From styling spaces to shaping minds, Janet has redesigned her career

“I’ve always been a Brissy girl,” Janet began. 

“I pursued the self-employment route at 21, built a fast-growing customer base here, and to service that – I never left.”

“With that said however, my clients are a great mix of local and internationals,” she said.

Although lecturing in Interior Design had been in the back of Janet’s mind for years, it was a tragic life-changing event that sparked her move towards teaching. 

“About two and a half years ago, I started dating an incredible man,” Janet shared.

“He was a doctor, on medical research boards, represented Australia in sport, did national radio programs, and was just the most genuine person.”

“He died in a traffic accident on his way home from one of our dates.”

“That loss hit me harder than anything I’ve ever experienced. But as I healed, I realised the inspiration and impact he’d had on my life. That became the motivation to finally action my own dreams and goals,” Janet explained. 

After more than 30 years running Bailey Retail Design – Janet’s award-winning interior design business spanning retail, residential and commercial projects – she easily, and very naturally has brought a wealth of industry experience into the classroom.

“As I started looking into lecturing, I came across a TAFE Queensland job advertised in Interior Design,” recounted Janet.

“It wasn’t quite lecturing, but I called and ended up speaking to a person in the Faculty of Applied Science and Business, who was very encouraging about me doing the fee-free Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122) course, to be able to work in their TAFE department.”

“We spoke a week later, and by that stage he’d checked out my socials and had already told other people about me and explained that you can work at TAFE Queensland as a lecturer, while ‘working under supervision’ whilst doing the TAE.” 

“And that’s what eventuated – I enrolled in the TAE course, then two weeks before starting, I was asked to apply for an interior design teaching position.”

“I was successful and started my job at TAFE Queensland two months after I started my TAE, which I completed through live, online classes,” Janet beamed.

Janet’s first teaching assignment was a baptism of fire: filling in for a colleague’s six-subject online load during their long service leave.

“It was hectic, but the team was amazing. Looking back, it was the best way to start – now anything feels manageable,” Janet laughed. 

Today, Janet has settled into a permanent part-time role at the South Bank campus, where she teaches the Diploma of Interior Design (MSF50222) – a mix of face-to-face and online subjects – as well as a non-accredited short course, Interior Design Planning and Styling (NONAC0495).

Each step on her journey has been shaped by encouragement, guidance and generosity of others and Janet acknowledges and thanks her TAFE Queensland TAE lecturers, Sabine Baer and Clinton Lanham, with inspiring her approach.

“Sabine brought so much enthusiasm, while Clinton set an exemplary benchmark as a trainer – someone to emulate in my own teaching,” Janet said.

The Interiors department has also been a strong support system. 

“They welcomed me from day one and guided me through. It’s been incredible to have that backing,” she said.

“Teaching at the South Bank campus really feels like working in an incredible mini village – there are so many wonderful facilities and opportunities available to everyone,” Janet remarked.

Reflecting on her journey, Janet encouraged others to consider TAFE Queensland.

“Industry bodies hold TAFE Queensland training in such high regard,” she said. 

“I’ve spoken to firms that prefer hiring TAFE Queensland graduates over university grads because of the up-to-date, practical skills.

“Students here graduate truly ready to hit the ground running,” Janet finished.