Tanya’s story: taking a different pathway through higher education

SKIP TO CONTENT

Tanya’s story: taking a different pathway through higher education

To celebrate National Skills Week, Tanya Jordan shares the story of her pathway through higher education – highlighting the important role vocational education can play in providing alternative options.

This year’s theme for National Skills Week is ‘explore ALL the options’, encouraging current and prospective students to consider skills-based training as a career pathway.

Education and career pathways are not always linear, and there’s no better person to tell their story about ‘exploring all the options’ than RMIT alumni and returning student, Tanya Jordan.

After graduating high school in the 90s at 17 years old, at the height of Australia’s unemployment rate at the time, and unsure of what she wanted her professional career to look like, Tanya took a ‘gap year’ overseas that lasted nearly 12 years.

Returning to Australia in the early 2000s, Tanya settled on studying to become a social worker, completing a Bachelor of Arts (Youth Affairs) at RMIT in 2002.

I had difficulties learning and studying in school, so part of why I started my degree was to see if I was smart enough to actually do it. After passing my first year, I knew I could do it.

Over the following years, Tanya worked in a variety of roles across the Department of Justice, Australian Federal Police and mental health services, while also continuing further tertiary study, completing a Bachelor of Social Work and later, a Master of Social Science (Criminal Justice Administration).

Tanya Jordan skills week 2025

RMIT student, Tanya Jordan

After many years working in the industry, Tanya was questioning why she was missing out on promotional opportunities and felt that her career was not progressing in the direction she had hoped.

I was reflecting on my career pathway and started looking into different VE courses that were being offered.

“I started studying the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and soon realised many of my fellow students and tutors in this course already worked in the industry, which gave me the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the field. It was here that I realised that although I had extensive experience within the forensic side of my work, what I lacked was the clinical hands-on experience working directly with people experiencing substance abuse issues," said Tanya.

Tanya was halfway through completing her Cert IV when she interviewed with Luminar Health – an organisation that specialises in treating patients with substance abuse issues and mental health care.

“They asked me if I had experience working with people experiencing substance abuse issues, and I shared that I had a background in a forensic setting and that I was currently studying the certificate."

“They pretty much offered me the job on the spot, and three weeks later I was promoted to Team Leader," said Tanya.

VE student nurses

RMIT students studying a Diploma of Nursing

Tanya intends to continue studying, commencing a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and hopes to eventually teach at RMIT in the future, sharing her knowledge, expertise and practical experience from working in the justice, community and mental health sectors.

When asked what advice she might give to current or future students, Tanya said,

"Invest in your learning – ask questions, connect with your lecturers and classmates and learn from the experience of the people around you."

***

To read more about National Skills Week and find events happening near you, head to National Skills Week.

26 August 2025

More student news

Meet RMIT’s Graduating Student Ambassador for 2025, James Anquetil

03 Dec 2025

Engineering student and RMIT Motorsport Team Lead James will be speaking at this year’s Graduation Ceremony at Marvel Stadium.

Roman wearing a black button up shirt pictured from chest up

Banking on soft skills: How an overseas internship changed Roman's perspective and got him a graduate job at NAB

03 Dec 2025

Participating in an internship exchange program allowed business student Roman Fontana to explore Ho Chi Minh City and land a graduate position back home in Melbourne.

woman in dress standing in front of plant boxes

Engineering impact: Tanvi is embracing her creativity and career connections to help combat water insecurity

28 Nov 2025

After studying civil engineering and working in the industry, Tanvi Shaikh decided to head back to university where she has embraced every opportunity to build her skills and tackle pressing environmental issues.

Laptop open displaying an email message

That’s bait! How to identify a scam and avoid falling victim

27 Nov 2025

It’s common to think that scams only affect the elderly, but did you know young people are increasingly likely to fall victim to scams? Here’s how to avoid being scammed and what to do if you fall victim.

aboriginal flag float-start

torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information