Meet the older Australians making big career changes later in life

by Admin
August 4, 2024

Rebecca McDonald is the first person in her family to go to university and while she was 51 when she enrolled, she didn’t let her age hold her back.

Ms McDonald is among the 1.3 per cent of Australian students aged between 55 and 74 who were studying in 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The university student had worked in early childhood for almost 15 years, including seven years running her own family day care business, but always had an interest in speech pathology.

Running around after small children for so many years took a toll on her body and she decided to look into a career change.

She paid a visit to her local CQUniversity campus in Rockhampton and made inquiries about the course.

At first, she was enrolled in a bridging program called STEPS, which gave her a taste of what a full undergraduate university degree would be like.

“It was a good lead up to it,” she said.

“[I thought] ‘Can I do it? Have I got time? Do I want to study?’ And I learned in STEPS that … I could do it,” she said.

Rebecca McDonald is the first in her family to undertake university study. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)

It hasn’t been without its challenges.

Ms McDonald admits while she is in her second year, she still doubts herself every day.

“I would say half the time I’m enjoying it and then half the time I am anxious about what’s coming up,” she said.

“In regards to assessment, tests, we have quizzes … workbooks that we’ve got to complete before units.”

To keep herself going, Ms McDonald pictures herself walking across the stage in a black gown at graduation.

“I do have to check myself all the time and say I deserve to be here,” she said.

“But I think a lot of the students suffer from that … Not only just me.”

Age not a barrier

Across Australia last year, ABS data showed more than three million people were enrolled to study in school, higher education, technical and further education.

A majority of these were in the younger generations, but not all.

Louise Geal took up university student for the first time at the age of 59 years old. (Supplied: CQUniversity )

Louise Geal, from Bundaberg, is now in her third year of university study, taking up a bachelor’s degree in social work with CQUniversity when she was 59.

She worked as a high school work experience coordinator for more than 15 years.

While she loved it, she wanted to do something more.

“I was never able to have the opportunity to study when I was younger and I guess I never had the confidence,” Ms Geal said.

After going through some personal change and a lot of work on her confidence, she took the leap and enrolled.

Never too old

Going into it, she was nervous about the technology and keeping up with her younger peers.

“I wasn’t confident that I would manage it, but I wanted to have a try,” she said.

Little things were daunting, like opening her webcam for the first time in online classes.

“It was a big learning curve … learning how to actually attend a Zoom meeting was big for me,” she said.

Ms Geal is now in her third year of study and all of her fears have been quashed.

She not only learned the coursework, but it has also given her more confidence.

She is now part of a local Bundaberg study group and they often go out for coffee and dinner.

“They’re varying age groups,” Ms Geal said.

“Another lady [is] close to my age and there’s a girl who was straight out of high school.”

Looking ahead to her graduation next year, Ms Geal is eager to work in the industry and hopes to work for at least 10 more years before reaching ‘semi-retirement’ age.

“You’re not too old to chase that dream,” she said.

“I’m just so pleased in my lifetime that I’ve got the opportunity to do this.”

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