31 January, 2023
After 27 years as a police officer, Steve Wakerley made the brave decision to leave his job behind and follow his dreams. Facing chronic heart failure, Steve realised that it is never too late to change careers - as long as you have the right knowledge. He decided to pursue his passion for the not-for-profit sector and helping others. With a fresh Graduate Certificate in Business from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), it wasn’t long before he became the CEO of Variety – one of Australia’s largest children’s charities.
Wakerley had been with the Queensland Police Service for decades when he started to follow his passion for philanthropy - enrolling at QUT. The skills and experience he gained would transform his career and, in turn, his life.
Just a year after graduating, Wakerley successfully applied for Chief Executive Officer at Variety. Since he joined, Variety has supported over 40,000 children across Australia through specialist equipment and therapy grants, alongside scholarships and tailored experiences.
“At Variety, we help kids who are disadvantaged or live with disabilities,” says Wakerley. “We believe all children deserve a fair go, no matter their circumstances. So we give them the tools and support to help them reach their potential.”
Wakerley got his first taste of the not-for-profit sector when he moved into the Police-Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) after 23 years as a frontline police officer. During his time with the PCYC, Wakerley’s interest in the industry grew, and he started working with Variety. He was a fundraising team volunteer, twice raising over $100,000 in his spare time over a year, and served on the board for four years. Always dreaming of making the charity sector his professional home, jumped at the chance to apply as the CEO when the role came up.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. “I missed out on the job, but the feedback I received was invaluable, suggesting I get some education and deepen my knowledge,” says Wakerley. So, after doing extensive research, he settled on a course with QUT. “QUT’s Certificate of Business stood out as the leading course for those wanting to be professional fundraisers or work in the not-for-profit sector,” he says.
Of course, the idea of attending university 20 years after finishing school – and with no tertiary education – was daunting. “I knew I’d be one of the older students there,” Wakerley says. “But not going into further education was always one of the biggest regrets of my life, so it was a risk worth taking.”
Steve Wakerley used his Graduate Certificate in Business to change careers. Photograph: Tony Phillips/QUT
Wakerley remembers that first day at QUT vividly. “Walking through Gardens Point and past Parliament House on the way to my first lecture,” he recalls, “I thought, wow, look where I am! What am I in for here?!” He soon realized that QUT don’t leave students on their own, offering support and the flexibility to manage full-time work alongside an education. “The style of the course really helped take the pressure off – being assignments based with no exams,” he says. “But it was more than just what I learnt; it was the ongoing support I received from QUT staff. Their genuine interest in your education shows the incredible level of commitment and dedication they have, continuing to offer guidance even after you leave. You make lifelong connections; they follow up with you and see how you are going. They are interested in you and the work you are doing Its just incredible.”
“One of the hardest things, I found, was making time for all the reading on top of a full-time job,” says Wakerley. “But I felt supported by the staff. They were so understanding and always there to guide and support.”
Only three months into his degree, Wakerley found himself in hospital, fighting for his life. “I was hospitalised with chronic heart failure and came face-to-face with my own mortality,” Wakerley recalls. “I spent that time reflecting on my years with the police and realised there was more to life for me personally. So I decided then and there to retire from the force and follow my dreams. It was like the last push I needed, destiny telling me to go for it.”
That decision would change Wakerley’s life - and the lives of many children in Australia forever. He seized the opportunity when Variety’s CEO position opened again in 2016. With a stronger skillset and newfound confidence, Wakerley’s application was a success - something he attributes to his studies at QUT.
“Having that qualification put me above and ahead of other candidates,” he says. “Experience is one part of it, but without that comprehensive understanding of the theories behind philanthropy and fundraising, you’re only going to get so far.”
When Wakerley joined Variety, he was able to use his university knowledge and implement new strategies and insights. As a result, he transformed Variety into a thriving organisation with new structures, ideas and approaches.
“We had been doing things the same way for a long time,” he says. “With the knowledge and understanding I’d gained in my course, I was able to pinpoint what needed to change and improve the organisation."
“I re-focused Variety on the principles behind philanthropy, leaving us in a much stronger position. I wouldn’t have been able, or even known how to do that if I hadn’t studied at QUT.”
"It was always a risk to change careers so late in life, but for me, it was worth it," Wakerley says. “It was a couple of years of sacrifice, but the benefits I’ve gained are hard to put into words. I mean, I was a cop and now I’m a CEO. I never dreamed that was possible!”
This article is republished from The Guardian. Read the original article here.