'The one piece of career advice every mum needs to hear.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Charles Sturt University

When nurse Miriam Randall's kids were born, her world shifted.

Not just because of the sleepless nights, shift work and snack negotiations that come with raising two little ones under five — but because she knew she wanted a career pivot.

As part of her nursing studies, Miriam spent time working in psychiatric care — a placement that sparked her passion for psychology.

"I was curious, and I felt like nursing didn't go deep enough into psychological care," she said. "I wanted to understand specific psychological interventions… and I thought, maybe I could become a psychologist."

There was just one catch: as a single, working mum, the idea of going back to university felt impossible.

That's when Miriam found Charles Sturt University, which is known for its flexible online learning.

"I needed flexibility — and I loved that I could switch between on-campus and online study depending on what was happening in my life."

Since then, Miriam has completed her Bachelor of Psychology and is now undertaking a Master of Psychological Practice. Soon, she will be provisionally registered as a psychologist — a career milestone that has transformed her life and her confidence.

Image: Supplied.

At Charles Sturt, students can study part-time, full-time, online, on campus or a mix of both — so learning genuinely fits around life. For Miriam, that flexibility meant she could keep working part-time while studying, without sacrificing time with her kids. It's designed for people like her — people who have real lives, balancing responsibilities and ambitions all at once.

Despite studying mostly online, Miriam never felt alone.

"I've had a really worthwhile experience here," she told Mamamia. "I genuinely think people at Charles Sturt want you to succeed. If they know that you really want to do it, they will support and foster that journey."

This was proven to her recently. After missing an appointment for academic support three times due to family commitments, the support officer ended up reaching out to her.

"They're so proactive; you're not just a number here," she explained. "If you put yourself out there and say, 'Hey, I'm a mum. I've had a lot of things going on — good and bad — and I'm tired,' CSU is excellent at that."

That support extends far beyond coursework. They offer a range of services to help students succeed — from financial assistance and scholarships to study support, wellbeing programs and career planning.

"And the academic skills team is incredible. They're a team of officers that have appointments to help you with academic writing, referencing and more. I've used that, and I continue to use it right into my postgraduate studies," Miriam said.

It's that kind of genuine support that's made Miriam feel confident about her future. "Before I started psychology, I really doubted myself. I used to be quite self-deprecating. This journey reminded me that I am good at this, I am intelligent — that I am very capable."

When Miriam graduated from her Bachelor of Psychology with Distinction, everything felt right. Every piece of hard work and perseverance was worth it.

"Knowing I did that entirely through my own effort — raising kids, doing it on my own and managing the financial strain — means so much," she said.

"I've been setting myself and my kids up for a fairly comfortable life because of the choices — hard choices — that I've had to make."

If there's one piece of career advice Miriam wants every mum to hear, it's this: start scared.

"It's okay to feel nervous and go for it," she said. "Some of the best things in life come wrapped in fear."

"The worst feeling is regret — so, still do the thing, even if it makes you feel scared."

She also told us about a few practical strategies that help her manage it all:

• Plan your week, but be kind to yourself: "There are weeks where one of the kids is sick or I've had no sleep — that's just life."

• Ask for help: "Lean on family, friends or the uni's support network so you have the connections when you're floundering."

• Remember your "why": "The hard choices that I've had to make with study, sleepless nights and worrying about marks are worth it."

For many mums, study can feel out of reach — but Miriam wants women to know it's never too late. Motherhood doesn't mean the end of your ambitions, it's just about finding the right support. 

"I think going back to study after having kids sort of goes against what society 'expects' of us, but I think it's important that mums still do it," she said.

"We can do everything we want to do, do it really well and still be mothers, caretakers and everything in between. At the end of the day, we've got to do what's right for us."

Thinking about a career change? Explore flexible online study options with Charles Sturt University.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Meet the career pivot experts – Charles Sturt University!Visit our Career Change HQ for handy tips and tools to visualise your future. Find out how to pivot toward your goal – like a new career! Discover the perfect course to get where you want to go. And all the study services, wellbeing support and scholarships you'll have at your fingertips.
Start pivoting study.csu.edu.au/career-change