John Paul College is delighted to celebrate the achievements of Olivia Grcic (Class of 2019), who recently participated in the second-year intake of the AFL Workplay Media and Broadcast Career Pathways Program through Making The Call.
With a long standing passion for sport and media, Olivia reflects on her journey since graduating from John Paul College. Sharing her experiences in the program, highlights from her time at JPC, and how the opportunities she has experienced have helped shape her future career aspirations in sports media.
Alongside pursuing this exciting opportunity, Olivia has also returned to our classrooms, as one of our casual relief teachers continuing her connection with our community while further building her career.
It was so incredible to delve into each of these spaces, what was so fantastic about the program was the ability to feel like anything was possible to be involved with, and that it is up to you to have the independence and drive to reach that point.I am really drawn to the storytelling components of media. Being able to flesh out meaning behind people's movements in life and what their purpose is really inspiring. I love reading biographies and autobiographies and watching documentaries, especially about people's lives, so it is always fascinating to watch that come to life when you are the one asking questions.I also love the behind-the-scenes side of it all, learning to understand and see in action how much of a role producers play in live broadcast and radio was so eye opening - it really is the people you do not see behind the scenes who are making it all happen.
I'm so grateful to be involved in the elite competition, especially in a non-traditional way rather than being a player on the field, being an umpire, especially on the boundary, really provides you with a unique perspective of the game.The program itself is part of a broader initiative called WorkPlay, which is for women in playing and umpiring roles in VFLW and AFLW competitions to ensure opportunities are present and known, especially while our athletic careers are still, for some, in a part-time capacity. It's a fantastic initiative that I'm so grateful to be a part of.
The opportunity itself, the experience of networking and being a part of a group of women who are driven and excited about life and the opportunities that come with it was really fulfilling.It provided me with a glimpse back to the joy I felt during my time at John Paul College. I had been chasing that same thrill for a while, and I think the most value has come from seeing a whole new door of possibilities open.
For the moment, it's evident that so much of where I can make an impact can fold into the work I am doing in my day-to-day life.
I'm really fortunate to work at the AFL and also umpire in AFLW and State League, where I am constantly surrounded by people who inspire me.
In my first year working at the AFL, I got to reconnect with Susan Alberti, which was so special. Debbie Lee, who has been and continues to be a pivotal force in the inception and growth of AFLW, is someone I also work closely with. She has a unique way of making you realise your full potential and encouraging a drive to get there - nothing is too hard for Deb.
Through the media program, I was so fortunate to hear from some fantastic people in the industry and inspirational women like Abbey Holmes and Kate McCarthy. Both have had such an influence on the AFLW competition as players and have now continued to lead the way within broadcasting.
Rana Hussain is another, as someone who did not grow up playing footy but has utilised her passion and joy for the game to build a community and involvement in it. What is most admirable is their generosity in sharing their knowledge and learnings with others. The work they do inspires me, but what inspires me the most is their character and genuine love for being part of the game.Eleni Tee an AFL Field Umpire, has also been a mentor of mine for a while, I met her for the first time when I interviewed her for my media documentary in VCE. Since then, she has been pivotal in my journey from the beginning.
I was very fortunate to be involved in many sporting opportunities at John Paul College, I played my first game of footy in Year 7, which contributed to my growing interest in the sport after dedicating a lot of my time to basketball growing up. I also began boundary umpiring when I was in Year 8 and I loved picking up aspects of playing the game by taking part in SIS Sport as it also complemented my umpiring.As soon as Media was an elective subject in Year 9, I jumped at it! I remember being really excited to choose Media as a VCE subject in Year 11 and 12 and the final project for Year 12 was to create a piece of media - I chose a documentary titled 'This is the Future of Footy' to focus on women in footy. This was such a pivotal moment in shaping my career path, and I loved every second of the creative process. Today, working with the AFL in game development, I focus on creating positive environments and experiences for women and girls in community football. Having the opportunity to contribute to the growth and evolution of the game, helping shape what it was, what it is, and what it can become - is something I find incredibly rewarding.
Umpiring or working at the AFL is not something I ever thought about doing or continuing to do long term. I'm now umpiring AFLW, the highest level of elite women's football in the country, and I've also turned my passion into 'work', ensuring women and girls can belong and thrive in all aspects of sport.
To have built this career for myself has come from a big emphasis on being approachable in terms of kindness and genuine care. Being open to all opportunities, no matter how minimal they might seem, they're likely to have the biggest impact overall or create a connection you'll have for life.
I've been on a big learning journey in regard to voicing your desires, your goals and your dreams and then allowing them to happen. This can take a lot of hard work with many setbacks, but it's the cliché reminder that the journey to where your 'final destination' is where the enjoyment and excitement in what you're doing truly shines the most.
Patience is a good skill to practice and one that I am always learning from. It makes it feel more worth it. Others can help you and support you, but they'll never know what you're thinking or aspiring to unless you say it out loud.
The main thing is to really believe in yourself and understand what you believe your purpose is, which can take some time to discover. I think sometimes the strongest desires and goals stem from being inspired by others. Comparison can also be tough in any path you choose to take outside of school, but having the belief and confidence in yourself to find a way is a motivating mindset to have.
Always look to aspire to who you want to be, rather than what you aspire to do, and you'll find your way there.
Image credit: AFL (Australian Football League). Originally shared as part of AFL's Workplay Media and Broadcast Career Pathways Program announcement on LinkedIn.Image credit: AFL Victoria. Originally shared as part of the AFL Victoria Coaches Forum 2026 announcement on LinkedIn by Joshua Galbraith, State Coaching Manager – AFL Victoria.