Ernst award pays tribute to commitment

MATT NICHOLLS MANUNDA Hawks product Tiarna Ernst claimed a gong at the AFL Players Association MVP awards on Thursday night.

The premiership-winning ruck for the Western Bulldogs AFLW team took out the AFLPA’s Education and Training Excellence Award, along with Fremantle midfielder David Mundy.

Ernst was recognised for her ability to balance time commitments between football and external studies.

After graduating as a doctor in 2011, Ernst is undertaking a training program with the Royal College of Australia and New Zealand of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The 30-year-old spends 86 hours per fortnight working at Monash Health performing obstetric and genealogical procedures.

“The opportunity to work with females at a pretty significant time in their lives, particularly the pregnancy side of it, is rewarding,” Ernst said

“I make sure we are supporting women before they fall pregnant during the pregnancy, during the labour, during the delivery and after pregnancy as well.”

While most would struggle working in one of her professions, Ernst loves the challenge of balancing both.

The secret is in alleviating negative emotions.

“I suppose the biggest thing that has allowed me to achieve both is that I’ve worked with Richard Malone through Quality Mind,” she said. “He runs a program tailored towards professionals and sports people on how to eliminate pressures and anxieties and to be able to balance everything.

“It helps me understand what’s important and how to be more efficient with my time.”