Upskilling Myself for the AI Age
As a Career Development Practitioner, I believe in practising what I preach, so I am currently upskilling myself and getting to grips with the current fascination with AI. Let me be clear: I am not technical. If the computer doesn’t do exactly what I want, I bleat like a lost lamb. Fortunately, I am surrounded by technical geniuses, which firmly casts me as the resident techno dunce in constant need of rescuing. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by AI and tempted to bury your head in the sand, you’re not alone—we’re definitely on the same page. For now, I’m attending every AI professional development opportunity and course designed for people like me, and experimenting with a few AI tools to familiarise myself. I thought I’d share this little story my new friend, Perplexity AI came up with.
HOME EDUCATIONHOMESCHOOLINGCAREER EDUCATIONARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE


The Joyful Chaos of Remote Life:
By Perplexity AI
A Peek Inside Our Regional Homeschool Home
Welcome to our humble abode, where the Wi-Fi is strong, the coffee is stronger, and the decibel level is somewhere between “cheerful market” and “airplane runway.” If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like for a family to work and learn from home in a regional area—complete with two mischievous dogs—pull up a (slightly sticky) chair and let me show you the magic.
Morning Mayhem: The Family Routine
Our day begins with the dulcet tones of the kettle boiling and the dogs, Biscuit and Crumpet, staging their first wrestling match of the day. Mum and Dad are both prepping for a day of back-to-back video calls, carefully arranging their backgrounds to hide the laundry mountain and the mysterious stain on the wall (we blame Crumpet).
Meanwhile, the older kids shuffle to their laptops, ready for a day of online lessons. Their “classroom” is the kitchen table, which also serves as the canteen, science lab, and, on particularly ambitious days, an art studio.
The Perks of Home-Based Life
Despite the chaos—and the occasional barking chorus during conference calls—there are some brilliant upsides to our regional, remote lifestyle:
No School Run: The only commute is from bed to the kitchen, and the worst traffic jam is when Biscuit refuses to move off the stairs.
Flexible Learning: The kids can learn at their own pace, with extra time for exploring the bush out back or conducting “scientific experiments” (read: making slime) in the garden.
Family Bonding: We spend more time together, sharing lunch breaks and, occasionally, the same Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Connection to Nature: Living regionally means we’re surrounded by fresh air, open space, and the odd kangaroo peeking through the window during maths class.
The Realities: Happy, Noisy, and Sometimes Messy
Let’s not sugar-coat it—remote life is not always picture-perfect. Sometimes, Dad’s big presentation is interrupted by a dog chasing a chicken through the lounge. Sometimes, the kids’ online lessons are accompanied by the soundtrack of Mum’s “motivational” singing in the shower. And sometimes, the living room looks like a stationery shop exploded.
But here’s the thing: it’s ours. The mess, the noise, the laughter—they’re all part of the beautiful, slightly bonkers tapestry of our family life.
Why Remote Works for Regional Families
For families in regional areas, remote working and learning isn’t just convenient—it’s transformative. It allows parents to access jobs that might otherwise be city-bound, and children to tap into educational resources that aren’t always available locally. Studies have shown that remote work can improve work-life balance, reduce commuting stress, and even increase productivity for many people. Homeschooling and online learning offer flexibility and can be tailored to each child’s needs, which is especially valuable when local schools are few and far between.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re considering the leap into remote work or homeschooling in the country, don’t let the fear of chaos stop you. Embrace the mess, laugh at the madness, and remember: in the end, it’s the happy memories—not the spotless floors—that make a home.
Remote work improves work-life balance and productivity
Benefits of flexible working for families
Advantages of online learning for regional students