WELCOME TO THE SOCIAL PRACTICE POSTGRADUATE
PROGRAMMES: MASTER OF SOCIAL PRACTICE AND THE
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING
Nau mai haere mai ki Te Whare Wananga o Wairaka, ki raro hoki i
nga manaakitanga o te Atua.
Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui.
It is with the greatest pleasure that we welcome you to the Social
Practice postgraduate programmes at Unitec, Aotearoa New
Zealand.
The Master of Social Practice (incorporating the Postgraduate
Diploma in Social Practice and the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Practice) has been developed
primarily for advanced practitioners who need to be able to make informed, ethical and integrated
responses to the complex situations they encounter and to provide on-going professional
development opportunities for social practitioners. The social practice postgraduate programmes
challenge the traditional concept of further specialisation within a particular discipline. Building on
the Bachelor of Social Practice philosophy of interdisciplinary practice, new ways of conceptualising
the role of an advanced and flexible, transdisciplinary practitioner are explored. The programmes are
predicated on the assumption that students have a thorough grounding in their initial professional
discipline. This expertise will form the context for reflective and collaborative learning, theorising
and research for advanced transdisciplinary practice. Prior experience will create a springboard for
students to both extrapolate and critically evaluate diverse theories and practices. The focus of this
ongoing critique will be driven by the ethics of social justice.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling takes a close look at collaborative counselling approaches,
in particular narrative therapy. It also explores solution focused therapy and collaborative language
systems. Your placement will provide the practical experience for you to put theory into action.
You will learn the skills and knowledge to work in a diverse range of counselling environments in
Aotearoa/New Zealand. Bi-cultural practice and the study of Maori practice models are integrated
throughout the course. Find out about power relations, and the significance of cultural, historical
and social contexts in the shaping of people’s lives. Participate in a work placement, and analyse
theory and practice through a range of models. Our lecturers work to the guidelines of the Code of
Ethics of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Graduates will be eligible for provisional
membership of NZAC.
Unitec has developed a statement of Partnership, Te Noho Kotahitanga, which outlines its
acknowledgement of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of
Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is woven into the foundation of the Master of Social
Practice Degree and the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling. Our culturally diverse student body
reflects the increasingly multi-ethnic nature of Aotearoa New Zealand society. This diversity fosters
an exciting, challenging, and vibrant teaching and learning environment within the Programme.
Collectively the teaching staff within the postgraduate programmes are highly qualified and
experienced. Staff research supports the teaching programme, and the quality of this research is
reflected in a range of publications in both Aotearoa New Zealand and international journals.
Students value the quality of the teaching on the programme and the overall commitment of staff.
E Learning is growing. Changes this year include the wider adoption of the Moodle web based course
platform and the phasing out of Blackboard. We will also move toward the adoption of the Turnitin
software to support student academic integrity.
We are confident that your period of study on the postgraduate programmes will enhance your
skills, knowledge and practice. This learning is vital for reflective and critical practice in the ever
changing contexts of contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand and international society.
David McNabb
Head of Department
On behalf of the Postgraduate Programmes