Hi, I’m Joanne, an Australian junior squash player currently competing at national and international levels.

I started playing squash when I was nine years old, and for the past ten years, the junior squash circuit has been a huge part of my life. I have grown up through this sport. It has taken me from my first junior tournaments to representing Australia overseas, and now I am in my final year as a junior player.

That makes this year incredibly important to me.

This year, I won the Australian Junior Open, which is my biggest title to date. After so many years of training, travelling, losing, learning, and trying again, becoming the Australian Junior Open Champion in my final junior year meant more to me than I can put into words. It felt like the result of so many moments that people do not always see: the early mornings, the long weekends at tournaments, the tough losses, and the years of trying to close the gap.

I also had the honour of captaining the Australian Trans-Tasman team in the series against New Zealand. Wearing the Australian uniform has always meant so much to me, but leading the team made it even more special. To captain Australia in my final year as a junior was something I will always be proud of, and being part of a winning team made the experience even more meaningful.

Some of my major squash achievements include:

• Australian Junior Open Champion – 2026
• New Zealand Junior Open Champion – 2026
• Captain of the Australian Trans-Tasman Team – 2026
• Trans-Tasman Series winner against New Zealand – 2026
• Represented Australia at two World Junior Championships: Houston 2024 and Cairo 2025
• Represented Australia in five Trans-Tasman Test Series
• Victoria, Queensland & South Australia State titles 
• Oceania Junior Champion – 2023
• MZ Hazel Award winner for Best Female Junior Player in Australia – 2023
• Sarah Fitz-Gerald Junior Player of the Year – 2024
• Victorian Institute of Sport Scholarship holder – 2023 to present
• Sport Australia Hall of Fame Tier 3 Scholarship recipient – 2026
• Melbourne University Elite Sport Scholarship recipient – 2026

I am now raising funds to help support the costs of future international squash trips, especially the upcoming World Junior Championships in Canada. This event means a lot to me because it is one of the final opportunities I have to compete on the world stage as a junior. After nearly a decade in the junior pathway, I want to give this last chapter everything I have.

Beyond the World Junior Championships, I am also looking ahead to the next stage of my squash journey. After this year, I plan to keep developing my game and continuing my journey through the PSA circuit, hoping to play more internationally to gain exposure. My goal is to finish my junior career knowing I gave absolutely everything to it. I want to represent Australia with pride, compete fearlessly at the World Junior Championships, and make the most of the opportunities I have worked so hard for. This final year means everything to me, not only because of what I have already achieved, but because of what I still believe I can do.

Any contribution would mean so much to me. My family has supported me through countless international trips over the years, and I am so grateful for everything they have done to help me pursue squash at this level. As I continue working towards greater international exposure, the costs of competing overseas will only increase. Your support would help make these opportunities more possible and allow me to focus on competing at my best as I continue chasing the next level of my squash journey.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me. I am incredibly grateful for any help, encouragement, or contribution towards my squash journey. You can follow my journey on the website below!