Help with Career Choices please?

I'm so confused. I know that once I have my health sorted I want to start studying from home, but I'm confused as to what I want to do.

I've looked into business/admin courses and the like, really don't think I want to end up in an office job as it's not me! I'd be bored out of my mind and I feel sick after a while on the computer.

I was always really good at Customer Service, I LOVED it... but working in retail doesn't really earn you enough $$$ to support a family IMO!

I have a few things I'm passionate about, I LOVE Art and am good at painting (just haven't done it lately as I can't find the time) ...I'm passionate about Breastfeeding and I've always like the idea of being a Lactation Consultant and helping other mothers successfully breastfeed and overcome hurdles like we have ...and i LOVED my antenatal class that was run by Plunket - when it finished I kept in contact with the Plunket lady that ran it as I was interested in being a childbirth educator. Now there's a course I can do for that, and I'm 99.9% decided on it - but part of me feels like I should be doing MORE! ...Would a childbirth educator and LC really earn enough money to support a family? I assume they'd both only be part-time jobs and prob not that great for $$$

-Any ideas of a job/career that could go hand in hand with these two? Something where I am around mothers/babies ...similar to customer service in that I get to liaison with people, but where I can make a difference and help? (I don't want to be a Midwife, or a Dr , I like the idea of Plunket Nurse but not sure I could handle a nursing degree and having to work in a Drs surgery/clinic beforehand). Difficult? Yes, I confuse myself most days

- Any courses you recommend or anyone I could speak to about this? (career help)

- Where do I start with becoming a LC, I know a good start would be to join the local LLL and become a peer leader which is what I intend to do once I have myself sorted ....but anyone have any idea what kind of study/training it would involve, anyone who offers this etc? Where to look?

-Does anyone know how the Training Incentive Allowance works - and is it through studylink or WINZ? Do I still pay for the course like a student loan?

Any advice you can give, tips, pointers ...whatever. I'm open minded and would just like ideas atm. I'm swaying more towards picking up study mid year (most places have july/midyear intake).

TIA

I have a friend who is not a nurse and works for Plunket teaching classes and working in the Family Centre. She works 3-4 days a week but I don't think the hourly rate is that great. Apparently Plunket do employ a few people that are not nurses but more in the parent training area. You could ask your local Plunket centre/nurse how to get into this.

Otherwise you could get the course brochure from Open Polytechnic and Massey University Extramural and see whats available. This may give you some more ideas.

How about running the plunket tots and toddlers courses for the local high schools?

you could try studying to be an early childhood carer and working in a creche, or well early childhood centre.

Mum worked for years as a parent trainer helpin to teach parents good parenting skills etc doing workshops at Edgewater through parent centre so you could always try to get involved with them.

We've been talking about it lately as a family friend is great with kids loves kids and isn't working at the moment so we were looking at options.

I have no idea how much a LC or CBE earn but I do know that LC training is quite hard out. One of the girls in my course (midwifery) said she wants to train to be one after and one of the lecturers said its really hard work. I don't know what it involves tho.

Training incentive thingy is through WINZ it won't cover your fees but I think it would cover a bit. There are also heaps and heaps of scholarships that even help cover living costs and stuff.

It might even be worth doing a short business admin course so you could be on the front desk as well as the other stuff. Its always a bonus to know how to do all the admin side of things and you might earn a bit more doing that as well as the other things.

Like Flissty said , you might find some of the allied health jobs to be more your thing. I'm an occupational therapist and highly recommend it as a profession. You can work in a wide variety of different areas, including paeds, schools, hospitals, maternal mental health etc. It's a 3 year degree through AUT or Otago Poly. You'll never have a problem finding work!!
AUT