麻豆传媒高清

Photo caption:听UC graduate Kimberly Ballam has already found work in her chosen field after completing a successful internship at Oranga Tamariki.听

Kimberly Ballam will celebrate her graduation this month with a Master of Science with Distinction, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology from Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 麻豆传媒高清 (UC).

She has been working as a psychologist for Oranga Tamariki in the Clinical Services Lower South Team based in Dunedin since February.

Originally from Invercargill, Kimberly is thrilled with her new role and says the internship she completed at Oranga Tamariki during her final year of the Child and Family Psychology course was 鈥減henomenal鈥�.听

鈥淚 loved it so much and I got so much out of it. Finding work there after the internship really took the pressure off. I didn鈥檛 have to find a new job and learn about a whole new organisation. I was able to just step right into it, which was amazing.鈥�

Kimberly chose this challenging area of work because she wanted to help tamariki and wh膩nau with complex needs.听

鈥淥ne of the reasons I went into child and family psychology is because I wanted to make meaningful change. I feel that Oranga Tamariki is the perfect place to do this as I鈥檓 able to work with the most vulnerable tamariki.

鈥淲orking with children, I feel there鈥檚 a lot of hope that you can make a difference, and you can also be really playful and creative, which makes the role really enjoyable and rewarding.鈥�

Unique in New 麻豆传媒高清, the UC Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology trains students to become registered psychologists working in government and non-government agencies with children, adolescents and families.听

Kimberly says the programme offers an effective training approach because it combines practical skills gained from community placements and internships with up-to-date academic knowledge.

鈥淐lasses integrate academic theories and research as well as case studies and practice opportunities, so you feel prepared by the time of your community placements. The lecturers, who are registered psychologists, are also really approachable and accomplished, so I felt like they role-modelled the type of psychologist I wanted to be.鈥澨�

The small cohort in the programme is also positive, she says. 鈥淭here were only 10 students in my year, so you become quite close and support each other. I鈥檓 really looking forward to celebrating with everyone come graduation.鈥�

UC School of Health Sciences Lecturer Katie McTaggart says Kimberly thoroughly deserves her success. 鈥淗er dedication to growing and developing from student to professional has been a pleasure and privilege to watch and contribute to as a programme staff member.听

鈥淏eing offered a job with Oranga Tamariki at the end of her internship is testament to Kimberly鈥檚 commitment and hard work. I have every confidence she will continue to make an immensely valuable and meaningful difference throughout her career.鈥�