Following a robust consultation process, Touch Football Australia (TFA) has today announced three appointments into its national referee coaching portfolio, alongside a restructure to TFA's staff resources to uplift support of officiating at all levels of the game.
National Coaching Appointments
Ian Matthew – High Performance Officiating Head Coach
A highly respected leader within the referee community, Ian brings almost four decades of service to Touch Football, having made a significant contribution to the development of officials at state, national, and international level. He is a Life Member with TFA, NSW Touch Football (NSWTF), and the Federation of International Touch.
Ian has been appointed as the High Performance Officiating Head Coach until the conclusion of 2028, including the 2028 Touch World Cup. In the role, he will support the continued growth and development of the nation's high performance referees, as he transitions from his long-standing position as NSWTF's Director of Referees.
Ian’s appointment followed a two-stage interview process led by TFA's James Sharp, Luke Saldern, and Rory O'Reilly, with support from Stephen Pike, Rick Borg, and Tim Pearson.
The involvement of Stephen and Rick, as TFA Hall of Famers, reflects the depth of experience and expertise that informed the recruitment process for all three appointments.
Throughout his career, Ian has been a passionate advocate for referee development and a respected leader within the National Referee Squad and broader officiating community. His appointment reflects his commitment to high performance excellence, genuine alignment with TFA’s values and culture, and focus on developing the next generation of officiating leaders through strong succession planning and enhanced pathway opportunities.
Ken Golden OAM – Head Coach, Upgrade and Development
Ken is a Life Member of TFA with more than thirty years of distinguished service to Touch Football and is widely recognised for his significant contribution to the development of referees, coaches, and officials across Australia.
Ken showcased strong alignment with TFA’s strategic plan, The Next Play, with tangible delivery already underway against the Grow Touch pillar. This includes his role in referee alignment with School Sport Australia, achieving 100% junior referee coverage at last year's event and formalising a national junior pathway, with confirmed growth across South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Victoria.
Ken was appointed following a two-stage interview process led by TFA's James Sharp, Luke Saldern, and Rory O'Reilly, with support from Stephen Pike, Rick Borg, and Amanda Sheeky.
Ken’s extensive experience, strong relationships across the Touch Football community, and commitment to creating opportunities for officials to progress make him a highly valued leader within the sport. Building sustainable pathways and supporting future officiating development will be key focuses of his role, with Ken continuing to leverage his connections across Alliance states and TFA’s relationship with the Australian Sports Commission, including supporting the development of educational resources that feature Touch Football.
His commitment to growing opportunities within officiating has also been demonstrated through his support of emerging referee coaches, including creating opportunities for female referee coaches to gain experience and exposure through involvement in Alliance state programs.
Caren Friend – Head Coach, Masters and Appointments
Caren brings extensive experience in referee development, leadership, and pathways, with a strong track record of supporting officials and creating opportunities for individuals to progress within Touch Football. Her appointment represents an important milestone, becoming the first female appointed to a Head Coach officiating role within TFA, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to improving representation and creating inclusive opportunities across the sport.
Her appointment followed a highly competitive two-stage interview process led by TFA's James Sharp, Luke Saldern, and Rory O'Reilly, with support from Stephen Pike, Rick Borg, and Amanda Sheeky.
Caren demonstrated a strong alignment with TFA’s strategic plan, with a focus on leadership, diversity, and a clear vision for the continued growth and representation of Masters officiating. She brings a strong focus on building connected, high-performing environments, supporting coaches and officials to achieve national standards and ensuring pathways are accessible for people from all backgrounds.
She has also led successful initiatives across New South Wales to promote female pathways, supporting greater participation, development, and representation within officiating. She will bring this experience to the Masters and Appointments program, supporting the continued growth of opportunities for officials across the country.
TFA also recognises Chris Dolahenty for his significant contribution to Touch Football through his tenure in the role, with a long history of leading officiating programs and making a valued contribution to the development of officials. Chris will continue to be involved across TFA's officiating programs and platforms, ensuring his experience and knowledge continue to benefit officials into the future.
Restructure to Touch Football Australia’s Officiating Support
TFA is also enhancing its officiating support through a restructure of its national framework, aligned with The Next Play, to support sustainable participation growth with improved support of referees.
To support officials at all levels of the game, Luke Saldern has been appointed to the newly established role of Officiating Performance and Pathways Manager. The role aligns with TFA’s Represent Touch pillar and recognises Luke's outstanding contributions towards the growth of referee participation in recent years. In this role, Luke will lead TFA’s officiating systems and drive elite performance, while providing oversight of officiating pathways and development for long-term officiating excellence.
To continue support for officials at the grassroots level, TFA will also commence recruitment for a new National Community Officiating Coordinator. Supporting TFA’s Grow Touch pillar, the position will focus on enhancing the experience of community referees, strengthening development opportunities, and providing greater support to officials across Australia.
TFA welcomes applications from members of the Touch Football community who are passionate about supporting community officiating – CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
TFA General Manager, Growth & Innovation, James Sharp, said:
"These appointments and staffing restructure are about ensuring our officials are supported at every level of the game.
"Luke’s appointment to this newly established role recognises his outstanding work and gives us the dedicated leadership our officiating programs deserve as we execute The Next Play. We're building a team around Luke that will support referees from their first game through to the international stage."
