After working in the frontline of the local social work sector, newly appointed EIT social work lecturer Sarah Elliott is looking forward to passing on the skills she has learned.

She is passionate about holistic wellbeing and empowering positive change at all levels within the social service setting.

As a practice leader at Oranga Tamariki (formerly Child, Youth and Family), she loved working to help people change their lives for the better.

“I am super-passionate about best practice  and I want to infuse students with that passion and help them get the skills they need to achieve that,” she says.

“As a social worker I could see what was needed in our community so I really want to make that happen and help students get the right skills.”

What really appealed to her about the EIT social work programme was the hands-on aspect that enabled students to get real experience and practical knowledge as well as the theory.”

As well, the smaller classes at EIT enabled students to delve more deeply into specific aspects, rather than sitting in a large auditorium with 40 or 50 other students.

Before becoming a practice leader at Oranga Tamariki, Sarah  managed Ideas Services in Gisborne.

She and her husband moved to Gisborne from north Auckland and now have a 13-month old daughter.

“This is a great place to bring up a baby – we could not be happier,” she said.

Sarah has a Bachelor or Social Work degree, a postgraduate diploma in Social Work as well as a Master’s degree in Social Work, achieving both of the latter with distinction.