RPL Graduate Stories
61 articles
Guide, Explainer, Insight
All RPL Graduate Stories
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RPL Graduate Stories
Apr 9, 2026
Career Change: A Practical Guide for Mid-Career Pros Looking to Make a Switch This Year
Churchill Team
A mid-life career change is no longer the exception – it’s becoming the rule. Professionals in their 30s, 40s and 50s are...
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9 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Apr 9, 2026
From Haul Trucks to Human-Centred Leadership
Churchill Team
Charlotte Lightfoot has built a career across mining, leadership, and business improvement by saying yes to opportunity and backing her experience. After...
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Apr 9, 2026
Women’s Career Grants
Churchill Team
Women’s Career Grants provides up to $4,999 of funding for women in Queensland who wish to return to work after a break....
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1 min
RPL Graduate Stories
Jan 29, 2026
Graduate Story: Kerrie Barnes – Learning by Doing, Leading with Authenticity
Churchill Team
Senior risk and compliance professional Kerrie Barnes shows how Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can turn decades of real-world experience into nationally...
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6 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Oct 7, 2025
Defence to Compliance: How Graham Used RPL to Redefine His Career
Churchill Team
Graham used RPL to move from defence to compliance with qualifications that explained his ADF skills to a civilian world.
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Sep 16, 2025
Turning Hospitality Experience into Business and Leadership Qualifications
Churchill Team
For more than 35 years, Adrian Cash has been a steady presence in Tasmania’s hospitality industry, shaping memorable experiences for thousands of...
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jul 24, 2025
Man on a WHS Mission
Churchill Team
Shaun Clayton used RPL to turn his WHS experience into a business helping injured workers return to work safely across Australia.
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4 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jul 17, 2025
From the Frontline to the Forest
Churchill Team
Cheryl turned 27 years of frontline policing into national qualifications with RPL, and a new career on the Kokoda Trail.
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jun 25, 2025
Summit Mindset: Grit, Growth and Grace
Churchill Team
Discover how Alexis Diachkoff’s summit mindset turned life experience into leadership and qualifications through RPL!
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4 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jun 12, 2025
An Unconventional Career Change Story
Churchill Team
Amanda's story is a powerful example of an unconventional career change—one that didn’t involve changing jobs, but rather rediscovering the value of...
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4 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jun 10, 2025
Compliance Specialist and Cancer Awareness Advocate
Churchill Team
Bruce White’s compliance career path hasn’t followed a straight line—it’s been a journey of reinvention, service, and surprising new chapters.
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
May 27, 2025
Formal Recognition: Kidney Failure to Career Success
Churchill Team
For Trudie, a highly skilled program manager in the healthcare sector, the challenge wasn’t gaining experience—it was gaining formal recognition for the...
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Apr 29, 2025
Courage to Pursue Meaningful Work
Churchill Team
For Angela, the biggest challenge wasn’t gaining experience—it was regaining self-belief, and the courage to pursue meaningful work.
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6 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Mar 5, 2025
Why Investing in RPL Was the Best Decision for My Family’s Future
Churchill Team
Superintendent, Coach and Consultant, Amy-Lee Pople, has always been driven by a strong work ethic, a thirst for knowledge, and a passion...
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7 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Feb 6, 2025
Leveraging Experience and Qualifications for Career Growth
Churchill Team
Partnerships Manager and former Senior Constable, Evan Szawejko, has a career path that is a testament to the power of leveraging experience...
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4 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jan 14, 2025
Professional Credibility & Personal Validation
Churchill Team
Warren Groves, General Manager of the Flinders Council, pursued RPL to achieve a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership and Advanced Diploma of...
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6 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Nov 14, 2024
The Queen of RPL: Empowering & Advocating
Churchill Team
Educator and leader, Joyce Paliza-Benda, is known to her colleagues as The Queen of RPL! Unlike many of our clients, Joyce has known...
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7 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Oct 30, 2024
Construction to WHS to $200K Job Offers!
Churchill Team
After a major workplace injury that meant the end of his construction career and almost his leg, Mark made the move to...
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Sep 24, 2024
Came for a Diploma, left with a Graduate Diploma!
Churchill Team
After over 20 years working in the education space, Claire Bigelow knew that she had amassed some amazing skills. What was surprising,...
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4 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Aug 28, 2024
Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership In Service To Others
Churchill Team
Strategic leader and program developer, Julieann Dupen, discusses overcoming adversity, building resilience, discovering her calling and achieving a Graduate Diploma of Strategic...
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8 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jul 24, 2024
Recognising Leadership & Crisis Management Expertise
Churchill Team
Chief Inspector with Queensland Police + Leadership & Crisis Management Coach, Darren Smith, recently turned 35 years of experience into the Graduate...
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6 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Jun 11, 2024
Intentionally Creating a Second Career in Midlife
Churchill Team
After 23 years with the Queensland Police Service, Investigator, Chris Smith, made the bold decision to intentionally create a second career in...
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6 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Apr 17, 2024
Career 180, Global Adventures & 2 Graduate Diplomas with RPL
Churchill Team
From Sierra Leone to the Pilbara, Operational Superintendent and Rail Specialist, Brent Kara turned his career experience into two Graduate Diplomas with...
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5 mins
RPL Graduate Stories
Feb 20, 2024
Moving Up in WHS with Qualifications That Match Experience
Churchill Team
WHS professional, Caitlin Seaha, discusses 15 years in WHS, setting up her own consultancy, achieving a higher level and unexpected bonus qualification,...
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6 mins
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