Juggling family life and a demanding job can be tough. Through this TAFE Queensland course, Sam Alexander found the perfect career for mums.
As parents, time management has become an art form, with much of our lives revolving around our children’s routines and schedules. From meals and bedtimes to appointments, sporting commitments and everything in between, there is plenty to consider. So when it comes to returning to work, finding something you enjoy doing while maintaining a good work/life balance is like hitting the jackpot.
For 48-year-old Sam Alexander, that’s exactly how she felt when she landed her job in outside school hours care. Mum to a 16-year-old and stepmother to a nine-year-old, Sam found herself reassessing which path was right for her after her manager role in a roadside assistance call centre was made redundant after 19 years of service.
“I was volunteering at the school tuckshop when I saw an ad for an administrator role at the school’s after-school hours care service, which sounded perfect for me. It was not far from home and gave me the opportunity to get back into the workplace after having time off,” Sam said.
“I already had some understanding of the childcare side of the role, as, funnily enough, I’d started a diploma in early childhood education and care when I first finished high school—I just never finished it because it didn’t suit me at the time.”
Sam said she leapt at the opportunity and quickly fell in love with the job.
“It has just clicked with me. The work/life balance is incredible for someone with school-aged children; I pretty much work school hours, finish most days by 5 pm, and it’s flexible around me and my family.”
Sam said that while her managerial experience has helped her progress, and she has since stepped up into the 2IC (second in charge) service administrator role, her manager encouraged her to gain a qualification to grow her knowledge and skills within the industry.
“I really wanted to do the role justice and gain a better understanding of the childcare side and had heard that the Certificate III in Outside of School Hours Care (10983NAT) was subsidised under Fee-Free TAFE funding, meaning I could study online, at my own pace, and at no cost,” Sam said.
“It was important for me to find a course that would be flexible enough to maintain my work/life balance, so studying online was the perfect fit for me. For anyone balancing work and family life with study, you’ll know there will be times when you’ll be studying while everyone else is in bed. However, as I was already working in the industry, I found it a little easier. If things got too much—for example, if family matters arose or work was going through a busy period—I had the flexibility to push back a unit to the next course date.”
Sam Alexander now working in outside school hours care after qualifying through TAFE Queensland
Attaining a Certificate III in Outside of School Hours Care at TAFE Queensland
Sam commenced her studies in April 2023 and said she was surprised and heartened by how supported she felt throughout her studies.
“The way it was set out was great—there was one central location for all the reference and learning materials and links to direct you in the right direction for each topic,” she said.
“Even though I was doing it all online, I never felt like I was doing it alone; I had the same teacher throughout all of my units, and she was super responsive if we emailed questions and would happily arrange Zoom meetings with me and the other students if we didn’t quite grasp something or felt like we were struggling.
Sam graduated in August this year and said she is proud to have her qualification and, with it, a greater understanding of the work the educational team within her service does every day.
“It gave me a chance to learn those skills and apply them as an educator, which I believe, in turn, has made me a better manager,” Sam said.
“It’s certainly worth doing; if you have kids going to school, it offers a great work/life balance. The course has enabled me to seize opportunities, and as a parent, I feel I have an advantage in knowing how to work with and respond to children.
“I gain a lot of satisfaction from my work—you can really see the kids’ character and personalities shine, and you help guide and shape their future, which is a pretty great feeling.”
With employment opportunities for educational aides anticipated to increase by 9.4 per cent across the state over the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, and 16.8 per cent on the Sunshine Coast alone (according to Jobs Queensland), there has never been a better time to get started in the industry.
Find out how TAFE Queensland can help you define your greatness with a career in outside of school hours care by visiting tafeqld.edu.au.
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