Psychology students recognised for resilience and community service
Two students from the School of Psychology were recently awarded Rotary Goalsetter awards in recognition of their achievements, community service, and ability to overcome significant challenges.
The Rotary Club of Port Nicholson’s annual Ki te Ao Mārama—Goal Setter Awards—celebrate tertiary students who set and achieve goals and give back to their communities while navigating significant personal barriers. This year, psychology students Lee Bravestone and Stefan Trybula were among the recipients.
Balancing responsibilities
Stefan recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology and is now pursuing Honours in Psychology. For Stefan, psychology holds both personal and academic interest.
"Many of my family members suffer from mental illnesses, ranging from bipolar disorder to substance use disorders," he explains.
During 2024, Stefan faced numerous challenges at home, including parental separation and caring for his younger sister while their mother recovered from a significant injury. Despite these difficulties, Stefan excelled both academically and as a tutor, even receiving a nomination for a university Tutor Excellence Award.
Stefan has also found time to volunteer weekly at Hutt Hospital, taking night shifts in the emergency department with St John and day shifts in the acute inpatient unit with Wellington Hospitals Foundation.
“My volunteer shifts involve assisting the medical staff and supporting the vulnerable patients with anything they require—from playing board games with patients, to assisting them to fill out forms, to helping staff restock supplies.
“I found community work helped me focus on things other than the troubles surrounding me,” says Stefan.
Advocating for their community
Lee, now in their third year of a Psychology PhD, initially planned to become a clinical psychologist serving the rainbow community. However, during their Honours research, Lee realised that research could create broader change for rainbow communities than individual clinical practice.
"I saw a more systemic, far-reaching path to fighting for equality for my community," Lee says. "My work focuses on applying queer theory to challenge how research is conducted to increase equitable outcomes for rainbow communities."
While managing the demands of being both a full-time student and parent, Lee has had some impressive academic achievements, including the Wellington Doctoral Scholarship and publication in a prominent journal—after successfully appealing an initial rejection that showed bias against rainbow research.
Outside of academic work, Lee contributes to research projects addressing health inequities for rainbow people and helps integrate rainbow content into tertiary education curriculums.
For both students, winning the Goal Setter Award provides welcome recognition and financial support.
“It was very nice to be chosen for this award, especially due to there being so many applicants. Having my service, achievements, and adversities recognised has reinforced that what I dealt with was particularly difficult. Winning this award has inspired me to continue following my dreams and aspirations,” says Stefan.
Lee adds, "The award feels like an acknowledgement of my strength—that people see and celebrate my perseverance. When going through tough times, it can be difficult to know you are doing the right thing. Winning this award was validation I needed to bolster my confidence and keep pushing toward my goals."