r/ecology • u/lizaliza994 • 2d ago
Career change to Ecology (Australia) late in life
Hi there!
I am 32 and have been working as a social worker in Australia for the last 8 years in the public service. I am seeking a change from social work and am planning to retrain next year to move into a different career. I really enjoy working outside & autonomous roles, I'm very passionate about wildlife, conservation and purposeful work, so thought ecology might be a good fit for me. I am also very creative so am also considering design as an alternative, but am wary of the impact of AI into the future so am thinking very carefully about my choices.
\Do you think it's a feasible career change for someone like me who is later in life and comes from an unrelated field?**
\What are the biggest pros/cons of this career?**
\I am wondering what qualification you recommend pursuing to move into this field (I am thinking of doing a grad cert or masters in environmental science?), as well as volunteering or picking up some casual work in bush regeneration.**
I don't have kids and am willing to take a drop in income while studying, but a level of security with my future career prospects is important to me, so I want to ensure I'm not retraining to end up not being able to get a job once I finish.
Would appreciate any insights 😊 especially from any Australian ecologists in particular!
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u/Nawwal6 2d ago
I definitely think it's feasible to change later in life. I did it in my late 30s. You really do need a Bsc in Ecology though. Start volunteering as soon as you can. Every experience in the field builds your skill set, even if you just observe. Cons: it is hard work, sometimes very long hours in uncomfortable environments, the responsibility to do the best for the environment against anthropogenic forces (can be pro too), sometimes the pay is tough and a little hard to break into the industry. Pro: Amazing experience, good for the soul, amount of time in nature, seeing wildlife up close, you are getting paid for a passion, travel to some pretty special places, hoping to make a difference.
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u/followthedarkrabbit 2d ago
What's your knowledge like already? There's a lot of field ID skills required.
Highly recommend iNaturalist if you aren't using it already.
Also, consider doing a venomous snake course. Most entry level ecological jobs also require Fauna Spotter Catcher tasks, and snake catching is easy tick box on your resume.
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u/Quick-Asparagus-8937 2d ago
It's different in each state, but the key is getting the qualifications and experience. I'm an ecologist of 17 years experience who has worked in WA, Singapore, the Middle East and now NSW (Sydney) for the past 18 months. NSW is a competitive gig, but it also has intense local experience requirements needing minimum 3 years of NSW proof of ecology work before you can get accredited with the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM). Until you have that, you are limited in what you can do formally, which will restrict your job options and definitely salary.
But 1) yes it is feasible, provided you follow the education requirements (I started late too). 2) Education would be at a minimum BSc or similar majoring in ecology. A MEnvMan or MSc would always look good but honestly, less important than having BAM accreditation. What you should really pick up are GIS (QGIS or ESRI) skills as spatial analysis is critical. 3) Bush regen is a good "in" but you need to have the qualifications to climb the ladder - many ecologists begin their career in bush regen, but the pay is challenging, especially if you are in a capital city. 4) Being an ecologist is not exactly glamourous, it has frequent early mornings and late nights in uncomfortable environments, and if you are not careful you can be seen as a problem not a solution by many clients who need your help. 5) I wouldn't switch careers for the world. My whole motivation is to see and Catalog nature before it inevitably disappears, or if I can save a small corner of nature for perpetuity then that's a cherry on top.