Career Advice/Direction - Quality Assurance

Hi,

Feel like I'm at a bit of a brick wall at the moment with my career/job.

Bit of background;

I work in Quality Assurance in Production Plants (dairy), with a 10 year history working in other food labs as Lab Tech, QC Tech, Snr Lab Tech. Based in regional Victoria. Current Salary is $70-$75k. Currently 30years old. Highest level of study is a Diploma in Laboratory Technology with a CertIV Food Science and Cert IV Lab Operations.

I just moved to a new job, my previous role was QA officer at a Milk Plant for 3years, towards the end I just wasn't enjoying the work environment there, started effecting home life and they were changing to a 4on4off roster but wanted to greatly underpay us. I started to look for a new role, they offered slightly more money and opportunity for development in the future, both were verbal and the development was in the far future, so i decided to leave. My new job, QA Officer, its at a smaller Milk plant, where they're still developing processes and procedures, I'm basically starting from the bottom again where the impression was I'd be doing more senior thing.

I'm emotionally happier at this new job, however not content career wise, it feels like a step back.

During the job search, I applied for a Leadership QA Tech position at another Milk/Cheese Plant, where they actually contacted me via my resume on Seek, I interviewed and felt I did well. My resume is fairly strong I always get interest from it and I'm a very genuine positive person with a passion for quality and i feel this comes off well when I interview. It got down to the final two, between me and someone else, and they had more experience in leadership and got the job. My interviewee's were very honest about this and expressed that if the site had two positions I would of secured a position, they offered to hang onto my resume if circumstance change, and even later when they're recruitment team contacted me for feedback during their part of the processed they did offer the same position at a different plant in Tasmania, which was a good offer however I've got a young family with roots where we are, so i politely declined.

I've had years of experience training people in roles, and also direction to ~2 people with their daily tasks were completed promptly, as per the correct priority and efficiently. However I've have no formal training in Management, leadership and managing relationships in the workplace.

I'm considering doing an online course, perhaps a Cert IV in Leadership Management online via Oten or AOT.
I've seen some websites offer singular units which I considered due to it being cheaper?

I feel I probably need to switch jobs as well in the next 12months as well, as the development and opportunities aren't at my current job.

I guess I'm looking for some advice, should I do the online course? Consider moving roles quicker? Have you been in a similar position?

Thanks guys, all feedback appreciated, feeling a bit down with all this at the moment, really keen to advance and start making better money to help provide for my family better. Sorry for the wall of text too.

I did post this on Whirlpool forums to get some feedback but didn’t spark any attention, hoping it does here.