Changing careers 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years into your working life might be the right move, especially if you’re finding yourself wanting to explore another role or industry.

If you are over 40 there is funding available through Skills Checkpoint https://skillscheck.com.au/  and https://www.dewr.gov.au/mid-career-checkpoint-program

Changing careers can increase your job satisfaction and increase your earning potential. Its about keeping your passion alive.

Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t let age hold you back from a career change, as well as what you can do to make your next career change a success!

Is it difficult to make a midlife career change?

Making a midlife career change can be difficult if you don’t prepare accordingly. Switching jobs/industries can be daunting, especially if you’ve been in the one role/industry for a long time – which is often the case for those that are at the midway point of their working life. 

Things to consider when making a midlife career change include:

• What you need to do to successfully change careers
• Your financial situation
• Other life commitments 
• Transfer your experience into your desired role/industry

With proper planning/forethought, making a career change in 40’s or even later can help you rekindle your passion for your work.

What are some of the signs that I need to change my career path?

Professional burnout is unlikely to manifest itself in one big event – instead, burnout can creep up on you in a variety of ways.

For those that have experienced burnout, they’ll know how to spot the signs of burnout in the future, but it can often be confusing if you’re experiencing burnout in the workplace for the first time.

Signs that it might be time to change career because of burnout include:

• You’re losing interest in your work
• You’re consistently thinking about different career paths
• You’re finding that work is negatively affecting your mood
• Your hobbies/passions aren’t as compelling because of your difficulties with work
• You feel like you no longer can progress in your career

Of course, you shouldn’t necessarily change careers/industries at the first sign of burnout symptoms – instead, use those feelings as a catalyst to assess your relationship with your work and realise if you can make any adjustments.

On the other hand, ignoring the signs of burnout can lead to greater problems down the track, so talk with your network to decide whether it truly is time to change careers. 

What do I need to do to make a career change?

Making a career change doesn’t typically happen overnight, especially if you’ve been in the one role for a long time. The professional landscape is constantly shifting and evolving, so re-acquainting yourself with the trends that are shaping the way employers hire and attract new talent can give you a leg up when you’re interviewing for new roles.
If it’s been a while since you looked for a new job, then it’s important to know where to look. SEEK, Indeed, LinkedIn and EthicalJobs are wonderful places to look for different roles.

You can also set up job alerts that’ll let you know whenever employers share a job that fits the criteria you’ve set when looking for your next role, so you can be one of the first to apply. This is especially useful if you’re looking to pivot to a competitive industry, as being one of the first applicants can help you stand out from the crowd.

If you haven’t updated resume or Linkedin in a while, then now is the time to get things in order! Reach out to people you’ve worked with previously to act as your references, and ensure you tailor your CV to address the key selection criteria for the role you’re applying for each time.

The more personalised you can make your CV, the more likely it is that you’ll get the attention of prospective employers. As a more mature employee, you can use your CV to display your commitment to self-improvement in the workplace through the roles you’ve had in the past, so make sure to outline your skills and experience in your CV.

Finally, if you’ve got your eye set on a particular role/career, then you may want to consider completing further study. DLI’s range of courses can help you acquire the skills/knowledge you need to transition in a new career without having to wait years.

Best of all, DLI’s courses are typically self-paced and online, so you can continue to work in your current role while preparing for your next career move. Changing careers when you’re further along in your professional journey may seem daunting, but it can be a rewarding experience that reignites your flame in the world of work.

Decided it’s time to change careers?

DLI is here to help. DLI offers a range of nationally recognised qualifications in the form of workshops, face to face classes and online that can help you upskill and reskill. Want to learn more? Get in touch with one of our education consultants to find out what form of further study might be right for you!

Traditionally, construction workers have been seen as burly blokes in Australia – but with construction companies starting to recognise the positive impact that female construction workers make, there’s never been a better time to work on a job site as a female.

They say that a good way of measuring the health of a countries economy directly corelates to the number of cranes in the skyline.

Here are five of the top reasons to start working on construction sites.

1. The construction industry is growing

With the government looking to invest in infrastructure all over Australia, Australian tradespeople are looking at years and years of job security. Road projects, building projects, and other construction jobs are in high demand, with many crews being employed before the next job even starts.

Plus, there’s construction work available almost everywhere, from Melbourne to Sydney, so you can always travel, too! If you’ve ever thought about getting into construction, now is the time to do it!

Possible construction jobs include:

• Labourers
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Builders
• Bricklayers
• Tilers

8% Of Australia’s GDP is comprised of the construction sector

There are a huge range of jobs within the construction sector and figuring out which one you’re interested in is important. One of the best ways to do that is to do a short course, so make sure to check out this page on available courses.

2. The number of women in construction jobs in increasing every day

While previously the construction sector was almost entirely male-dominated, more and more women are being tempted by high pay rates and job security.

It means that you’ll no longer be the only woman in a hard hat on the job site, making your job much easier. That said, it is still a male-dominated industry – but that’s changing rapidly.

3. Guaranteed long hours and good pay

With such strong industry growth, the construction sector can offer you long hours and brilliant pay. Many young girls and women choose to join the female workforce in the building industry because they know it’s one of the highest-paying jobs they can get.

You won’t be in a position where you go to work for a six-hour shift and only get two hours the way people do in hospitality or retail. Plus, with overtime and penalty rates, and a strong union, you know you’ll be getting paid well for your time. Work hard for your pay, and you can afford to play hard too.

1.1 million people are currently employed in the construction industry – and that number is expected to grow.

4. Strong career progression opportunities

Many companies are making a strong push for gender diversity in every industry, and that includes in construction projects. Young women are being encouraged to consider career growth opportunities in fields that previously they would have had to fight to even get into, let alone to be considered for promotions in.

Nowadays, managing directors, project managers, and more high-level positions are considered fair game for the female workforce in construction – with the added bonus of being a potential role model for other women looking to become tradespeople.

The average construction salary in Australia is $100,000 per year or $51.28 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $72,500 per year,

5. Female workers have strong industry support

Women’s rights in the workplace are now a common conversation, and the construction and building industry recognises that. Groups like the national association of women in construction along with social media movements and sexual harassment training for male colleagues all mean that women are treated better than they ever have been – and when they’re not, there’s more support than ever before.

Trade unions also recognise the positive impact that women can have on construction sites and in building companies, meaning that as a female construction worker you’re likely to get more support and help than women in some other industries.

If you’re interested in a lifelong career, with strong growth opportunities and job security, then working in the construction field could be for you – especially if you’re a female worker.

Check out the video from our latest open day below.

Job sites are no longer limited to men with women doing the administrative work, so get started today!

We were previously unaware of the dangers that asbestos posed to our health. Once it was a popular product in manufactured goods and building materials, and it was the perfect material. It was flexible and strong, widely available and affordable, resistant to chemicals, water and electricity, it provided heat and sound insulation, and it had excellent fire resistance. But then we found out that asbestos is very fibrous, and those microscopic, little fibres are easily breathed in where they become trapped in the lungs. These fibres cause damage over time and can cause more serious complications like asbestosis (a chronic lung disease), lung cancer and mesothelioma (an aggressive, deadly form of cancer affecting the mesothelial cells, which is a slippery protective surface covering the lungs, chest wall, diaphragm, heart and inside the abdomen). Symptoms can take around 20 to 30 years to show after exposure and it can take on average 45 years to develop into mesothelioma.

Asbestos was very popular in Australia. Up until 1987, we had the highest rates of asbestos use per person – we mined it up until 1983 and imported 1.5 million tonnes of asbestos between 1930 and 1983. Unfortunately, due to the popularity in Australia, it also means we have one of the highest rates of mesothelioma. On average, an estimated 700 people die from mesothelioma and 4,000 die from asbestos-related diseases annually, which is four times the annual road death toll. It is approximated that 30% of lung cancer deaths are caused due to past exposure to asbestos. World-wide deaths caused by work-related exposure to asbestos was estimated at 219,000 deaths in 2016 and it was the culprit for 80% of all work-related cancer deaths in Australasia, Western Europe, North America and Asia Pacifica regions. (Systematic analyses of the 2016 GBD study published February 2020).

Fortunately, asbestos was completely banned in Australia on 31^st December 2003. Although mining of asbestos and various regulations on asbestos were put in place, up until 2003 asbestos was still being imported and used. Even our cars had asbestos in them! It is safe to say that vehicles manufactured before January 2004 contain asbestos in the gaskets and brake and clutch lining. They are safe to drive, but DIY maintenance should not be undertaken as you could disturb the asbestos. Although we made a huge change and banned asbestos, unfortunately death from asbestos related diseases and cancers will continue for the next four to five decades, even if we managed to eliminate asbestos entirely.

Now days, the biggest risk of exposure to asbestos is in the home – to homeowners doing DIY renovations in older homes or unsuspecting occupants with degrading asbestos, which means more chance of it becoming friable and releasing those dangerous fibres into the air. Over 3,000 products had asbestos in it and there is approximately 6.4 million tonnes of asbestos still in buildings and homes today. These products are as old as 100 years to as little as 30 years old and are still present in many houses throughout Australia. We have roughly one third of homes containing asbestos products, anything built before 1990 will most likely have asbestos.

Asbestos can be found in many products and areas including:

• roofing and gutters
• gables and eaves
• walls
• vinyl, carpet and tile underlay
• lining behind wall tiles
• imitation brick cladding
• fencing
• sheds
• splashbacks in wet areas
• telecommunication pits
• window putty
• expansion joints
• packing under beams
• concrete formwork

(Compiled from asbestossafety.gov.au)

Moreover, in Australia, diagnoses for mesothelioma is increasing due to exposure outside of the workplace. It was estimated in 2020 that 1 in 3 new mesothelioma cases are due to exposure outside of the workplace as a result of lack of awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the insufficient education in DIY renovators.

In Australia, we have a record of individuals who have had possible exposure to asbestos for helping to provide detailed and accurate information at the time so in the future if they develop an asbestos related illness, they have accurate information, as asbestos has a long latency period and essential details may be forgotten. If you believe you may have been exposed to asbestos, whether in your home, at work, or your community, you can register your details here.

Ultimately, there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. We need to be aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, the risks involved, where we might find asbestos and we need to be vigilant of possible degradation of asbestos in our homes. Our Online Asbestos Awareness Course is suitable for any tradie who might come across asbestos in their line of work (electricians, plumbers, bathroom and kitchen renovators, amongst others) or even DIY renovators who want to keep themselves safe from the risks of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is known for its insulating and fire-retardant properties. It’s no surprise that it was once a popular roofing material.

Friable asbestos products have been commonly used in commercial and industrial settings since the late 1800s for fireproofing, soundproofing and insulation. Some friable products were also used in houses and may still be found in houses built before 1990.

In Australia, asbestos cement materials were first manufactured in the 1920s and were commonly used in the manufacture of residential building materials from the mid-1940s until the late 1980s. During the 1980s asbestos cement materials were phased out in favour of asbestos-free products. From 31 December 2003, the total ban on manufacture, use, reuse, import, transport, storage or sale of all forms of asbestos came into force.

Many houses built before 1990 therefore contain asbestos cement materials, especially in the eaves, internal and external wall cladding, ceilings (particularly in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries) and fences

If you work in a trades field, then you know that there’s strong demand for working at heights. It’s a necessary part of trades work that sets truly professional businesses apart from casual outfits: when you or your business can perform jobs at altitude, you can demand a higher fee and greater respect.

Unfortunately, it’s also a very risky part of the job. Part of the reason that working at heights is so lucrative is because of the dangers it poses to the unprepared. It’s essential that all personnel involved are aware of the proper procedures, triple-check their equipment, and know how to respond to unforeseen situations.

Per Safe Work Australia, slips, trips, and falls accounted for 386 fatalities among workers over the twelve years between 2003 and 2015. Because any injuries (let alone deaths) should be unacceptable among modern workplaces, we’ve prepared this guide to illustrate what you can gain from a working at heights training course in Sydney.