It’s not often that one of OCTEC’s participants is an elite athlete that plays in the NRLW, but that’s exactly the case for Canberra Raiders’ Amelia Pasikala. The 21-year-old is a rising Women’s rugby league star who’s also focused on building a future beyond the footy field.
Originally from Wairoa in New Zealand, Amelia moved to Australia in early 2023 after switching from rugby union to rugby league. She made her NRLW debut during the 2023 season with the Sydney Roosters, following impressive performances in the Tarsha Gale Cup with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Amelia then went on to represent the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns last year in the Women’s Pacific Championships.
Despite being a professional athlete, NRLW players currently don’t receive full-time contracts. With the average salary sitting at $40,000 in 2025, many players like Amelia take on additional work or study to support themselves.
Determined to set herself up for long-term success, Amelia connected with OCTEC Training Services to gain practical skills for the workforce. After meeting with Training Coordinator Heather Butler, she enrolled in a Certificate III in Business, a course designed to equip students with essential administrative and workplace knowledge.
Amelia embraced the flexibility of the training program, balancing her study alongside team practice and match commitments. With the support of OCTEC Trainer Lee Cuff, she completed her course with confidence.
Heather knew how proud Amelia’s mother would be to see her certificate. The Canberra Raiders star shared with Heather that her mother cried tears of joy when they received the email confirming her certificate.
“She wanted me to rush out and print a copy at Officeworks. I knew what was going to happen when I would go home with the certificate.”
AMELIA
Amelia has since enrolled in a Certificate III in Community Services at OCTEC Greenway in the ACT, eager to continue learning and building her career off the field.
OCTEC is proud to support inspiring individuals like Amelia, proving that the organisation is also committed to offer vocational education and training for those seeking a path to career advancement and personal growth.
If you are looking to expand your skills and earn a qualification with OCTEC Training, please feel free to reach out to learn more about enrolling in one of our courses.
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