After decades in retail and managing the meat department at the local supermarket, Lisa was ready for a change.
Looking for a new path, she turned to her niece, who ran an early learning service not too far from home.
“I just gave her a quick shout and asked, are there any jobs and what’s the possibility of me taking up a career as an educator? And it stemmed from there.”
Lisa, a proud grandmother of nine, had always loved children, but stepping into early childhood education in her 60s was a big leap.
The challenges and the support with studying
Enrolling into a workplace training Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care was simple, but returning to study wasn’t so easy in the very beginning.
“Honestly at the start, I was very overwhelmed. And because I’d come from management, and now I was learning again… it just blew my mind.”
With no prior computer-based learning experience, and in fact no notable since her high school years, Lisa struggled at first.
“I was keen to get stuck in and started too early. I opened it up and it just went ‘Oh dear, what is happening?’” she laughs.
“Thankfully I had support from my workplace and my trainer. They’ve been tremendous. That support is the difference between achieving it or saying ‘stuff it, I’m not doing it anymore.’”
Finding her feet and her purpose
Once the overwhelm settled, Lisa hit her stride. “I think I’m an expert at it now,” she says of her tech skills. “I’m pretty happy with myself.”
She also found a routine that worked, combining workplace training with self-paced study. “When I come home, I’m relaxed, I’m finished for the day. I can sit down and relax while I do the study.”
Her dedication paid off: she completed her Certificate III in just six months!
“Everyone was blown away with how quickly I did it!” she laughs.
And through the practical experience of workplace training, Lisa found the heart of her new career.
One story stands out. A little girl named Sophie, who had never walked due to tight Achilles tendons, was fitted with new boots.
“I spent the whole day with her… every time she’d get down on her knees, I’d lift her back up. And by the end of the day, when her parents came and picked her up, she actually walked to them.That’s was a real moment when I knew — this is what I need to do.”
New career, no regrets whatsoever
A day in Lisa’s life now starts with a much than her former 2am meat manager shifts. And she finds joy in simple moments:
“Greeting the children to me is just the best part of the day… There’s a little boy there now that’s just started saying my name and it’s always ‘Lisa! Lisa! Lisa! when I arrive.’”
Lisa says her studies have even helped her at home. “I can manage my grandchildren better now… just being able to apply my practical learnings from work to him — and blow my son’s mind away.He’s been asking for advice!”
The support and confidence Lisa gained through her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care were so encouraging that she’s currently diving into her Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
“I thought, let’s do it, let’s just get in and get it done”, she said.
Words of encouragement
Lisa knows many people hesitate to change careers, especially later in life. But her message is clear:
“Just go for it. If you love kids, just do it. It’s so rewarding to see at the end of the day you have taught this child another skill set for life.”
And when asked to describe a career in early childhood education in just three words?
“Inspiring. Meaningful. Rewarding,” Lisa says. “It’s so rewarding for me to come home and say, I’ve taught a child something new. That is the best part of my day.”
Thinking about your own career change?
If you’re thinking of taking Lisa’s advice and going for a career change, we’re here to help.
Whether you’re looking for more meaning in your work, craving a fresh start, or wondering if it’s too late to do something new, Lisa’s story proves it’s never too late to find your purpose.
Find out more about our nationally recognised qualifications and how we support learners at all ages and stages at practicaloutcomes.edu.au.
