From Finance to Tech - Carole reinvents her career

After high school, she completed a double degree in commerce and IT, which laid the foundation for a successful 15-year career in finance.

However, her passion for strategic analysis steered her to shift into IT.

“My outdated university degree presented challenges in being considered by new employers and a lack of industry connections posed a significant barrier,” said Carole.

“After realising I wouldn’t be able to make a career change without further education, I started looking at options to up-skill and build connections,” she said.

The 39-year-old mother-of-two explored study options that aligned with her responsibilities as a working parent.

TAFE Queensland's Diploma of  Information Technology (Advanced Programming) at the Coomera campus proved to be the perfect fit and with the State Government offering Free-Free TAFE, she enrolled immediately.

“Everything lined up with exactly what I needed - a free programming course that built on my foundational skills, with a part-time classroom commitment that meant I could still work and support my family,” said Carole.

“Also, the face-to-face learning option and real-world opportunities would enable me to start making connections right away.”

Now as she nears graduation, Carole can confidently say the course has exceeded her expectations.

"The teachers at TAFE Queensland have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to knowing what skills are in demand in the industry. The content and assessments are relevant to industry trends,” she said.

"The skills we are learning by working with a client on a real project can’t compare with a simulated assessment. I already feel confident in my ability to take the next steps forward into the workforce.”

“If I choose to take on further studies in the future, my preference would be to study at TAFE Queensland as it suits my learning style and allows me to achieve results faster.”