Educator and leader, Joyce Paliza-Benda, is known to her colleagues as The Queen of RPL! Joyce has known and utilised Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for many years to match her experience to Australian qualifications.
This sets her apart from a large portion of the population who have never heard of RPL and wind up studying what they already know, or being overlooked when they lack the qualifications to benchmark their skills.
In the following story Joyce takes us through the twists and turns of re-establishing a career in a new country, utilising RPL to translate her skills into national qualifications, and how her two most recent diplomas from Churchill Education were instrumental in gaining a sought-after TAFE role. One that also has the potential to grow into a management role – realising her ultimate goal of having a greater impact in effecting positive change.
Establishing a career in Australia
Joyce’s journey to establishing her career in Australia has been one of resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to her profession. 15 years ago, she moved to Australia as an overseas-trained high school English teacher. However, like many highly skilled migrants, she found that her qualifications from abroad did not easily translate to Australian standards.
“When I first came to Australia, my qualifications were not recognised,” she explained, recounting her early years of trying to find equivalent recognition in a new country.
Her Australian career journey took her through diverse roles, from migration work and recruitment services to volunteering as a teacher, “To get myself into that space,” she shared.
To navigate these challenges, Joyce pursued the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway to help bridge the qualification gap.
RPL is a pathway that recognises a candidate’s existing skills and experience, allowing them to obtain formal qualifications without the need to study content they already know.
For Joyce, RPL has been instrumental throughout her career as she adapted to the changing requirements of various roles and established a career in education in Australia. “I did a lot of RPL over the years to get myself qualified and to be able to apply for different jobs,” she said.
Joyce recalled, “In the last 15 years, I’ve had around 10 employers. I finally landed a job that I really wanted—doing literacy teaching for an RTO. And I’ve been working in the sector ever since.”
Back in Education!
This position with a registered training organisation (RTO) allowed her to settle into a field she was passionate about, which she worked diligently in for over a decade. But like many roles in the education sector, hers was contract-based and subject to funding changes, and recently, her contract was not renewed.
Faced with uncertainty, Joyce once again turned to RPL as she considered her next steps. “When the news came about the redundancy, I thought, how can I make myself attractive to the next employer?” she explained.
Her goal was to position herself for a management role. With over a decade of business management, leadership, and teaching experience, Joyce knew she had the right skills but lacked the qualifications that reflected this.
Recognition of Prior Learning with Churchill Education
While researching her options, Joyce discovered Churchill Education. She said she found the RPL process much easier and streamlined than any of her previous experiences. Joyce also shared that the free initial appraisal was a significant factor in her decision to proceed.
The appraisal gave her the confidence to invest her time into the process, knowing there was a high likelihood her experience would translate into the formal recognition she sought.
The guidance Joyce received from her advisor at Churchill, Sarah Riley, made a lasting impression on her. “She was just so nice on the phone and very supportive,” Joyce recalled.
After gathering and uploading the required documentation, Joyce was surprised by how smoothly the process flowed. “I did that in two days…it was so easy,” she said.
She explained that she was able to upload her work examples in manageable steps, during work breaks and around her teaching schedule. For Joyce, who had often struggled to balance her busy life and career obligations, this was invaluable.
A week after submitting her documents, Joyce received news that she was eligible for two diplomas:
Validating skills, aligning career aspirations
She was thrilled that these qualifications not only validated her skills but also aligned perfectly with her career aspirations.
“Having these qualifications really cements the knowledge I have learned over the years,” she said. This official recognition reassured her that she was on the right path to reaching her career goals.
Joyce believes that her new qualifications were instrumental in helping her secure an offer from TAFE South Australia, which aligned closely with her professional goals.
“When I shared my new qualifications with the manager…it definitely did a big job in explaining what I can do,” she said.
The position with TAFE initially involves teaching, but it has the potential to evolve into a permanent role. For Joyce, who has always been passionate about supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, this role offers the ideal environment to use her skills.
Joyce’s advice for choosing an RPL provider
Joyce also gained a unique perspective on RPL as she compared her experiences across various RTOs.
Having undergone the RPL processes with different organisations, she understands the challenges candidates face, especially in choosing the right provider. “Not every institution is created equal,” she warned.
“As an RPL candidate, it’s very important that you do your research.” She praised Churchill’s transparency and attention to detail, qualities she found lacking in other RTOs. Joyce emphasised, “It’s like a try-before-you-buy kind of thing,” noting how Churchill’s appraisal process sets it apart from providers that rush clients into commitments.
Empowering future career goals
With her qualifications and a promising role at TAFE, Joyce is optimistic about her future. She envisions moving into a management position where she can lead and support educators with similar aspirations to her own.
RPL has not only empowered her career but has also given her a platform to advocate for this pathway to others.
Advocating for others
Joyce has become known for her RPL knowledge at her workplace, where colleagues have dubbed her the “Queen of RPL.” She laughed, “I was more aware than others about how it works.”
Joyce’s advice for colleagues considering RPL is to choose a reputable provider that aligns with their needs and offers a personalised approach. “It doesn’t have to be stressful,” she advised. She emphasised the value of gathering comprehensive work examples, which can streamline the process and demonstrate one’s experience effectively.
As Joyce continues on her career path, she credits RPL for transforming her professional landscape and showcasing her abilities in a formal way.
“You can have the best experience, but if you don’t have the qualifications to match, it’s sometimes like a tree that falls in the forest and nobody heard it,” she observed, capturing the essence of why RPL is so crucial for professionals with extensive experience.
Joyce’s story is an inspiring example of resilience, the importance of lifelong learning, and the power of RPL in bridging the gap between experience and national qualifications.
If you would like to explore your qualification eligibility you can apply for a free RPL appraisal here, or via any of the methods below.
