For 15 years, Brooke Taylor dedicated herself to psychology. She had built a career supporting others, first working in adolescent mental health in the Pilbara, then spending more than a decade in a role with Centrelink. But somewhere along the way, something shifted.
“I guess my heart just didn’t align with it anymore,” Brooke reflects. “It became very stat-driven, and about assessments centred around legislation. The human side of the work — the part that really mattered to me — was getting lost.”
When she moved into a role with an NDIS provider, Brooke hoped the change might reignite her passion. But after 12 months, she realised it was time for something bigger: a complete career pivot. “I wanted to do something that truly aligned with my values and where I could make a difference.”
That’s when the idea of teaching began to take hold.
The spark behind the switch
Brooke had always loved being around children, as a mum, an aunt, and in her professional life. But it was watching her own two children navigate their early school years that lit the spark for her new path.
Her son and daughter, she noticed, learned in entirely different ways. “My son struggled a little and needed extra support in place to learn to read. We had to get really creative and did lots of different things to support his learning. We set up games and would have him read words while bouncing basketballs to help him stay engaged. My daughter, on the other hand, has always been very academic. It just came naturally to her — it’s like she was born reading.”
That experience stirred a deep curiosity in Brooke. Why do children learn so differently? How could she help others who might also be struggling to learn? And just as importantly, how could she support children’s social and emotional wellbeing, helping them feel valued, not ‘behind’?
“It all kind of clicked,” she says. “I wanted to work in a space where I could support both learning and wellbeing. I’d thought about teaching for a long time, and now it just made sense.”
Taking the leap, one step at a time
Of course, deciding to change careers is one thing. Actually doing it, especially as a mature-age student, with a FIFO husband, two children, and a household to run, is another.
“It was definitely a juggle!” Brooke laughs. “But I was more disciplined this time around. When you’re passionate about what you’re studying, it makes a huge difference.”
Choosing the right university was key. Brooke knew she wanted the structure of in-person learning, but also the flexibility of online options in case life threw curveballs. After speaking with friends in the teaching profession, one name kept coming up: ECU.
“Every teacher I spoke to said ECU was the top choice for education,” she says. “And ECU offered more flexibility and had such a strong reputation among teachers already working in the field.”
That reputation mattered. Brooke wanted to feel prepared for the realities of the classroom, not just the theory. And at ECU, she found exactly what she needed.
“The lecturers were incredible. Their passion for teaching really came through, and it was clear they genuinely wanted us to succeed,” she says. “That positive energy was contagious. It’s something I’ve carried into my own teaching now.”
From student to teacher: A new chapter
Brooke graduated ECU with a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), making her a qualified early childhood teacher, and she loves every moment.
Of course, those first days in the classroom were nerve-wracking. “I remember standing outside the door on my first day, butterflies in my stomach, thinking: these little people are going to be in my care for the next 12 months. It’s such a privilege.”
But once she stepped inside, everything clicked. “Being able to create a safe, positive space where children can learn, grow, and feel good about themselves; that’s everything to me.”
As she reflects on her journey, Brooke hopes her story might inspire others thinking about a career change, especially parents or mature-age students who may be hesitant.
“If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be: you absolutely can do this. Take it one step at a time — one unit, one assignment, one lecture. Don’t overthink it. Just start.”
And for Brooke, starting with ECU made all the difference.
