Rebecca Fittock
Prior to studying a Bachelor of Social Work at Ara, Rebecca Fittock was living in Sydney, working as a case manager and volunteering with a youth transitional housing service.
She chose social work for several reasons. “I wanted job security at the end of study, and it’s a career that’s challenging, rewarding and diverse in experiences.”
Now qualified, Rebecca is finding fulfillment in those diverse experiences as a social worker with Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou. There, she’s providing wraparound support to tamariki and their whānau while a parent is in prison.
Rebecca says she felt well prepared for the role after her four-year degree. “The practical assessments built into each course gave me optimism and reassurance that I’d definitely be work-ready by the time I graduated.”
She also undertook two, three-month practical placements during her degree to prepare her for the realities of the job.
During her degree, Rebecca says she was impressed that the programme didn’t shy away from important discussions on topics like colonisation, systemic racism and inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also included Noho Marae (overnight stays in a marae) and courses in cultural context.
She adds: “My tutors were professional, approachable, supportive and generous with their time. They each brought real-world experience to the classroom and their teaching styles were authentic, inspiring and motivating.”
One of the things Rebecca enjoyed most about her time at Ara was how much she and her classmates developed and grew as individuals.
As for the future, Rebecca says she can see herself staying in the non-government sector for the foreseeable future. “In two or three years I’d like to take on social work students and then in maybe five to ten years I’d like to provide social work supervision.”