When Kate was seeking financial security, she turned to a career as a bus driver

For years, Kate worked as a casual in the mental health industry across support work and suicide prevention.

Not only did she find herself eventually burnt out from the weight of the work, but she also struggled with the lack of financial security.

Then, in October last year, she made the switch to a career path most wouldn't consider, and she says she hasn't looked back since.

Kate decided to pivot into a career as a bus driver for Torrens Transit in Adelaide, inspired by her brother, who already worked with the company.

"I don't mind driving at all. I pretty much drive my partner everywhere, which she loves," she tells nine.com.au.

To pivot into the career, she had to apply for her heavy vehicle class license and a working with children check, before going through two weeks of in-class training around the theory of bus driving.

Seeking financial security, Kate turned to a career as a bus driver.

The final step is to venture out with a trainer to learn all your routes.

While many see bus driving as a last resort career, something you only turn to when you have limited choices, Kate says she views that as a harmful "stereotype".

Personally, Kate made the pivot with financial security in mind, explaining that the "pay is great" and there's plenty of flexibility in terms of caring for kids and family members.

"In the interview, they ask if you have any prior commitments, whether it's that you've got to pick up your kids from school or anything like that, and then they work around that and fit your roster to that as well," she says.

She says that the idea that bus driving is a last resort is a harmful stereotype.

In terms of hours, she explains that there are two different types of shifts, depending on what suits you better.

"They have broken shifts where you'd probably drive for four hours in the morning, then you get a good three to four-hour break, and then you drive again for another four hours," she says.

"And then your straight shift can be anything from 6:30 in the morning, and then you might finish at either 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, or close to 5:00 pm. So, it's a lot of flexibility."

She works in Adelaide, after switching from a career in mental health.

For many, safety is a huge concern when considering a career as a bus driver, but Kate says that with the plexiglass screen encasing her seat and a radio handy to call for help if ever needed, she's never felt unsafe at work.

But she does feel the responsibility to keep her passengers safe.

"We definitely make our own judgment on that gut feeling as well. If we pull up to a bus stop and someone's looking like they're intoxicated or something like that and they do look like they might cause trouble, we make a judgment call on whether we pick them up or not," she says.

"Then we radio through straight away to our coordinator just to say why we haven't picked them up, whether it's that they're intoxicated and a bit aggressive."