Turning a Multi-Sector Career into Senior Leadership: Tracey’s Story
From Defence & Policing to Principal Investigations Officer
Defence, Law Enforcement & Mining“You don’t need to start again. You just need to prove what you’ve already done.”
Highest Qualification Achieved
BSB60619 Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety
BSB60420 Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management
Other Qualification Achieved
BSB50415 Diploma in Business Administration
PUA60119 Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management)
Key Outcomes at a Glance
With decades of experience across defence, policing, investigations, and leadership, Tracey leveraged RPL to formalise her capabilities—unlocking senior-level opportunities in mining and government.
Principal Investigations Officer
Job Level
Advanced Diplomas across WHS, Leadership & Public Safety
Qualifications Achieved Through RPL
Transition into Queensland Mining Inspectorate
Career Growth
Mining, Government & Investigations
Industry
Principal Investigations Officer
Job Level
Advanced Diplomas across WHS, Leadership & Public Safety
Qualifications Achieved Through RPL
Transition into Queensland Mining Inspectorate
Career Growth
Mining, Government & Investigations
Industry
Background and Starting Point
Tracey brought decades of hands-on experience across defence, policing, and investigative roles. Despite her extensive career and proven expertise, much of her knowledge and leadership capability wasn’t formally recognised—creating a gap between her real-world experience and documented qualifications.
Previous Roles
Royal Australian Air Force (Aircraft Engine Fitter & Officer) Queensland Police Service (21 years) Integrity Investigations (Racing Industry)
Industry
Defence, Police, Government, Sport
At This Point
Highly experienced, but under-recognised on paper
Tracey’s Journey Begins
1
Extensive Operational Experience
Tracey built her career across defence and policing, gaining deep technical, investigative, and leadership experience.
2
Transferable Skills Gained
- Leadership under pressure - Investigations & compliance - Team command & operations - High-stakes decision-making
3
The Hidden Problem
Despite decades of experience, much of her capability wasn’t formally recognised—limiting how easily she could leverage it into new industries.
Why Churchill Education?
Why Tracey Decided on RPL with Churchil
“We do have transferable skills, and we should be recognised for them.” – Tracey
Key Reasons
Didn’t want to study what she already knew
Knew her defence + police background held significant value
Wanted formal recognition to match real-world capability
Saw others successfully transition through RPL
The Turning Point
Everything changed when Tracey began to see her experience through a different lens. What once felt like “just doing her job” became clear evidence of valuable, transferable skills—setting the stage for a powerful shift in her career direction.
Background Journey
Tracey’s career was built on years of dedication in defence and policing, where she developed strong leadership, discipline, and operational expertise. While her experience was extensive, much of it remained unrecognised in formal qualifications—limiting her ability to fully showcase her capabilities in new career pathways.
Phase 01
Recognition
Seeing a colleague complete RPL triggered the realisation—her experience had untapped value.
Phase 02
Reframing Experience
Tracey recognised her defence and policing background as highly transferable across industries.
Phase 03
Taking Action
She engaged Churchill Education to assess what she was already qualified for.
Phase 04
Qualifications Awarded
Through structured evidence and guided assessment, Tracey secured multiple nationally recognised qualifications, without redundant study.
Challenges and How They Were Overcome
Every journey has obstacles—here's how they were conquered
Who this is suitable for
Challenge 1: Undervaluing Experience
Like many professionals (especially women), Tracey initially underestimated the value of her skills.
Solution: Expert Skills Mapping
Churchill translated her real-world experience into formal qualifications.
Challenge 2: Complexity Concerns
RPL can seem complicated from the outside.
Solution: Structured Support
Dedicated Career & Education Advisor
Clear evidence guidance
Assessor with defence background (spoke her language)
“The process was smooth… we were speaking the same language.”
Career Outcome and Impact
How the qualification transformed their career trajectory
Current Position
Principal Investigations Officer
Queensland Mining InspectorateImmediate Credibility
Formal qualifications validated decades of leadership and operational experience.
Career Expansion
Enabled transition into mining and high-level government roles.
No Career Reset Required
Tracey didn’t start again, she leveraged what she’d already built.
The RPL Experience
What Tracey’s journey was really like
Initial Engagement
Tracey explored how her experience could translate into qualifications.
Evidence Collection
Guided support helped her compile relevant career evidence.
Expert Matching
Churchill mapped her background to the right qualification levels.
Outcome
Multiple advanced diplomas awarded, aligned to real capability.
Tracey Pelling's Advice to Others
Guidance from someone who's been there
“Back yourself, and keep your training records, position descriptions and work samples. No one’s going to keep the evidence of what you’ve done for you.
If I don’t put myself out there and ask for what I want, then how can I encourage or mentor someone else to do it?
Don’t underestimate or undervalue the skills that you get in the defence force or policing. They are competitive, and often better than many civilian qualifications.
You don’t need to start something from scratch. You just need to provide the required evidence to prove what you’ve already been doing.”
A Note for Women (and High Performers Holding Back):
“If a bloke ticks 20%, he applies. Women wait until it’s 80%.”
This is where careers stall. Not because of lack of ability, but lack of recognition.
Looking Back: Reflection and Summary
Tracey Pelling's final thoughts on their journey with Churchill Education
“I backed myself, and that’s what changed everything. Once my experience was recognised, the opportunities followed.”
– Tracey
Back Yourself Early
If you don’t put yourself forward, you limit your own progression.
Recognise Your Transferable Skills
Your experience across police, defence, and leadership is highly valuable in other industries.
Don’t Undervalue Your Capability
You’re likely more qualified than you think, even if it’s not reflected on paper yet.
Capture Your Evidence Now
Keep records of your roles and achievements so you can prove your experience when needed.
Avoid Starting Again
You’ve already built the skills. Get them recognised instead of repeating them.