Education & Work Going back to uni at 39...

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by hammer, 10th Jan, 2019.

Join Australia's most dynamic and respected property investment community
  1. hammer

    hammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    28th Aug, 2015
    Posts:
    2,854
    Location:
    Darwin
    I'm thinking seriously about going back to uni to become an audiologist.

    I've done very well in my current career (multimedia) but have hit an income ceiling of just under 90k. It's also a dying industry and I'm bored.

    I do not want to look back in 5 years time and find myself in the same job doing the same thing....

    So..I'm thinking Audiology could be cool. I like audio and helping people. We don't have kids and this is a qualification that would permit us to travel and work overseas as well.

    The catch I that it would mean moving to Adelaide and living very cheaply for 2 years whilst I study. Once I graduate i'd be on 70k and after a few years would hopefully hit over 100k etc...

    I have a small side hustle that I could keep going and this would help a little, bit this would get hit also by the move to Adelaide.

    It's a fairly major reset. One that has the full support of my amazing wife but I'm not sure if it's worth it at 39....

    Thoughts?
     
    paulF, samiam and EN710 like this.
  2. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    12,393
    Location:
    Sydney
    Given you probably have another 20-30 years of work available to you (if you choose to), I see no reason why not to change careers at 39?
     
  3. sharon

    sharon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    6th Jul, 2016
    Posts:
    441
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Go for it.
     
    Shazi and balwoges like this.
  4. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    41,667
    Location:
    Australia wide
    could you study part time while working?
     
    Gen-Y and Gockie like this.
  5. Anthony416

    Anthony416 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    14th Dec, 2015
    Posts:
    538
    Location:
    Sydney
    Go for it x 2
     
    sharon, Shazi and Gen-Y like this.
  6. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    14,736
    Location:
    Sydney
    I'm all for a career change if you are bored. But have a think if you will find the alternative career boring a few years down the track.

    My uncle graduated as an Optometrist and had his own very successful practice but got bored of it mid life so he studied IT and has now been in IT for a long time. I think being an Optometrist is very repetitive and not too mentally challenging. It's a bit sad since to get into the course you have to be a high achiever. He still works as an Optometrist once a month on a Saturday morning though.

    Do you know any audiologists?
     
    Gen-Y likes this.
  7. Eric Wu

    Eric Wu Well-Known Member Business Member

    Joined:
    8th Oct, 2016
    Posts:
    1,603
    Location:
    Australia
    Why not?

    Many ppl have changed careers at middle age.

    Like you already said: will you regret in 5 yes if you don't make the change?
     
    Last edited: 14th Jan, 2019
    Angel, Shazi and Gen-Y like this.
  8. xactly

    xactly Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    21st Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    70
    Location:
    NSW
    In 2 years time you will be 41.
    you don't have a choice in that fact

    in 2 years time you could be a 41 year old audiologist.
    or a 41 year old multi-media worker

    you DO get a choice here.


    I find its easier to start with the end in mind
    the above advice is what someone told me when I was contemplating retraining.

    I decided to retrain
     
    Phantom, legallyblonde, D.T. and 9 others like this.
  9. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    13,932
    Location:
    Brisbane
    I'd do it if your industry is dying and if you are bored, but not for the money.
     
    luckyone and Lizzie like this.
  10. hammer

    hammer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    28th Aug, 2015
    Posts:
    2,854
    Location:
    Darwin
    Sadly not. This one is intensive full time study only.
     
  11. larrylarry

    larrylarry Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    5,386
    Location:
    Sydney
    Why not? Change of career could re-energise your life!
     
    Shazi and Eric Wu like this.
  12. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    13,436
    Location:
    Melbourne
    I went back to uni at almost 50 so there! :cool:

    Spent all Xmas / NY studying.... :oops:

    The Y-man
     
    albanga and D.T. like this.
  13. serendip

    serendip Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    143
    Location:
    Sydney
    At 32 my BFF declared she was too old to go back to uni. At 44, she finally scratched that itch and finished 4 years later (p/t & f/t). She's never been happier, more satisfied or earning more $. Go for it!!
     
    luckyone, hammer and Terry_w like this.
  14. Lizzie

    Lizzie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    9th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    9,618
    Location:
    Planet A
    I'm 50 and back studying at TAFE something I wish I'd done at 20 - I say "go for it"
     
    Shazi, Ted Varrick and Terry_w like this.
  15. Kassy

    Kassy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    21st Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    550
    Location:
    Canberra
    I also think you should go do it! Given the aging population I reckon it would be a growing field.
     
    Rose89 likes this.
  16. chylld

    chylld Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    24th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,701
    Location:
    Sydney
    Another "go for it" from me ;)
     
  17. Cimbom

    Cimbom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,568
    Location:
    Back in Canberra!
    Your location looks like it'd work well with the job. Had a quick look on Seek and there are a few positions with NT Health involving travel to remote communities - top pay is 130k. Good luck with it
     
  18. RayO

    RayO Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    21st May, 2017
    Posts:
    76
    Location:
    Sydney
    When i finished my studying in 2011, i said never again. Now we're in 2019 and i'm back to it again. Also in a creative industry and have done well, but i just find it boring and not much of a challenge anymore. Some love being comfortable, where as me, i want that challenge or problem to work on.

    Yes it's tiring, balancing it with FT work and other commitments, but i'm loving it. I'm with the others here, go for it! The grind will payoff with joy at the end and you wont have that 'what if' moment :)
     
  19. TheSackedWiggle

    TheSackedWiggle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    28th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,826
    Location:
    canberra

    What in multimedia?


    why audiology?
    why do you think its future proof?
    is part time option available?
     
  20. KinG3o0o

    KinG3o0o Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    17th Jul, 2017
    Posts:
    1,074
    Location:
    Sydney
    im 31 thinking about it too !!
     
    Shazi likes this.