The Northern Football Netball League is committed to raising the standard of child safety and injury governance across our competition.
Ahead of the 2026 season, the NFNL has partnered with Melbourne-based sports technology provider Sports Buddy to strengthen safeguarding and injury management across the league.
As part of this initiative, the NFNL will implement Sports Buddy’s SAFE child safeguarding platform across selected clubs as part of a Foundation Program rollout – embedding structured safeguarding processes and stronger oversight at club level.
In addition, the NFNL has endorsed Sports Buddy’s HURT injury management platform as a recommended system for clubs seeking to strengthen their injury reporting and return‑to‑play processes.
NFNL CEO Daniel Kelly said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our players remains a priority for the NFNL. By implementing the SAFE platform and endorsing structured injury management systems, we are providing our clubs with practical tools that strengthen safeguarding, improve governance, and support volunteers in meeting their responsibilities.”
Kim Vespa, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sports Buddy, added:
“When leagues take a proactive approach to safeguarding and injury governance, it drives consistent standards across community sport. NFNL’s leadership in adopting the SAFE platform and endorsing structured injury management processes demonstrates a clear commitment to embedding practical systems that support safer players and stronger club governance.”
