Joanne Joseph is a squash player who was awarded a Tier 3 Scholarship within the Sport Australia Hall of Fame 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Joanne began playing squash at the age of nine and quickly progressed through the ranks, earning recognition at state, national, and international tournaments. She currently competes in the Under 19 girls category.
Joanne has represented Victoria since 2018, starting in Under 13s, and has served as Captain of the Victorian State Team, highlighting her leadership and dedication on and off the court. She has also represented Australia since 2020, competing in the Trans-Tasman Series and, for the past two years, the World Junior Championships, the pinnacle of junior squash.
Off the court, Joanne is an academic scholarship recipient and serves as Vice Captain of her school. She is also a Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and is committed to improving her physical performance and refining her game through consistent training and guidance from VIS. With a passion for squash and a clear vision for her future, Joanne aims to represent Australia at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games at the highest levels of senior competition.
After squash, she plans to pursue her passion for medicine and become a doctor. Currently in Year 12, she plans to apply to universities such as the University of Melbourne and Monash University for their three-year Biomedicine programs, followed by a Master of Medicine degree. She also intends to apply for the Elite Athlete Entry Scheme at both universities, which, if successful, would provide flexibility with assignments to accommodate her travel for tournaments.
“Being a SAHOF Scholarship recipient is such an honour to me. To have the support of an institution that backs Australia’s most elite athletes and Olympians is truly incredible. This scholarship will not only give me the financial help to pursue my aspirations in squash, but it also serves as an opening door to new experiences and opportunities, allowing me to broaden my horizons and develop as an athlete and a person. This scholarship motivates me to keep pushing myself to strive towards my goals and make the most of every opportunity. I look forward to the coming year and with the support of SAHOF, I can’t wait to continue growing as an athlete, performing at my best in tournaments, and gaining more international experience.” – Joanne Joseph on being selected as a 2026 Scholarship Holder.
Honours & Achievements
- Oceania Junior Championships 2023 – 1st Place
- Victorian Junior Championships 2025 – 1st Place – Consecutive winner 2024, 2025 in Under 17s & Under 19s
- Australian Junior Open 2025 – Runners Up
- Kuala Lumpur International Junior Open 2024 – 3rd Place
- World Junior Teams Championships – Placed 8th in the World, one of the highest positions Australia has placed in years
Social Links | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joannej.squash/?hl=en
