A Maroubra local, originally from Budapest, is proving it’s never too late to change careers, after switching from the marketing industry to working for the largest real estate group in Australasia thanks to TAFE NSW.  

29-year-old Brigitta Pal studied a Bachelor of Property Valuation at TAFE NSW and has secured the role of Assistant Valuer in Residential Developments at Ray White Valuations.  

According to a report by IbisWorld, the property valuation industry is worth $586m in Australia annually and this figure is projected to grow over the next five years.  

Ms Pal said now is the right time to join the industry, as low interest rates and government stimulus drive strong growth in the real estate market. 

“I enrolled in the Bachelor of Property Valuation at TAFE NSW Ultimo as I was looking to pursue a new career path here in Australia after completing a marketing degree in my home country,” Ms Pal said.  

“The course gave me the practical skills and real life experience I needed to land a job as an Assistant Valuer in Residential Developments at Ray White Valuations, a role which I’m really enjoying.  

“I’ve always liked numbers and the idea of being on the road appealed to me. No day is the same and I’m looking forward to progressing my career and becoming a Certified Practising Valuer.” 

TAFE NSW Property Valuation Teacher Jon Frost, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a valuer, said the industry is crying out for skilled graduates.  

“Property valuation is a great industry to get into and about 80 per cent of graduates are working in the industry by the time they finish the degree. I get valuing firms coming to me regularly looking for students to recruit,” Mr Frost said.  

“It really is a fabulous job; you’re not stuck in an office, you’re out and about meeting people and there’s so much variety in the day-to-day work. The industry has an ageing workforce, so there’s never been a better time for people to study at TAFE NSW to get the skills they need for a job as a property valuer.”   

The degree is three years’ full-time and requires 24 units of study, including units in rural, commercial, and retail valuation, as well as law and town planning. It can be studied either by face to face or connected classroom study. 

The Bachelor of Property Valuation is Australia’s only specialist property valuation degree and has been developed in consultation with industry stakeholders and the Office of the NSW Valuer General, the NSW Office of Fair Trading and the Australian Property Institute.   

To find out more about the Bachelor of Property Valuation at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.   

Media contact: Emma Woodward, Communications Specialist, emma.woodward15@tafensw.edu.au, 0409 618 291