After a decade-long career as a solicitor, Natalie Cavaleri says the most rewarding perks of the job were the satisfaction of helping people and the opportunities to expand her knowledge.

The same can be said of her new profession, now that Cavaleri has switched to teaching.

"I always had a passion for working with children," she says.

"I love hockey and coached from a young age. I always enjoyed watching the development of personalities and being a guide to help them become their best, so naturally, the switch was quite easy."

Now teaching Legal Studies at Elderslie High School, Cavaleri was recently honoured with the NSW Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has been selected to represent the teaching profession as an Ambassador for Education.

"Teaching is a wonderful career and I would recommend it as your first, second or third career," she says.

"You need to be prepared for hard work, challenging days and [demands on your time] that you may not have, but when you have great colleagues, a supporting environment and a community behind you in your decision-making, it all balances out."

Cavaleri says there is a high degree of responsibility placed on teachers in terms of duty of care and relentless workload. She says in that way, teaching and the legal profession are similar.

"I find the workload and the changing environment of the profession challenging," she says.

The adrenalin rush of a winning outcome in a legal case has been replaced by the highs of seeing students reach their personal best, and of following their success to see what they become in the years that follow.

"You like to think that you had some part in that development and you feel extremely proud," Cavaleri says. In order to motivate students to give their best, Cavaleri says you have to show them that you believe in them.

"Take the time to listen and not pass judgment," she says. "By showing compassion and being there to support their growth and development, you can change a student's perspective on life. A sense of accomplishment can be the driving force for a student to make a good choice in the classroom or in life."