NSW government invests $750,000 in regional training hubs ahead of 2023 Women's World Cup

Australia and New Zealand won the right to host the pinnacle event of women's soccer last year, which has resulted in the establishment of training hubs across the state in the Riverina, Southern Highlands and Tablelands, South Coast, western and northern NSW.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced an investment of $750,000 at Lavington Sportsground on Wednesday, which aims to ensure regional NSW players have the chance to showcase their skills in the lead up to the World Cup.

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The hubs are focused on girls aged 12 to 18, with identified players to be supported with training camps, scholarships and the added bonus of being mentored by past and present Matildas.

Young's Joey Peters, who played junior soccer at Leeton and went on to represent Australia on 110 occasions, was on the Border on Wednesday to put some of the region's talent to the test.

"With the World Cup on our doorstep and the Matildas the pride of our nation, we want to make sure we continue to have a journey and a pathway for young women and young girls in football," Mr Barilaro said.

"If you think about our regions, sport is everything. Sport is where our identity comes from.

"You'll know a town or city in regional NSW because of what happens on the football field, the netball court or a rugby match."

Mr Barilaro added $50 million of the $100 million from the latest round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund will be set aside to improve female changerooms in regional and rural NSW.

"Like in past years, we've focused on local governments in regional and rural areas to improve amenities, but this year we've identified how important it is to improve those amenities like changerooms for young women and girls in sport," he said.

"Each council gets a dedicated amount of money and we want 50 per cent of that money to go to women's changerooms.

"We know that female participation and women in sport is growing at a rate beyond what men are doing and when you've got a flagship event like a World Cup on our doorstep, it really does give us a focus and a determination."

Football NSW chief executive Stuart Hodge believes a World Cup on home soil will inspire the next generation of Matildas.

"We know that regional areas punch above their weight in terms of producing women's national team players and we need to continue that," Hodge said.

"The investment from the government is welcome and much-needed and will secure the future of our Matildas players coming from regional areas.

"We'll be making sure the players who are most talented get identified and we want to make sure everybody who has the skills will get the opportunity to be in elite programs, be able to go onto national teams and potentially some of the biggest clubs in the world."

Member for Albury Justin Clancy was delighted with the announcement.

"Local and former Matilda Angela Iannotta made Albury proud back in 1995 when she scored Australia's first goal at a men's or women's World Cup," he said.

"That pathway from the country to the world stage is something we want to make possible for all young girls in regional NSW and this program will help make dreams come true."

Mr Clancy said it was important to create pathways for talented players, have inspiring people around them and offer the right facilities for sport in the community.