Up to the 2019 season, one representative from each regional participated in the NPL Championship, a knock-out competition to determine a national champion.

[1][2] In October 2010, Football Federation Australia (FFA) commenced a National Competition Review, its main objective being to review the current structure of soccer competitions in Australia, and to monitor and improve elite player development.

The NPL competitions in each state and territory are run by the member federation, with a national playoff tournament at the end of each season.

[5] Each member federation, or 'conference' contains various numbers of teams, and they play a full season with no inter-conference matches (an identical format to the individual State Leagues that preceded the NPL).

Between 2013 and 2015 the match ups were based on predetermined geographically adjacent Federations, with hosting rights for the quarter-finals alternating each year.

The number of teams promoted and relegated from third-tier leagues per state has varied over the existence of the NPL.

Below are listed the National Premier Leagues clubs in each respective state member federation from the 2024 season.