Exciting Career Transition: Australian Teacher to Key Worker

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Many individuals find themselves at a crossroads in their careers, questioning whether to stay in a familiar role or take a leap into something entirely different. Melissa Reid, a dedicated educator, faced a similar dilemma after years of teaching in early childhood education. In this blog post, we will delve into Melissa’s inspiring journey in making the career transition from teaching to becoming a Key Worker, exploring her motivations, challenges, and the positive changes she experienced along the way.

Teaching Background

Melissa’s journey into the world of education began straight out of high school. She embarked on her early childhood career by enrolling in TAFE for her Certificate III and Diploma in Children’s Services. Her passion for educating young minds led her to pursue a Bachelor of Education (birth-5) degree, which she successfully completed in 2015. Over the course of 13 years, Melissa worked in both non-profit and private childcare centres, dedicating herself to nurturing and educating children during their formative years.

Despite her passion for teaching, Melissa began to feel disheartened by the challenges she faced in the childcare sector. The burden of paperwork, a lack of appreciation from families, and the significant pay gap between early childhood educators and primary/high school teachers were disheartening. For five years, Melissa had been yearning for an escape from the world of childcare but was uncertain about how to make the transition, she explained, “I had been wanting to leave the early childhood field for the last 5 years but I didn’t know how. I always had a passion for children with behaviours and additional needs, but with only a Bachelor of Education 0-5 degree I was limited on how to transition into another field without additional training.”

Key Worker-Teacher Role

While scrolling through job listings, Melissa stumbled upon a job posting that would change her life. It was for a “Key Worker-Teacher” position, which surprisingly required only a Bachelor of Education degree, with no additional qualifications needed. This opportunity seemed tailor-made for her aspirations. Nervously, she applied for the role, marking the beginning of her journey out of childcare. “I had been receiving SEEK emails for childcare jobs for the last 5 years which I received daily and I would look to see what local jobs were on offer. One day I saw a new job, ‘Key Worker-Teacher,’ I opened the job ad and I was reading the job description, and it noted you only needed a Bachelor of Education degree, no additional qualifications needed. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. I was so nervous applying for this role, I had been wanting out of childcare for over 5 years, and this was the first job that could actually make this happen.”

“I viewed the job advertisement on Friday, applied that day, sent the video introduction on Saturday and received a phone call the next Monday.” Within a matter of days, Melissa received a call, underwent two interviews, and had her references checked. The next Tuesday, she received the offer she had been eagerly awaiting. After a four-week wait, she embarked on her new role, becoming the first ‘Key Worker Teacher’ for her company in New South Wales, and only the second in Australia.

Challenges of Career Transition

Transitioning from the teaching profession to a Key Worker role came with its unique set of challenges. Melissa went from working in a team-oriented environment, constantly surrounded by children and colleagues, to a role where she was largely independent, managing her own calendar and enjoying newfound freedom. “I went from working as a team, constantly being surrounded by others, being pulled in so many directions and asking for permission to being able to go to the bathroom for a break, to being solo on the road, in charge of my own calendar and having more freedom than I ever had before.”

This transition took time and effort, primarily due to her need to understand the intricacies of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), one-on-one work with children and families, and organising her appointments and sessions. Working as your own boss can be a challenge, something many people need to adapt to.“It took a long time to transition into the role- this was due to learning the NDIS world, working one-on-one with children and families, organising my own calendar booking in all these sessions and figuring out who to see on what day.”

Additionally, Melissa faced the unexpected curveball of a COVID-19 lockdown just two weeks into her new role in July 2021. As one of the pioneering Teacher Key Workers, she had to work alongside her team to establish the role’s value and communicate its significance to both families and other clinicians in the NDIS sector. She explained, “Being one of the first Teacher Key Workers, we were still figuring out how to promote our role with families and how to advocate to other clinicians our value and worth as Teachers in the NDIS world.”

Transferable Teaching Skills

One of the strengths that Melissa brought with her into her new role was the transferable skills she honed during her teaching career. Here are some examples of these skills and how they have contributed to her success as a Key Worker:

Child Development Expertise: Early childhood educators possess a deep understanding of child development, enabling them to recognise developmental milestones, delays, and potential issues. They play a crucial role in advocating for children’s developmental needs. “As early childhood Educators, we understand the journey/struggles around toilet training, children learning their first words and watching them learn how to play and interact. We know how to extend these skills, we also have a good sense of when a child might be behind developmentally and we are normally the first person to say to the parents, “Hey, we have noticed xxx with your child, we recommend you see your GP for a referral for a pediatrician.”
Play-Based Learning: Teachers understand the importance of play in a child’s growth and learning. They are well-versed in play strategies and can use play as a tool to enhance a child’s development, “we know children learn through play and this comes naturally to us as teachers.”
Parent and Family Engagement: Teachers build strong relationships with parents and families, which is invaluable when working as a Key Worker. These relationships facilitate collaboration and empower families to support their child’s developmental needs, “we also know the importance of engaging in childcare/playgroups and we can help support families to find the right group that suits their child’s needs.”
Transition Support: Educators are equipped to assist families in enrolling their children in school, guiding the transition process, “we have the knowledge and strong relationships with parents and families, which helps us work in partnership with them to build their skills and knowledge in supporting their child with their diagnosis and developmental needs.”

Melissa’s educator and teaching background provided her with a solid foundation, making her a valuable asset in her new role as a Key worker Teacher.

Gaining New Skills and Knowledge

Transitioning into a different career often requires acquiring new skills and knowledge. However, Melissa’s transition into the Key Worker role required minimal additional training. She only had to complete an NDIS clearance check, which involved a short online course and a visit to Service NSW for payment. Her pre-existing Working with Children Check (WWCC) and NESA accreditation were advantageous.

Updating her Resume and Cover Letter

Melissa made targeted changes to her resume and cover letter to align them with her new career path. She emphasised her passion for working with children with behavioural and additional needs, highlighting relevant experiences from her previous roles where she had assisted children with diverse requirements. Her cover letter effectively conveyed her ability to meet the job description, making a compelling case for her candidacy. She gave specific examples and used storytelling from her career experience to help her land the job, “I went through all my previous workplaces and highlighted how I assisted children with additional needs. I mostly focused on my cover letter outlining how I could meet the job description.”

What a day looks like as a Key worker

Melissa explains a day for a key worker is always changing which makes it a job full of new challenges, “your day normally consists of 3-5 therapy sessions which can range from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Other times you are writing reports, or attending meetings with other therapists, school teachers, daycare centres etc. You can organise joint consults with other disciplines, learning new skills and strategies from them to implement with your other participants. No two days are the same, and if you have a challenging child/family/centre or school- you are there for only 1.5 hours face-to-face maximum for the week, until your next session. If you feel threatened or are hit/bitten, you can remove yourself and leave the setting.” You do have rights as a key worker and it’s important to know these. You also need to be realistic that you could be in a situation where you need to work with a family through trauma or other issues. You are working with children with disabilities and this can add to the challenge. Overall, you are working in a fabulous and supported environment.

Unexpected Benefits and Positive Outcomes

Leaving the teaching profession not only allowed Melissa to escape the challenges she faced but also brought about unexpected benefits and positive outcomes. Here are some of the advantages she has experienced:

Work Flexibility: As a Key Worker, Melissa now enjoys the flexibility to choose her workdays and hours. This newfound freedom allows her to attend special events for her children and tailor her schedule to her family’s needs. “I now choose when I want to work. As an ECT you are normally allocated the middle to late shift between 9 am-5 pm, you rarely get time off or the chance to leave work to attend special events (such as Mother’s Day morning tea). In my new role, I can choose what days I want to travel and to what locations. If I need to do a later start, I can start my day at 9:30 a.m. If I need to finish early, I can have my last session from 2 pm – 3 pm then go home and complete my admin work. The flexibility is amazing and refreshing. If my children have a special event in the middle of the day, I can blank out my calendar for 1 hour and attend this.”
Diverse Work Environments: Her role exposes her to a variety of work settings, including childcare centres and schools, enabling her to support teachers and educators in creating inclusive environments for all children.
Collaboration with Other Professionals: Melissa collaborates with occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and other specialists. This interdisciplinary approach has expanded her knowledge and skill set significantly.
One-on-One Interaction: Working directly with children and families in their home environment has allowed Melissa to make a more profound impact on their lives.

Advice for Teachers Considering a Career Transition

Melissa’s journey serves as an inspiration to educators contemplating a career change. Her advice to them is simple: take the leap and give it a shot. The fear of the unknown can be daunting, but it’s a risk worth taking to find a more fulfilling and satisfying career path, “Give it a shot, what have you got to lose? This was so daunting to me to apply for this role, but if I didn’t I would still be drowning in childcare.”

Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Navigating the transition period and balancing work and personal life can be challenging. Melissa transitioned directly into her new role and faced some difficult moments. However, with time and support from her team, she found her stride. She emphasises that while there may be tough moments, the job itself is not difficult, especially when you have a strong support system.

Financial Considerations with a Career Transition

For early childhood teachers, transitioning to a Key Worker role often means an upgrade in pay. However, the salary can vary depending on the company and negotiation skills. For primary school teachers considering a similar shift, there may be a slight reduction in income, but the improved work-life balance should be taken into account. “For Primary Teachers, I believe it may be a slight step back in pay, but you need to take into consideration the work/life balance. And no, you do not get paid holidays, it’s your standard 4 weeks of annual leave and the company has the standard 2-week shutdown over the Christmas period.”

Enhanced Happiness and Well-Being

Leaving teaching has had a profound impact on Melissa’s overall happiness and well-being. She now relishes the opportunity to work one-on-one with children and families, fostering a deep sense of fulfilment. Her collaboration with various professionals has broadened her horizons, and she enjoys making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she supports.“I enjoy working one-on-one with the child and also the families, supporting them in the home environment to support their child. I love working alongside OT’s, Speechies, PT’s, PBS (Positive behaviour support), psychologists and social workers. I have gained so much knowledge working alongside these disciplines. I enjoy going into childcare centres and schools, supporting the teachers and educators in these settings to adapt their environments and be a more inclusive setting for all children.”

Melissa Reid’s journey from teaching to becoming a Key Worker exemplifies the potential for growth and fulfilment that comes with a career change. Her story is a testament to the value of transferable skills, the importance of pursuing one’s passions, and the rewards of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. For educators contemplating a career transition, Melissa’s story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, proving that it’s never too late to pursue a path that aligns with your true calling.