Hey sisters.
Just after some advice on how to study to become a midwife as a single mum of 2. Is it possible to do with not much support? How did you make it work with study and children at home? How hard core is the attendance and training? Is it hard to pay back the hecs debt? How long does it to pay back? Are there any work place's that do school hours as a midwife (for after the course?) Only after advice on it, because it's a big change and I am very anxious about it. Also from reading the requirements, it is making me feel like it's nearly impossible too manage as a single mum.
My kids are 2 and 7 one is obviously at school, and one is home with me 24/7.
6 Replies
From working with a number of health professionals, I'd suggest nursing/midwifery double degree to give you more options career wise. My friends who did the courses, said that they VERY intense and require a fair bit from you. See if you can do one subject at a time until your little one is at school. Don't forget you'll have a lot of placements etc so that's something to consider.
Yeah the placements and the debt are what's scaring me the most. I have a bit of support from my parents, but they are not always available, and have their own life. Also not sure if I could leave them for weeks at a time for placements (if they didn't do them here)
Do you know if your friend did the placements all throughout the course or just at the end?
Thanks for replying. So daunting and exciting changing careers. Only 2 years until my youngest goes to school.
Stop worrying about the debt, it’s hecs, they take it out of your pay.
There are percentage points depending on what you earn.
Please looking it up, do your research, they don’t take a lot out of your pay.
There’s very little interest too, it’s not like a bank loan.
It’s ranges from 1percent at 46000 up to 10 percent when earning over 136000 and all the percentages in between. It’s like tax, you tick the HECS on the ato form and they do it automatically.
My SIL has done it as a single parent and if I can be really honest it wasn't pretty! She has been on a constant search for a babysitter ever since she started even though she's qualified now, always asking everyone to babysit. I just don't know if I could throw myself into a career where you have no control over the hours you do with young kids. The uncertainty of who is going to have your kids from one week to the next is a put off. It's great if you have the support but if not I wouldn't do it.
Thank you for your honesty. The hours and demand definitely worry me with my kids. Im starting to think it might be something I do when they are older, and don't want to be around me all the time. But advice is very welcomed so I make the right decisions.
Was the study side of things very demanding for her too? My youngest child's dad has our child every 3rd week for 5 days that's a help but not sure if its enough. My 7 year old is with me 100%
The debt, don’t give a thought to. It’s nothing. Comes out with tax and you don’t notice. I’m a single parent & nurse. In all honesty I could not have done my nursing placements as a single parent. I got no say in where or when. All shifts!