For Michelle Forbes the idea for Kick-On for Women began with a simple observation. There were women who wanted to be involved in football but did not always see a place for themselves in the traditional game.
Forbes had found herself on the sidelines rather than participating and wanted another way to stay connected to the sport. Conversations with other women soon showed her she was not alone in looking for a more flexible way to play.
“I found myself on the sidelines rather than participating, which was quite frustrating. I was looking to participate in another way. As I talked to more women on the sideline, I realised there was a massive gap,” Forbes said.
“If women wanted to participate it was Sundays and more than they felt they could physically muster. That then inspired Kick-On for Women.”
That idea became the foundation for Kick-On for Women after Northern NSW Football supported Forbes in facilitating a pilot program in 2018.
The first eight-week program began on 22 October 2018 and attracted 14 registrations, with 13 women new to football.
The 45-minute weekly sessions focused on fun, physical activity and the basic skills of the game, while the shorter sessions and social format aimed to make football more accessible to women who may not have been ready to commit to traditional competition.
The program soon showed Forbes that women wanted more than an introduction to the sport. While the original sessions focused on learning the fundamentals and building social connections, participants began asking for more opportunities to play.
“They wanted to play the game, not just do drills. They wanted to come and kick a ball with other women but still with a modified format,” Forbes said.
That feedback helped shape Kick-On for Women into the program it is today. The program provides women aged 16 and over with a low-impact, social and accessible way to participate in football.
For Forbes, the program has always been about creating an environment where women can take part without needing previous football experience or a certain level of fitness.
“Kick-On for Women was founded on the idea that any woman can come and participate. It was about making a space where they felt relaxed and they could learn, grow and develop from wherever they were,” Forbes said.
Through partnerships with local clubs, NNSWF and Newcastle Football, the program has continued to create welcoming spaces for women to build confidence, meet new people and enjoy the game.
“By teaming up with Megan Payne and with the support of Northern NSW Football and Newcastle Football, the club was able to create a really welcoming space where women could be themselves, feel relaxed and enjoy time for themselves while moving their bodies,” Forbes said.
Forbes has continued to support Kick-On for Women through local clubs, including New Lambton JFC, where she has helped deliver the program alongside Payne this year.
One of the most rewarding parts of the program for Forbes was seeing women overcome the doubt that could stop them from taking that first step.
Over the years, she heard women say they were unsure whether they could take part in Kick-On for Women. Forbes continued to reassure them that the program was created with women like them in mind.
That message continued through the current Kick-On for Women program at New Lambton JFC.
Term four of the eight-week program begins 14 October 2026 at Kotara Park and welcomes women aged 16 and older regardless of their football experience or ability.
Each session combines a 10-minute skills-based warm-up with more than 35 minutes of small-sided games.
The format gives participants an opportunity to learn the game, build confidence and enjoy getting on the pitch in a relaxed environment.
For some women, Kick-On for Women is a first step into football. Others use it as a way to return to a sport they once loved or discover a new social connection through the game.
Forbes said the goal remained the same as when the program began. She wanted to create a place where women could come as they were, find their feet and discover they had a place in football.
Register for Kick-On for Women term four HERE.