WJC Profile | Joanne Joseph

Joanne Joseph’s young career has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, with a solid run of success which has included national team representation and taking out last year’s U17 Girls Oceania Junior Championships. 

Based at the Melbourne Cricket Club Squash Club under coach Selena Shaikh, Joanne has represented the Victorian State Team consecutively since 2018 and was this year named captain. 

“I am very proud to be named the Captain of the Victorian state team this year for 2024,” said Joanne. 

“I was 10 when I started and played in under 13s for the team. It is really special to now be playing as the number one U19s girl and being the captain. I really look forward to being a good role model to the younger girls.” 

Joanne was introduced to the game by her father after visiting the courts with him when she was young and decided to pick up the racquet. She entered her first tournament at the 2017 Australian Junior Championships and has been playing competitively since. 

Following claiming the 2023 U17 Girls Oceania Junior Championships title, Joanne received the MC Hazel award recognising her fairness, sportsmanship, player improvement and match results.

More recently,  Joanne has travelled to Birmingham for the Scottish and British Junior Open in early 2024, crediting the venue as the best one she has played in so far. 

Apart from her individual success,  Joanne said her involvement with both the Victorian and Australian teams have been a highlight of her career so far.

“I am proud to be part of the National Team that beat New Zealand in the Trans Tasman series of 2022 and 2024,” said Joseph. 

“Winning the National Teams Championships in 2023 for Victoria after 37 years was also a big highlight of my squash journey.”

Having now been selected to represent Australia in July at the World Junior Championships held in Houston, Texas,  Joanne shared the opportunity is not one she looks on lightly. 

“Being able to represent Australia at World Juniors this year is such a privilege,” said Joanne. 

“When I was around 11 years old, I wrote a list of long-term goals that I wanted to reach in squash. One of my biggest goals was to play for Australia in the World’s Team.

“I am so proud of where I have come today, and being able to put on the green and gold and play for my country on the World’s level is so special.”

Joanne will spend the next few weeks working hard: “My main goal right now is to train really hard and work on improving my overall game in preparation for World Juniors.

“I want to really test myself and see how I’ll fare against the international players.

“Overall, I just want to focus on being at my peak for World Juniors and play some good squash.”