Rhiann O'donnell Pursues a Vocational Training Pathway

With National Skills Week upon us, it’s time to shine a light on those forging a career in the workforce through a Vocational Training Pathway.

National Skills Week aims to bring to life the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia.

At the ACA we have many members who have successfully pursued this pathway, including Rhiann O’Donnell.

After playing for Victoria in the WNCL and the Renegades and Hurricanes in the WBBL, Rhiann is now a first-year plumbing apprentice in Melbourne.

“Coming off contract, in what could be a pretty tough time, being able to go straight in to work gave me some pretty good purpose,” says Rhiann.

Being able to complete some paid work placement while on contract provided Rhiann a sense of direction.

“I think it made it easier when an opportunity did arise to lock something in a bit more permanent,” she says.

“Firstly, from the point of view of me working out what I want to do, but also being able to have some sort of basic understanding of what’s required on a job site or at a job, it’s obviously quite different to what we do on the field so just knowing that there’s other things to do out there as well.

“I knew I wasn’t the sort of person who wanted to sit in an office, they basically just helped me get out, get experience in and around different job sites, different roles, so that’s sort of what initially helped me work out that I wanted to be on the tools”

In terms of vocational training and pathways outside of university studies, Rhiann likened it very much to playing cricket.

“Part of the reason that a lot of people are athletes is because they like to be physical, like to be doing something and busy, and require that energy expenditure, and I think for me it’s like cricket, being on the tools.

“You’re puffed at the end of the day, you feel like you’ve achieved something, and you see progress, so I think it’s definitely a great path to go down because it kind of gives you those few things that you miss from the cricket field.”

To any ACA member unsure if they should pursue vocational training or skills-based pathways, Rhiann advises members to work with the ACA and PDM’s to understand what works for you and how you can work it in around your cricket fixtures, there are possibilities and it’s not a give one up to pick up the other.

“If you can make them work in tandem and balance it out it’s a really great way to make the transition once that playing career finishes really easy.”

ACA Members interested in exploring opportunities in career and education can contact their PDM or Mark Gregory at mgregory@auscricket.com.au