Lauren follows her dad and sense of social justice into social work

The 23-year-old, hailing from Helensville, has just graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Her degree is also heart-warming as her dad, Dr Allen Bartley, is the faculty’s Head of the School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work where she studied. But she took having a parent as one of the academic staff in her stride.

“There were times where I was very conscious that I would be perceived as having extra help, getting higher marks, or special privileges because of Dad, but I was very lucky in that the staff and students were hugely supportive and transparent and there were no major issues because of our relationship. I really loved having him so involved in my journey.”

“I have always been deeply passionate about social justice, equality and ending poverty, and I wanted a career in which I could spend every day fighting for what I believe in.”

Allen says that having a child enrolled in a degree he teaches into had its challenges.

“I did have to engage in a series of conversations, both with Lauren as the student, and with my colleagues, as to what we could – and could not – discuss. She needed to be free to be a student without feeling as though she was being closely monitored, and colleagues needed to know that I wasn’t hearing ‘insider’ reports about them! I think we all handled those complexities really well, which is exactly what you’d expect from social workers.”

Lauren threw herself into her degree and even won a scholarship from the Kate Edger Charitable Trust in her final year.

She also thanks for fellow classmates for supported each other during the four-year degree.

“Being together nearly every day for four years in an often confronting context makes you really close really quickly.”

“We learnt how to be vulnerable together and this grew us personally and professionally. We shared in each other’s lives and struggles, challenged each other’s beliefs and biases, and helped each other to be the best we could be,” she says.

She was joined at the graduation by her dad, as well as her mother Naomi, brothers Jason and Silas, grandmother Meriel and partner Michael.

“They have all been hugely supportive of me during the last four years, and I am so proud to say that I could not have achieved what I have without them.”

Lauren now works as a Social Worker in Schools for ATWC (Anglican Trust for Women and Children). She is based at St Joseph’s School and Otahuhu Intermediate School in South Auckland.

“I am absolutely loving it! It’s intense and relentless, but hugely rewarding and I love finally being able to say ‘I am a social worker!’”

“The degree is confronting and hard work but don’t give up and keep believing in yourself and what you stand for. If you love the idea of supporting individuals and whānau, empowering communities, advocating and speaking out for human rights and social justice, and tackling the injustices in the world around you, then social work is for you!”