National Careers Week: Joanne Joseph

From May 11-17 2026, National Careers Week is an opportunity to highlight the dedication of our athletes, past and present, in pursuing career aspirations both on and off the court.

2026 Australian Junior Open U19 Girls champion and rising star of squash in Australia, Joanne Joseph, is pursuing excellence on and off the court.

Whilst training for her third Junior World Championships, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. She believes this degree will be a strong stepping stone towards her goal of studying postgraduate medicine.

“Doing this degree before moving into postgraduate medicine also gives me more flexibility which is really important while I am still competing seriously in squash,” she said.

“It allows me to keep pursuing my sporting goals while building a strong foundation for my future career in medicine.”

Finding the balance between academics and sport is something Joseph has had to learn over time, since she started squash at age 10.

She credits planning to help her find balance especially when tournaments and overseas travel are coming up. She is tracking deadlines and maintaining consistent, open communication with her teachers for support when she is away at tournaments.

“It is definitely not always easy, but over the years, I have learnt that being organised and realistic with my time makes a huge difference,” she said

Being a member of the Elite Athlete Program at the University of Melbourne has made a big difference in helping her manage both study and squash.

Through the program, she has access to flexible study arrangements, this includes flexibility with attendance and alternative assignment arrangements when she is away competing.

“It has made university feel much more manageable because I know there is support available when my squash commitments clash with my studies,” she said.

When asked about how she best organises both training and study, Joseph organises and plans her weeks in advance. Keeping herself honest with what she can realistically get done with each week, so she doesn’t leave everything to the last minute.

“Communicating when I need help, and making sure I still have time to rest all help me avoid burnout.”

The switch between sport and study has been challenging at times for the up and coming squash star, especially after a tough loss on court. 

“It can be difficult to process the disappointment of a big match and then have to turn up to school or university the next day and get straight back into academic mode,” she said.

“I overcome those moments by resetting, getting back into routine, and focusing on what I can control next.”

The prospect of pursuing both academics and sport may be daunting, but Joseph believes that the flexibility of university has made the experience less intimidating. 

“There is so much support available, especially if you communicate early and are proactive,” she said.

“You do not have to choose between sport and study. With the right support and organisation, you can absolutely do both.”