A social work student called to care
People are drawn to Larissa, a social work student that was on placement at Family Works. “I love people. I love talking and listening.” Whether she’s on an all-day work shift or out in the community with a social work team, she’s always got time for others (including doing this article during one of the fullest weeks of her year!)
Everyday moments matter
“I’ve worked at a supermarket for years now, I love the people and talking on checkout,” she says. “I ask people how their day’s gone, some of them it’s like I’m the first person they’ve talked to. My boss often says I’m like the social worker of work, the person everyone talks to.” She’s has had supermarket customers stop in to see her even after she’s moved stores.
One customer interaction has stayed with Larissa, “someone came through once, they were buying flowers and I said, oh, those are gorgeous flowers. And they go, thank you, they’re for my partner who died today. It was probably the first time they’d said that. Noone has experience as a social worker until they become a social worker, and I’ve already had eight years’ of people skills from my previous work.”
Balancing work, study, and Family Works placement
At the time of this article, Larissa’s had one day off a week because she was working apart from her social work days, and study. “You don’t get paid to be on placement. In Australia they do, but not here. They’re advocating for it. Obviously not full payment, but to pay rent each week so we don’t have to leave social work hours and then go to other work.”
Larissa‘s been doing her fourth year of a Bachelor of Social Work Honours programme, she was invited into this Honours stream because of her high achievement. “In year four you study Level 7 and I’ve been doing Level 8. It takes a year off your Masters so I’ll be 21 with Honours.”
During her sixty day Family Works placement, she was involved with the Whakamana Whānau team (support where there’s been violence or there’s risk of harm happening) and had some contact with Social Worker in Schools Team too. She’s inspired by the team, “I chose Family Works. Other students have had really good experiences on placement here. Such an awesome team.”
The journey into social work started at school. “I wanted to do social work since year 11. I went straight from school into social work with a scholarship, just cracked on with it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” There’s a deep sense of purpose, “when I was growing up, I always wished I had someone to talk to. I was very privileged growing up though, because I always had a roof over my head, food on my plate. Lots of kids actually don’t have that privilege of nice warm clothes, nice shoes, someone to talk to.”
Her mum’s work as a midwife influenced her too, “She’s got a very important job and I was like, oh, I want to do something like Mum and help people. But without all the needles and all the blood and all the births. What options are there? Social work, okay!”
Young and very ready
Larissa’s faced doubt, “people tell me all the time I’m too young, that I don’t have life experience so how can I help others.” But she knows her strengths. “Actually, well, I have experience of being a kid, so I can help kids.” She connects easily with young people. “I can literally get on the monkey bars with them, I know the young slang, and I’m still young enough that I know about the same schooling system that they’re in. “The closer she gets to graduation, the more confident she feels, “being told I’m far too young used to get to me. I’m obviously achieving quite well, so I’m capable.”
Larissa’s has a supervisor and lecturer at Eastern Institute of Technology who’s know her since year 11, “she’s encouraged me all the way up until now.” If Larissa could speak to her younger self, she’d say, “give it a go, and when things get tough, just don’t give up.” She’d also remind herself to not be afraid to ask for help, “It’s okay, it’s all part of it, like saying can I have an extension, can someone help me?”
Values guiding the future
Larissa is close to reaching her goal, “It feels like I’m drowning right now, but I’m coming to the end.” The future’s exciting, “you can be a social worker anywhere with a social work degree in the world. I can work and then travel, which is really flexible and cool.”
Larissa’s core values are honesty, integrity and kindness. You need these qualities in this work, and she knows exactly what would happen if there weren’t new social workers like her entering the workforce, “there’d be a lot more kids worse off. For some of them to come to school and have someone to talk to can make their whole day. One young child sees me and their face just lights up. Other school kids that I’m not even working with will walk past and say hi. It’s someone other than their teacher that they can talk to.”
For future students, “absolutely do it”
She shares a standout lesson from her hours of juggling work and study, “everyone’s going through their own thing. You don’t know what anyone is going through underneath their brave face. A kid could be sitting there smiling, doesn’t mean they’re happy. If someone is rude to you, well, there might be a reason they’re being rude. Ask them if they’re all right. You should approach everyone with kindness.”
“I’m super proud of myself and my family are so proud of me.”
Our region’s a better place with you in it Larissa. Thank you for who you are, and for all that you give to your community.
Learn more about Family Works here.
Click here to visit our PSEC careers page and job openings.
