Amritpal Kaur, a 35-year-old mother, Australian Defence Force officer and national-level athlete, has spoken about the challenges she has faced as a turban-wearing Sikh woman in Australia. She is also the country’s first initiated Sikh woman to qualify as a national-level athletics referee.
Speaking to SBS Punjabi, Kaur said she has repeatedly been questioned about her gender because some people are still unfamiliar with Sikh women wearing turbans.
“I am still asked if I am a man or a woman because people still do not know that even Sikh women can wear turbans.”
According to SBS, Kaur believes greater awareness is needed about turban-wearing Sikh women and their presence across different professions and fields. Her own journey has seen her establish herself in the Australian Defence Force while also pursuing athletics at a national level.
Her achievements have made her a prominent example of a Sikh woman maintaining her religious identity while building a career in areas where women from minority communities continue to break new ground.
Breaking barriers while staying true to her identity
Kaur has described becoming the first initiated Sikh woman to qualify as a national-level athletics referee in Australia as a challenging journey. However, she said she hopes her achievement will encourage other Sikh women to follow similar paths.
“It was tough to become the first, but I am happy that I will not be the 'only' Sikh woman and many turban-wearing Sikh women are representing themselves in the fields of athletics.”
As reported by SBS, Kaur's achievement is significant not only because of the milestone itself but also because she hopes it will help create greater visibility for Sikh women who wear turbans.
Her journey demonstrates how cultural and religious identity can remain an important part of professional life, even while individuals enter demanding and traditionally male-dominated environments.
Kaur has also worked to promote health and fitness among Punjabi women through programmes aimed at encouraging greater participation in physical activity and wellbeing.
Faith remains central to her journey
Despite the challenges and questions she has encountered, Kaur said she never wanted professional success to come at the cost of her identity.
“I always wanted to do something different but never wanted to leave my identity for it. My faith has always kept me going despite the setbacks.”
SBS reported that Kaur considers her faith an important part of who she is and has carried that identity throughout her career in the Australian Defence Force and athletics.
Her comments also highlight the importance of representation. For Kaur, being visible as a turban-wearing Sikh woman is not simply about breaking an individual barrier but about making it easier for others to follow.
By entering different professional and sporting spaces while continuing to wear her turban, she hopes people will become more familiar with Sikh women and understand that wearing a turban is not limited to men.
Nominated for Australian Sikh Woman of the Year
Kaur's achievements have also earned recognition within the Australian Sikh community. She has been nominated for the Australian Sikh Woman of the Year award at the Australian Sikh Excellence Awards 2026.
According to SBS, the nomination comes as Kaur continues to balance her responsibilities as a mother and Australian Defence Force officer with her sporting and community activities.
Her story represents a broader conversation about identity, representation and belonging among migrant communities in Australia.
For Kaur, the goal is not simply to be remembered as the first. As she explained, she hopes that more turban-wearing Sikh women will follow and that eventually, being a Sikh woman in the Australian Defence Force, athletics or other professional fields will no longer be seen as unusual.
As SBS reported, Kaur's journey is ultimately about demonstrating that professional ambition and cultural identity do not have to exist separately. Her achievements show that it is possible to pursue excellence while remaining firmly connected to one's faith and identity.
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