David Coffey - Social and community leadership
“There aren’t many sectors where you can go home each day and say you helped to make other people’s lives a little bit better. That’s what I love about my job.”
“I’ve spent the past ten years working in the social sector, first in the disability sector and then in community mental health NGOs. To reflect on and develop my practice, I decided to study the Master of Social and Community Leadership.
“The programme aligned with my job and organisation; it’s forward-thinking, creative, community-minded and designed to better equip people to live their best lives.
“The wealth of experience and knowledge of my classmates inspired me to challenge myself, ask more questions and dream bigger. I feel lucky to have had such skilled lecturers – it’s not just the high quality in-class teaching but the sincere and thoughtful pastoral care that made me feel supported every step of the way.
“The skills and knowledge I’ve developed through my masters have played a key role in my career progression, giving me the opportunity to start in my current role as Service and Relationship Manager for Pathways Health, a community mental health NGO.
“My job involves overseeing services and support team coaches to provide individualised person and whānau-centred support. Working for the betterment of people is something that hooked me from day one – there aren’t many sectors where you can go home each day and say you helped to make other people’s lives a little bit better.
“Relationship- and awareness-building are crucial to my job, and the Master of Social and Community Leadership has helped me to research and connect with communities effectively.
“I’d recommend the programme to anyone working in the community sector, whether it’s volunteering, part-time or senior management. The skills you’ll gain can be applied to a wide range of sectors, and you’ll study alongside students working in different areas.”