Bruce White’s career path hasn’t followed a straight line—it’s been a journey of reinvention, service, and surprising new chapters. Now a Governance & Compliance Officer at Rio Tinto, Bruce recently added three nationally recognised qualifications to his name—earned through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with Churchill Education.
Long before Bruce found his professional stride in contractor management, he was a young fitter and turner in Victoria’s power industry, a freight train driver in Sydney, and even a globe-trotting tour guide with Australian Pacific Touring.
“Probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” he reflects. “My ex-wife said I had the best job—you don’t mind a chat and you’ve got a captive audience!”
Bruce’s knack for connecting with people would become a defining thread throughout his career, including a major left-field pivot: teaching English to students in China.
Embracing change—at home and abroad
While working in Perth’s transport industry—managing national operations at major airports—Bruce began travelling regularly to China to oversee the manufacture of specialised tarmac and electric buses.
This eventually inspired a career shift. “I started teaching English online to Chinese students, then moved to Chengdu full-time in 2019.”
But Bruce’s time in China was cut short by the pandemic. After narrowly escaping border closures, he returned to Australia and pivoted again—this time into contract mobilisation with Rio Tinto, where he has since progressed into a compliance leadership role.
“I’m now part of a contractor management team,” Bruce explains. “We assess and support the governance and compliance of companies working with Rio. I don’t do the auditing myself—we use a third party—but my role is to make sure suppliers are ready to meet those standards.”
It’s a responsibility Bruce doesn’t take lightly. His recent qualifications are a way of backing up years of on-the-ground expertise with formal recognition.
RPL: A turning point
The idea to pursue Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) came through a trusted contact: Craig, a facilitator from a previous WHS course and now a good friend.
“Craig had worked with Churchill and said, ‘With your experience, you could knock this over quite easily.’”
Bruce admits that despite having a wealth of real-world knowledge, he had let professional development lapse for a while. “I probably had a bit of a hiatus from learning.
But once I discovered RPL—it’s almost like a drug. You get a taste of it and think, ‘What’s next?’”
With help from Churchill Career & Education Advisor, Sarah and the team, Bruce worked through the process even while recovering from major surgery. “I’d already started the process when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I thought I’d tackle the paperwork while recovering. I needed time to focus; it gave me something to work towards.”
When he received confirmation that he had earned not one but three diplomas, Bruce was over the moon.
“I was on an early flight and got the message just after I landed. Sarah said it was rare for someone to go through first go. Then Jacob, one of Churchill’s assessors, recommended me for the two additional diplomas too. That was even better.”
Bruce turned his considerable real world WHS and compliance experience into:
- BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety
- BSB50120 Diploma of Business (Compliance)
- BSB50920 Diploma Of Quality Auditing
Making a difference—in the workplace and beyond
For Bruce, the qualifications are more than a piece of paper. “They give me credibility when I’m working with stakeholders—both internal teams and external suppliers. It’s helped lift my voice, especially when explaining compliance requirements or offering guidance.”
And while career progression is certainly on the cards, Bruce says it’s not just about promotions or pay rises. “For me, it’s about being in a position to influence, to mentor, and to make a difference.”
Prostate Cancer Awareness Advocate
That drive to make a difference also fuels his advocacy work. Since undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, Bruce has become a volunteer with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and regularly shares his story at team meetings and safety shares.
His message is a powerful one: don’t put off that blood test.
“I stuck my referral on the fridge for four months. Eventually I went, and that’s how they found the cancer. If I hadn’t had that test, I might not have known. And then they found a bladder issue too, and a kidney nodule. I count myself lucky.”
One of his colleagues was inspired to get checked after hearing Bruce speak—she was diagnosed with benign ovarian cancer. “She told me afterwards, ‘Your story made me do something about it.’ That meant a lot.”
In summary
At 63, Bruce shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to grow in his role, mentor others, and advocate for health awareness among his colleagues. And he’s getting married again!
Bruce’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to learn, contribute, lead with purpose and get the recognition you deserve.
“I’ve still got a lot of runs on the board,” Bruce says. “And I’m going to keep making a difference—for as long as I can.”
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