How further study helped Natalie start her own business
Have you ever had one of those days at work where you just think, “I wish I was my own boss”? Do you wonder what it would be like to work for yourself, without answering to someone else? For Natalie, it was this curiosity and desire that led her to enrol in further study through Open Universities Australia (OUA) – and she’s never looked back!
My name is Natalie Evans I recently completed a Master of Professional Accounting at RMIT University through Open Universities Australia.
I've been married for over 30 years and I live with my husband and my two teenage
children and I needed to do some further study in order to start up my own
business to be a tax agent so I went to OUA and did some courses through there
and that filled in the gap is for me.
I needed to do some study in commercial law and Taxation law that enabled me to
be registered and then I was able to start my own business. I felt as though
the flexibility that Open Universities Australia offered was really the only way I was
going to be able to get this Master's degree done, and that's because I work, I
have a family and I live a long way from the city, so studying flexibly was the only
way that I was really gonna want to do this.
I did find that there was a really supportive group of you know students around me and we often communicate, you know, online or through Skype or whatsapp or email and so yeah, even though I was on my own I never felt particularly isolated but it was the perfect way for me to do this degree. You know you can be shown what to do but you don't necessarily understand why are you doing it that way and so by studying the theory, it's like oh that's why we do it like that, and that's what studying the Master of Professional Accounting enabled me to do and it certainly gave me more confidence.
I honestly have to say that right now I'm where I want to Be. I've got a successful business, I really enjoy what I do and the study that I've done has enabled me to get where I've got to. I'm not answerable to anybody else other than my clients and I love my life and I love what I do.
Natalie decided to study through OUA because of a couple of key points. Not only did she want to fill the knowledge gaps she was missing in order to become a self-employed tax agent, but she also needed a flexible study option that would suit her busy lifestyle. With a busy work life, family commitments at home, and a fairly remote home location, Natalie found that enrolling in online study at a university through OUA meant she didn’t have to sacrifice her existing commitments or lifestyle.
Filling the gaps
When Natalie knew there were knowledge gaps she needed to fill to become a tax agent, she started studying single subjects in Taxation and Commercial Law from Curtin University, through OUA.
Natalie ended up loving the experience of online study so much; it helped motivate her to continue her studies. With that, she enrolled in a Master of Professional Accounting at RMIT as the perfect way to round off her education.
Although she had plenty of years of industry experience, Natalie found herself learning more than she could have expected.
“You can be shown what to do, but you don’t necessarily understand why you’re doing it that way,” says Natalie. Through further study, she’s learnt the theory and given herself a deeper understanding of her work.
Flexible learning
As a mother of two teens, and the owner of an adorable furry feline, being able to study from home was ideal for Natalie. Despite technically being alone at her desk, Natalie says that it didn’t feel like solo study. Even with her own focus and self-motivation, classmates were constantly supporting each other through discussion boards, email and apps like Whatsapp and Skype.
“Even though I was on my own, I never felt particularly isolated,” says Natalie.
With her Masters now under her belt, Natalie loves the life she’s created. “I’m not answerable to anyone else, other than my clients, and I love my life and what I do.”
What more could you want?
If Natalie’s story has inspired you, and you want to find the right degree to help take your career in the right direction, get in touch with Open Universities Australia here or speak to one of their expert student advisors on 1300 513 044
This article was originally published by our friends at Open Universities Australia.
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