Finding fulfilling work after FIFO

“After the birth of my second child – my son – something shifted,” began Zane, on his journey towards youth work.

“My conscience did a complete U-turn. 

“Suddenly, building roads and moving dirt around didn’t feel like ‘enough’. 

“I wanted to be present at home and do work that actually made a difference in people’s lives,” Zane said. 

That decision set Zane on a path he never expected – straight to TAFE Queensland.

Like many career-changers, Zane’s first step was scrolling through job ads, after being inspired to pursue youth work, at his brother’s suggestion (who worked in a similar field).

“Every ad for youth work however said the same thing: ‘must hold a Certificate III or higher,’” said Zane.

“So, I thought, ‘Right then, TAFE it is!’ I signed up for the Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (CHC40321) … thinking it was an online course.” 

Cue the first-day adjustment when he walked into a real classroom, surrounded by strangers.

“I remember thinking, ‘Well… this definitely isn’t the lounge room.’ But it turned out to be one of the best mistakes I’ve ever made,” Zane laughed.

That ‘mistake’ introduced him to trainer Amunda Scott and the Community Services teaching team.

“From day one, Amunda guided us, challenged us, and shared her knowledge with so much passion,” Zane said.  

“She’s hands-down the most charismatic, energetic teacher I’ve ever had. 

“She doesn’t just teach the textbook answers – she teaches you the ‘why’ behind it and how to apply it in the real world,” said Zane.

Credit where it’s due: making the leap from FIFO to full-time study in a brand-new field while raising two young children was no small feat.

“The support I had made all the difference – from Amunda and the whole community services team, to my classmates who were always ready with a laugh or a helping hand, and of course my family at home.  

“Every bit of that support kept me going,” shared Zane.

Zane’s journey from student to service leader was swift and his effort paid off sooner than expected.

“While I was still studying, I landed a job in out-of-home residential care for at-risk youth,” he said.

“From there it moved quickly – youth worker, then senior youth worker, and now I’m a program service leader.  

“Sometimes I stop and think, ‘How on earth did that happen so fast?’”

He credits TAFE Queensland for giving him the foundation to thrive.

“This course didn’t just give me a qualification – it gave me confidence,” he said.

“It gave me the belief that I could step into a completely new field, work through the tough stuff, and still come out the other side ready to make a difference.  

“That’s something money can’t buy.”

Zane’s final message is clear: “with hard work, a bit of grit, and the right support, you really can reinvent yourself.”

“And hey – if an ex-FIFO bloke who used to drive big machines and play with dirt for a living can end up here, then honestly, anything’s possible,” Zane finished.