From Secretary to Solicitor: Katrina Daniels' full-circle journey
It’s hard to believe some teachers told her she'd never amount to anything.
Katrina Daniels left school halfway through Grade 12 after failing Grades 10 and 11. At 15, her future looked uncertain.
But her now father-in-law — a regional director for community corrections — saw something in her that others hadn't. He saw potential. And he helped steer her toward public service.
Katrina started as an AO2 Judges’ Secretary at Rockhampton Supreme Court through a traineeship, completing her Certificate III in Business Administration with the then-Department of Employment and Training.
More than 30 years later, she's Acting Regional Director for the Sunshine Coast and Senior Operations Manager for Central Queensland, leading court operations across multiple regions and managing over 80 staff.
And in six months, she'll achieve something that once seemed impossible: she'll be admitted as a solicitor - in the same Supreme Court where she started her career as a Judges’ Secretary.
"That's something pretty special for me," she says. "It's full circle."
Education as empowerment
For Katrina, education has always been deeply personal.
"I want to show younger people that just because you didn't do well at school doesn't mean it's over," she says. "There are pathways - you just have to take them."
While managing her demanding leadership roles, Katrina has been studying law full-time through Central Queensland University and she has just six months left until graduation.
It hasn't been easy and it’s meant discipline, sacrifice, and setting clear priorities.
"Study was important to me, so I made sure I found the time," she says. "It wasn't about a career change - I'm not looking to change careers at my age. This is about personal growth. It's about knowing I can achieve this."
A ripple effect
Katrina's impact extends far beyond her own achievements.
Her eldest daughter - also told at school she'd never succeed - is now a lecturer at Charles Sturt University, teaching in veterinary technology. Her younger daughter is a paramedic. Her niece, inspired by Katrina's journey, is now studying accounting as an honour student after initially believing she could only achieve a diploma.
"The fact that I was the first one in my family to ever go to university - and now I've inspired my niece as well - that means everything," Katrina says.
Grounded by the land
When she's not leading regional court operations or buried in legal textbooks, Katrina lives on a hobby farm outside Rockhampton.
There are horses, cows, dogs — and one alpaca named Albert, a former community pest who was chased by the stock squad for three weeks before deciding Katrina's property was home.
"It grounds me," she says. "You touch the grass, and it just brings you back."
The physical work - fencing, clearing paddocks, dragging sticks - balances the demands of her professional life.
"My weekends are where I don't hear traffic or the noise of society," she says. "It keeps that calmness in my life."
Giving back
Katrina's plans for retirement reflect the values that have shaped her career.
She doesn't want to slow down — she wants to give back.
After she's admitted as a solicitor, she plans to volunteer at a community legal centre, offering her skills to people who need them most.
"Some people give to Rotary, some go to Zonta," she says. "For me, I want to give back to the community in a legal way."
It's a fitting next chapter for someone whose career began because someone saw potential in her when others didn't.
Make it happen or let it go
Katrina's philosophy is simple, and it's guided her through every challenge.
"If you want something to happen, you make it happen," she says. "If you don't, you let it go. Don't hang on to it - just decide."
It's a mantra born from experience - from being told she'd never amount to anything and choosing to prove otherwise.
From AO2 Judges’ Secretary to Acting Regional Director.
From school dropout to honours student.
From someone written off by teachers to someone inspiring the next generation.
Katrina Daniels is making it happen.
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