Gabbie has found new positions that play to her skills set as a teacher. She tutors the Master of Teaching through the University of Wollongong at the Bega satellite campus. She also works with children who have disabilities, supporting them in their daily lives in the family home. And, to keep things interesting, she manages storage sheds.
Gabbie offers sensible advice to others who may find themselves in similar circumstances.
"If you’re a teacher and you’re thinking about leaving your job because of stress and burnout – make sure you’re going to be okay financially before you make any hasty decisions. No matter how stressed you are now, the stress of not being able to pay your next electricity bill or mortgage repayment will be even more stressful."
These positions have provided Gabbie with a reliable income stream as she builds her career as a freelance writer and novelist.
"Writing has always been my hobby, my therapy and my way of making sense of my world. I kept a journal throughout this recovery period, and one day, I noticed a call out for submissions to The Griffith Review journal. The theme was “Fixing the System”, and I immediately thought of education and the system that had caused me such stress."
"Writing that essay allowed me to merge my gift for teaching with my gift of writing. The result turned out to be pretty powerful. The essay was published and went on to be critically acclaimed and short-listed for a Walkley Award."
Following that, publishers started approaching Gabbie and asking if she'd like to write on topics related to education. The book sprang from the essay. Gabbie distinctly remembers the call that prompted the book.
"Jane Palfreyman from Allen and Unwin publishers rang me and said, 'I read your essay and thought it was brilliant. I’m wondering if you have anything more to say?' I laughed and said, 'Jane, I always have more to say!' Jane and I talked about the book idea for a while. I was honest and told her, 'If you’re looking for a book about how we can fix the education system and an analysis of what’s gone wrong, then I’m not the writer for you. I don’t want to write that book.'
| AUTHOR
Make sure you’re going to be okay financially before you make any hasty decisions.