Q & A with Wini Heatley

How often do you get to come home to Australia? 

Whilst living in Denmark I’ve been able to come back once or twice a year which has been so nice. I usually split my time between Julatten and Port Douglas where I grew up, and Redlynch in Cairns, where my mum lives. 

What do you love about having had the opportunity to grow up in Douglas, FNQ? 

I think I’m so lucky for my childhood – the timing as much as the location. I think my older siblings and I were the last to really experience the pre-phone age. We were outside getting up to mischief with our neighbours every afternoon in Port – building cubby houses or selling lemonade and handpicked fruit to tourists, having sand ball wars at Four Mile beach. On the weekends we were camping or out on the reef, fishing. 

Every time I come home; I get to re-experience the gratitude I have for growing up in FNQ. And now that I’ve lived in some pretty big cities, I find myself appreciating the simpler things like waking up to the sound of birds and sitting by the fire and being able to see the stars. 

Do you have an opportunity to give back to the community or work on any special projects? 

On a day-to-day scale I try to make sure my football career is aligned with the things I care about, so I try to give back in that way. I am very passionate about the preservation of our environment and world betterment in general, so I work with a couple organisations.  I pledge 1% of my salary to Common Goal – which is an is an organisation based around the idea that because football is the world game,
it has the power to reach all the corners of the  globe. So, it uses that platform to help shift society towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all. 

I am also a member of Front Runner Athletes – an organisation using Australian athletes to bring awareness to climate change, and to highlight its impact on the sports we love. 
One of my most recent partnerships has been with a boot brand called Sokito – a company who has brought attention to the environmental impact football has on the planet. They’re 
the first boot brand to put sustainability at the forefront of their mission, and ultimately aim to influence football fans to think and act sustainability. 

Your family must be super proud of your efforts, how important have they been in your career? 

Family is so important to me, and I’m so grateful to have had their support through my career so far. Coming from a big family, to move away from them to Brisbane at 15 years old was pretty difficult, but I think the guidance from my parents was something that really allowed me to make that move with confidence. 

My mum spent more hours than you can imagine driving me to trainings in my youth. She did everything in her power to make my dream a reality, and I’m so grateful for that. At the same time, when the offer from Brisbane Roar came, she made a rule that I wasn’t allowed to move just for football, and insisted that if I wanted to move, I would also have to be accepted into an academic school. Although it would’ve been a lot easier at the time, I am now so grateful for that, because it allowed me to think of myself as more than a footballer – and I think it let me stay in love with the game. 

My dad made it clear early on that they would be just as proud of me if I decided not to pursue football. Whenever I was having a rough time, he would remind me (and still does) that I could move home at the click of my fingers. He probably doesn’t know it, but by doing this he constantly reminds me that I’m in full control of the goals I’m pursuing and the life I’m living. It allows me to refocus when things are tough, which they often are. 

Living away from my family has undoubtedly been the most difficult thing about my career. I still struggle with the guilt of leaving my younger siblings, and now my niece and nephew – of not being able to watch them grow up as closely as I want to. So, seeing how proud they are of me, and seeing them in my jerseys is something I hold very close to my heart. 

Any advice for aspiring players? 

Anyone can have talent and success in their younger years, but at the professional level, it’s mindset that is the game changer. My advice, and the biggest lesson I have learned so far, is to always know your ‘why’. This applies to anything in life – if you have a purpose to everything you do, it’s a lot easier to persevere when things are hard. 

When did you first get a call up for the Matilda’s camps? 

It was in 2021 – a camp in Dubai before the Asian cup that year.  I’ve since been called into camp over the last few years in Spain, Portugal, America and Australia.  It has been a dream of mine to play for my country since I was 5 and declared it to my parents. While my vision of life has changed a lot since I was 5, that’s the one thing that’s stayed consistent. 

This year I had my international debut for the Matildas. It was during a ‘B’ international friendly game against Canada before the Olympics. While it wasn’t an official cap, it was still very special – and it’s definitely ignited that will to get my official debut even more. 

Future career goals for Wini Heatley? 

Club wise you never really know in the world of football, but one thing is for certain; I’d love to cement my spot in the Matilda’s national team. 

What does life after football look like? 

I think female athletes in general have always been urged to consider life after football a bit more than our male counterparts - so I’ve always had a bit of a vision. I’d love to combine my connections to the game with my (pending) Law degree, to continue to work with some of the organisations I’ve mentioned and achieve something good for the world. 

Watch this space! And follow Wini Heatley’s journey... 
@winiheatleyy