guidance from external experts, and an independent governance review. Voting Member representatives from each state passed both motions unanimously in consideration of the sport’s future, as they strengthen TFA’s governance framework and support the delivery of The Next Play.
TFA Chair, Christian Frost, said:
“TFA has taken great strides to improve its governance framework, and these amendments provide an important foundation laid by our membership as we move forward together in delivering our strategic plan.
“The unanimous support from our Members shows that we are going in the right direction together, and I’d like to thank the entire Touch Football community for their contributions to date.”
The approved amendments to the Constitution will take effect immediately. The two amendments to the Constitution include:
- Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Recognition Criteria
To maintain its recognition as a national sporting organisation, TFA is required to implement four constitutional amendments to align with the ASC’s governance criteria. These criteria apply to all recognised national sporting organisations. These changes have a focus on independence and diversity in our Board, ensuring that we meet contemporary governance standards:
i) TFA’s Board composition to have 4 elected and 3 appointed (57% elected) Directors, meeting the ASC’s requirement that at least 40% are independently appointed. A gender diversity rule has also been introduced where no gender will exceed 60% of the Board’s composition,
ii) The establishment of a Nominations Committee with an independent chair (who is not a current TFA Director),
iii) The establishment of a constitutionally mandated Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee with at least one external, independent CPA or Chartered Accountant, and
iv) All 7 Directors are eligible to vote and stand as Chair, provided they are NRL-independent. Previously, only Elected Directors were eligible to vote or serve as Chair.
- Modernising our Constitution for The Next Play
TFA’s 2026-32 strategic plan, The Next Play, was launched to strengthen the sport’s foundations for future growth, and several amendments were approved to ensure the Constitution reflects the evolving needs of our community. Key changes include:
- The introduction of a single National Advisory Body to replace the existing six State and Territory Advisory Committees (STACs) to allow for a stronger and more unified Member voice,
- A requirement for Affiliates to formally mandate their Delegate before each General Meeting to strengthen accountability,
- A clear and documented framework for voting entitlements informed by participation and membership data,
- Formal recognition of hybrid and virtual General Meetings, alongside modernised terminology throughout the Constitution,
- Removal of outdated and legally ineffective provisions, including updates relating to Director Vacation of Office, and
- Updated terminology from ‘State Councils’ to ‘STACs’, refreshing TFA’s purpose and strategy moving forward.
TFA thanks its Members and stakeholders for their engagement throughout the review process. TFA will now work through the implementation of the approved amendments as it continues to deliver on its strategic priorities outlined in The Next Play.
