From courtroom to classroom
Highlights
- Faith Psimaris changed direction from studying law to pursuing her passion for teaching after discovering how much she enjoyed helping young people learn.
- ACU’s Western Civilisation program and Master of Teaching pathway gave Faith the confidence, knowledge and support to find a career that suited her strengths.
- Now working in school learning support, Faith hopes to become an English and Religion teacher, showing how it’s okay to change direction to find a career you love.
On paper, Faith Psimaris was a thriving university student. She was living independently some 400km away from home and pursuing a law degree on a prestigious scholarship.
So why didn’t she feel excited about her future career?
“In theory, law sounds really big and grand and exciting, especially as a young adult leaving school,” says Faith.
“The prestige and grandeur associated with a particular career path is what pulls you in at first.
“But as I matured a little and got more life experience, I realised that I wanted more in a career than something that looked impressive on paper.”
Trading Koala Capital for Harbour City
Faith grew up in Gunnedah, a regional farming and mining town in north-central New South Wales.
Towards the end of high school, Faith hoped to experience more than what a small rural town could offer.
“At one point I wanted to be a vet, and I don't know how that came about because I don't even like science that much,” she said.
“But I really liked English and the humanities, so I thought law seemed the most applicable.”
When her high school English teacher sent her a scholarship application to study ACU’s Western Civilisation program at the North Sydney Campus, she took a leap of faith and applied – despite not having a clear picture of the future.
"The name of the degree initially sparked my interest, but I wasn't too sure what it entailed, until I entered that very first class and left with more questions than answers,” she said.
"I soon realised this was the very point, not to always reach an answer but to recognise the value of critical thinking and questioning.”
Being the recipient of a Ramsay scholarship to study a double degree Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws was “life-changing”.
“Going from living in a small country town to a big city was a big transition for me, so to be given such a head start in life was great,” Faith says.
“It meant that in the first year, I could really settle into my new life in Sydney and focus on university and studying.”
Finding a path
Faith spent her first year of university between the wisdom of ancient thinkers, the demanding narratives of the world’s greatest novelists, and a compendium of global legal systems.
She loved her arts units, but her law degree didn’t exactly “excite” her.
“I found it just didn't really align with the way I think,” says Faith.
“Law can be very black and white, very analytical. You have the cases, you have the legal information, and you apply it. For some reason my mind just resisted that way of thinking.”
At the time Faith had picked up some English tutoring jobs. She loved watching the progress her students were making in their learning and felt an immense sense of fulfilment and purpose.
“I'm quite a creative thinker and I love helping other people understand as well,” Faith said.
“That was what made me realise that law wasn't for me.”
Coincidentally, the Western civilisation program at ACU was taking applications for a new double degree, pairing arts with a Master of Teaching. For the second time, she embarked on a major life change.
“It wasn’t that I needed an immediate career change, but when I saw that they were offering teaching and I thought on it a little bit, the switch to teaching made a lot more sense,” she said.
Foundations of a great teacher
Faith’s passion for teaching and encouraging young people to thrive is palpable. She couldn’t even wait for graduation day to start working at a school.
“I really wanted to make a start in my field. I'd been studying for so long – three years – I was ready to just get started,” says Faith.
“I was so excited to begin my career and I’ve been able to do that now working as a Learning Support Officer.
“I just love the community involvement, being involved in the school, that school spirit. I love working with kids and hearing their stories.”
While Faith is set on becoming an English and Religion teacher, she believes her exposure to the liberal arts has set her up to be the best teacher she can be.
“Being able to study the arts alongside the Master of Teaching has made me such a well-informed teacher,” she said.
“I’m able to understand history, philosophy, religion, even art and architecture, which are so different to my teaching areas. It has really put me in such a great position moving into teaching.”
Faith is already making strides in education networks within Sydney, recently winning a $1,000 scholarship awarded to Master of Teaching students from the Teachers’ Guild of NSW.
“It was a nice little bonus to have that recognition,” says Faith.
“The most valuable part was being able to make connections on that night.
Being around other teachers and meeting like-minded people in the same profession was amazing.”
With graduation just around the corner, Faith is grateful for the support and guidance she’s received at ACU, particularly while juggling two major life transitions.
“Coming from the Western civilisation program has really put me in such a privileged position and I'm so grateful for that,” she says.
“I'm excited for next year to see what role I might potentially move into.
“I owe it all to the Western civilisation program.”
Published 2026