When Carina Bancroft first joined Churchill Education 10 years ago, she wasn’t looking to climb a corporate ladder or chase qualifications. Over time she became accidentally qualified!
“I just wanted something that I could come to work, do my thing, go home, and have no mental load at the end of the day,” she reflects.
Her initial role was in the accounts department, focused solely on raising invoices — straightforward, dependable work that fit perfectly with raising her young son.
“It was what I was looking for at the time.”
Wearing Many Hats
But simplicity has a way of leading to opportunity.
As Churchill evolved, so did Carina’s role. She became involved in systems, processes, and project work — often without fanfare, always with quiet consistency.
“The role that I have at Churchill is unique because I wear a number of hats,” she says.
“I’ve moved into transforming our systems, managing data, and driving change behind the scenes.”
Before long, Carina found herself doing the very work that forms the backbone of modern digital transformation.
Accidentally Qualified
It wasn’t until Churchill Education’s assessment team began exploring how her real-life experience could be converted into nationally recognised qualifications that Carina realised just how much ground she had covered.
This process, known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), allows experienced professionals to gain qualifications based on their existing workplace contributions — revealing something surprising:
“I was accidentally qualified!”
Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation)
“I was surprised to find I was eligible for BSB50120 Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation) — not because I’d studied it, but because I’d been living it.”
Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation)
In today’s business environment, digital transformation is no longer a buzzword — it’s a necessity.
The Australian Government has recognised this imperative, launching a $1.2 billion investment plan to support the nation’s digital growth and position Australia among the top ten digital economies by 2030 (Nash Tech).
The economic impact is substantial. The Australian tech sector, valued at A$167 billion, has experienced an 80% growth over five years, highlighting the rapid pace of digital adoption (Austrade).
Carina hadn’t set out to become a digital transformation leader — but by managing Churchill’s systems, facilitating change, and translating data into meaningful insights, she found herself playing a critical role in this evolving landscape.
“I had to show what I was doing in terms of managing and transforming the system,” she says. “It’s not just about knowing how a system works — it’s about making it work better, and helping others adapt to that change too.”
From Invoices to Insights
Through RPL, Carina’s everyday contributions were mapped against formal units of competency. Her work in system changes, database management, project oversight and reporting had all quietly built towards a recognised skillset.
A Stack of Capability
What emerged from this process wasn’t just one qualification. Carina’s experience stacked up across multiple areas — including project management, and leadership.
We refer to this as Stackable Qualifications – a grouping of complementary qualifications that accurately reflect diverse skillsets.
Unlocking Career Growth with Stackable Qualifications
In addition to the Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation), Carina was also able to turn her many Churchill hats into BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management, and BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management.
The Value of Being Seen
For Carina, the most powerful part of the process wasn’t just the paperwork — it was the validation.
“You don’t always realise how much you’ve done until someone points it out,” she says.
“Having it recognised formally makes you stop and think: Wow, that is a lot. I have done something meaningful.”
Could You Be Accidentally Qualified Too?
You don’t need a textbook or a classroom to build real skills — you’ve likely been learning on the job every single day.
“Just have a look. You might be surprised at how much of your day-to-day work actually counts,” Carina reflects.
At Churchill Education, we specialise in helping talented people like you, turn experience into nationally recognised qualifications — just like Carina did.
🎓 Find out what you’re already eligible for.
💬 Book a FREE RPL appraisal with our team today.
