[Ian Robinson]

All the best with the career change - been there done that myself , my changes were forced on me by companies "restructuring" and my getting retrenched.

Started as a chemist , retrenched by BHP. Decided no future in chemistry became a chemical engineer.
The after another stint at BHP then Onesteel , the rug was pulled out from under me again.
Retrained as a school teacher - hated it.
Retrained as a computer engineer - hate writing code (despite being very good at it) not interested in starting over again as a jr computer engineer so have decided not to do the final project for now - so completion of the degree is on hold.
I was working at a senior / princ engineer level at Onesteel , so have decided to consolidate , doing Masters of Engineering Management (part time) and looking for a job (but pretty jacked off with being always the bridesmaid and never getting the offers - too old , too fat , and struck plenty of unscrupulous companies who are more than willing to try the raw prawn treatment (offering jr rates for roles at snr and lead and princ engineer level - I've even walked out of a few interviews - small companies are the worse when it comes to trying it on).

It's not easy changing careers , or even restarting a career if retrenched.

Takes gutz to stick at it and Centrelink and those stupid Jobnetwork providers are no help wse if you need to register as unemployed which I guess you will if you are leaving the casual job , may be a long wait before you get any money too unless you can get the boss to sack you.

Have you considered applying for the Police Academy ?

Welders , Boiler Makers , and Sparkies are in huge demand , you can attract serious money up north and out west if you've one of these trades.
Building trades have a lot of down time and are very hit and miss workwize (got brothers in law who are brickies and carpenters who seem to spend a lot of time doing nothing and not getting paid).