MALONE Ambrosia

General
CHOOSING HOCKEY OVER FOOTBALL
She played football in the National Premier League Queensland until 2017, when she was first called up to the senior Australia hockey squad. That year, despite being offered a trial at Brisbane Roar in Australia's W-League, she decided to drop football to focus on hockey. In 2018 she made her debut for Australia's senior national hockey team in a test series against Spain. "I was still playing soccer [in 2017], right up until I was called into the Hockeyroos [national hockey team] squad. That same day I got the call up, Mum called my soccer coach to tell him the news, and he said the Brisbane Roar's coach wanted me to trial for the club's W-League side. It was a crazy day, and to think, if that phone call from the Hockeyroos came just a week later, who knows what I'd be doing." (perthnow.com.au, 01 Feb 2019)

BALANCING SPORT AND STUDY
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport development from Griffith University in 2019, after three years of juggling classes, hockey and football. "I am someone who has high expectations of myself, not only in sport but also my career, and the sports college made sure I had the opportunity to achieve in both areas. I think the number of elite athletes choosing to study at Griffith University really demonstrates the amazing reputation the sports college has. The relationship didn't end when I graduated either. They've stayed in touch; letting me know of opportunities that come up, keeping up to date with what I'm competing in and helping when I need them. I am so grateful for their support both in my studies and my sport, and I couldn't think of a better group of experienced, passionate people to help athletes tackle the study/compete journey." (news.griffith.edu.au, 18 Jun 2020)

COACHING AND SPEAKING WORK
In 2019 she completed an internship at the West Australian Football Commission, and from 2017 to 2018 she worked as a schools programme speaker for the Queensland Academy of Sport, and as a football coach for Trinity Lutheran College in Ashmore, Queensland. In 2016 she was an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Hockey Academy in Gold Coast, QLD. "I am passionate about the continued development of sport and helping participation rates grow, particularly for women and young girls, where retention lacks." (LinkedIn profile, 01 Mar 2021)

FURTHER STUDIES
She is currently studying a master's degree in journalism at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, which she is expected to graduate from in 2021. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Mar 2021)