5 of the best study paths to choose when you have kids

February 06, 2025

Want to find a career that pays well, but offers you the flexibility to be there for your family? Here are some of the best study options for parents who are craving better work/life balance.

When you have a family to look out for, it’s natural that things like flexible hours, remote working opportunities, and a stable income are going to become more important to you.

These 5 industries are known for their family friendly policies and for prioritising work/life balance. If you have a career change on your mind, but you’re not sure what to study, we recommend starting your search here.  

Information technology

If you want the ultimate work/life balance so you can spend more time with your kids, consider studying something that will give you an ‘in’ to the field, like software engineering, UX/UI design, data analytics, or cyber security. A broad IT qualification can give you a foundation in everything. 

Reasons to consider it: 

• Tech companies take full advantage of remote and flexible work arrangements, making it easy to duck out for school runs or daycare pickups. 
• They also offer incredible perks for parents, including inclusive paid parental leave, school holiday programs, and anonymous counselling support for non-work issues. 
• Tech is one of the highest paid industries in Australia. Some of the bigger companies like Canva and Atlassian offer extra incentives like bonuses and stock options.   

Recommended courses: 

Try it out with a single subject: Digital Design 1 or Programming Fundamentals 

Or get qualified with: A Bachelor of Information Technology

Looking for tips on how to juggle university with raising kids? Check out our ultimate guide to studying as a parent. 

Human resources

Another profession where you can enjoy above average work/life balance is HR. It makes sense, given these teams literally set the tone for mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. 

If you’re looking for a rewarding career where your skills are crucial, but you can leave on time, then it could be the path for you. 

Reasons to consider it: 

• HR professionals are needed across all industries to help with recruitment, talent management and retention, making it a great choice for long-term career stability.  
• HR roles, especially in larger organisations, benefit from flexible working arrangements. 
• You can shape the family-friendly policies within your organisation, not only making life easier for yourself, but also for other parents.    

Try it out with a single subject: Strategic Human Resource Management

Or get qualified with: A Bachelor of Business (majoring in human resource management)

Administration

Office administration is a fantastic study path for parents who want a stable career with predictable hours. You could even work in education administration to share the same schedule as your kids and take school holidays off. 

Reasons to consider it: 

• Hybrid and part-time jobs are common, making it easier to work during school hours. 
• Your skills are highly transferrable in areas like finance, project management and problem solving, which gives you the flexibility to live and work where you want.  
• Admin can be a stepping stone to higher management or leadership. You can work in a low-demand role when your children need more of your attention, while still laying the foundations for your future career growth. 

Recommended courses: 

Try it out with a single subject: Managing Contracts 

Or get qualified with: A Diploma of Applied Business

Accounting and finance

Like admin, accounting and finance roles are stable and in high demand. It’s a perfect industry for parents with a knack for numbers. 

Reasons to consider it: 

• A lot of accounting firms now let you work from home or on a hybrid schedule, especially in non-client facing roles like bookkeeping.
• There’s a shortage of accountants in Australia, meaning roles are up for the taking.
• While end of financial year and tax season are very busy periods for accountants and finance experts, the rest of the time hours tend to be predictable. This is especially true in smaller family-run firms, which can be more understanding towards parents who need a flexible schedule.   

Try it out with a single subject: Introductory Accounting

Or get qualified with: A Diploma in Accounting or a Bachelor of Business (Accounting)

Writing and content

Writing is a highly versatile skill. Talented writers have the flexibility to move between all sorts of roles, like corporate copywriting, content creation, and journalism. That freedom can be everything when balancing the needs of your family. 

Reasons to consider it: 

• Writers can set their own hours and choose who they want to work with. You could get a job in-house as a content writer or marketer when you need stability, and go freelance when you need to work around the routines of your children. 
• The writing community in Australia is tight knit and offers wonderful opportunities that are specifically targeted at parents, like writing grants and residencies.
• Writing can give you a rewarding creative outlet outside of your caregiving responsibilities—which can be everything when you need to do something just for yourself.

Course recommendations:

Try it out with a single subject: Introduction to Creative and Professional Writing 

Or get qualified with: A Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing)

How Open Universities Australia makes studying as a parent easier

There are a range of ways we can help you balance your family responsibilities and achieve your dreams as a parent.

If you enrol with your university online through us, you can:

• Study as a little as one subject at a time.
• Adjust your subject load in each new study period to suit your family’s schedule.
• Pause your course for a study period if you need to prioritise paid work or your kids.

A lot of parents choose to study through us because of the extra flexibility. And most of them achieved better study outcomes after discussing their plans with our expert advisors.

Get in touch with our team at a time that suits you by:

• Booking a consultation
• Connecting over the phone, Messenger or chat