Tessa, who has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Statistics, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Education, came to university after completing a polytechnic course in early childhood education.

“What initially sparked my interest in EdPsyc, and continues to do so, is the approach to education and learning as life-long and multi-faceted. For example, undergraduate courses I took in lifespan development, and learning and motivation have been directly applicable to my everyday life as well as developing my theoretical understanding,” explains Tessa. “The EdPsyc courses I have taken have had some of the most engaging and collaborative student communities I’ve experienced, fostered by great lecturers.”

University is about so much more than academic learning, says Tessa, who has been heavily involved in Te Herenga Waka’s sustainability efforts. “The last several years have certainly been a period of massive self-discovery, from a late diagnosis of ADHD to explorations of gender and identity. Being exposed to the wonderful diversity of experiences and backgrounds of my fellow students at Te Herenga Waka has played a big role in encouraging reflection and also in simply learning about experiences I didn’t know existed.”

Passionate lecturers who go above and beyond to help students succeed is just one of the reasons Georgia Davies loves studying Educational Psychology at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

She says her lecturers have been “amazing.” “They are passionate, will go above and beyond for their students, and are heavily invested in their students’ development.”

Georgia says coming to Te Herenga Waka pushed her in ways she never imagined. “For those that don’t consider yourselves ‘academic’, I am proof that it is possible,” she says. “It challenged my resilience, time-management, and confidence, but is important to remember that, while hard, a challenge isn’t necessarily a negative thing. My time-management skills have become a point of pride and I can confidently say I am more resilient in the workplace.”

Coming to Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington to do her Masters and PhD in Educational Psychology was an easy choice for Barbara Ferguson.

“I was passionate about studying in this field. I believe early support and intervention is the key to mitigating many of the challenges that ākonga (students) and young people experience, so I wanted to help them understand themselves, and be able to know and access their own strengths,”.

Barbara says her research will have many real-world applications. “My PhD will ultimately enable me to contribute to the development of psychoeducation, improve early intervention, and professional practice—such as upskilling educational psychologists and others—and increase public understanding of ADHD,” she says. “Completing my study and research at Te Herenga Waka will enable me to change the discourse on ADHD and enrich and create positive change in the lives of females with ADHD.”

With a background in the Royal New Zealand Navy, Stacey has embarked on a radical career change—she completed a Bachelor of Arts (with a double major in Sociology, and Education and Psychology) at Te Herenga Waka, and is now part of the University’s Master of Educational Psychology programme.

“I wanted to know more about learning difficulties, as our child has needed extra learning support through their schooling—it felt like we were fumbling in the dark, trying to find support,” Stacey explains. “I wanted our whānau to be in a better position to make informed decisions on support and learning pathways for our child, and the only way I could see done was by taking up courses in Education, and Psychology. Additionally, the courses in Sociology provided a balance for looking at societal and historical factors that influence our development.”

“I really would like to use what I have learned from my undergrad, the Master’s degree, and lived experiences to help other whānau and their tamariki with their education pathways and finding support. Our teachers have such an important role in our children’s development, and I would like to be able to collaborate and support them and our schools in the ways they need.”