The Australian Touch Association (ATA) was founded in 1978, following the formation of several state-level organisations, as the national governing body of the sport.

[1] In 2004, following a review into the sport by David Shilbury and Pamm Kellett,[2] the ATA adopted a new national structure, absorbing the operations of all member states and territories (with the exception of the Queensland and New South Wales association) and began trading as Touch Football Australia.

The inaugural teams include:[5] The competition is divided into two conferences - Queensland (Cowboys, Broncos, Titans) and New South Wales (Knights, Eels, Tigers) - during the regular season, and culminates in the first placed teams from each conference competing in the grand final.

[4] Elite Indigenous and Maori Touch Football teams have regularly taken part in the NRL Indigenous Australian vs Maori All-Stars event, playing the curtain-raiser to the men's and women's NRL games.

[6][7] Australia's national touch football teams compete against New Zealand in Trans-Tasman Test Series.