An Invercargill photographer has transformed her career into social work after completing her degree through Open Polytechnic's distance learning programme.

Kayla Brady was the student speaker at Thursday's graduation ceremony at Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch, where 106 South Island students received their qualifications from New Zealand's specialist online learning provider.

Brady made the career switch after her photography business struggled following COVID-19, explaining her unconventional path to social work in her graduation speech.

"I didn't come into this degree because I had it all figured out. Quite the opposite," she said. "I didn't see myself as an academic. I had my beautiful children young, and after COVID, my photography business was never quite the same."

"I came into this because I understood what it feels like to stand on the wrong side of that bridge and not be sure if there's a way across."

Through her Bachelor of Social Work studies, Brady discovered the true nature of helping others had changed her initial expectations.

"At the beginning, I thought I could fix things or even save people," Brady said. "But the more I've learned, the more I've realised it's actually much simpler and much harder than that. It's about making room for someone's experience long enough for them to find their own way forward."

Brady credited Open Polytechnic's distance learning model for making her qualification possible while juggling family responsibilities.

"Distance learning made it accessible for people like me, for parents, for those balancing life alongside study, and for those who wouldn't have had the opportunity in a traditional setting," she said. "Without that option, I wouldn't be standing here today."

Open Polytechnic Chief Executive Sharon Cooke congratulated the graduates, recognising the effort behind each qualification.

"Graduation marks far more than the completion of a programme," she said. "It reflects perseverance, growth, and the confidence to step forward into new roles, careers, and contributions within your communities."

The Christchurch ceremony featured graduates from various fields including early childhood education, business, accounting, social work, information technology, and construction.

This was the first of three Open Polytechnic graduation ceremonies for 2026, with Wellington following on May 14. Around 1150 students will receive diplomas or degrees this graduating year.

Open Polytechnic enrols approximately 40,000 mainly part-time adult learners annually, with most combining work and study commitments.

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