The psychology of a career switcher: Brooke's story

"I just felt like the time was right to pursue something different."

You'd be surprised how many people say this every year.

In this case it was Brooke Taylor.

An experienced psychologist who just knew she was ready for a career change.

And like many people at a career crossroad, she just wasn’t sure which path to take.

Thankfully she had two young children to guide her.

Learning about learning

Ever the psychologist, Brooke had been observing the kids’ behaviour for some time.

She noticed that they engaged with learning in quite different ways.

One struggled and needed extra support, while the other was quite advanced, and a natural learner.

"It was a bit of a driving force to understand more about child development and how they learn," she says.

This was when she knew that she wanted to continue to work with children in her next career.

"I wanted a change from psychology, and my obvious passion is about children's social and emotional wellbeing."

Early childhood education was the answer.

Brooke chose to study a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) at Edith Cowan University.

It was only two-years of full-time study and her previous university qualifications made her eligible.

It was also flexible and could accommodate her family commitments.

The university's School of Education’s strong reputation for its industry partnerships was another important factor.

Back to study

Though it was a challenge, returning to study mid-career gave Brooke a different level of wisdom and skills in this new learning environment.

"The staff and mentor teachers really respected where we had come from and what we brought to the profession in terms of wisdom and our professional skill set," she says.

As a postgraduate student, Brooke felt she was really respected at ECU.

And she was most thankful for her practical experience in schools and early learning centres, a key part of the course.

This professional experience allows students to develop and refine their technique as a teacher and to receive helpful feedback.

"While they were so daunting and stressful at times, they were also invaluable," she says.

A new chapter

Brooke now works as a kindergarten teacher and loves it.

She says she feels like that passion has been reignited that she'd lost after 15 years in psychology.

"It's exciting to have that back and to feel passionate and inspired by the little people I get to work with every day."