Petra Crosswell (right) is looking forward to her new role as a social work lecturer on the Bachelor of Social Work programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga, Tairāwhiti campus. Petra is pictured with her eight-year-old son Henare (left).
Petra Croswell’s love for connecting with people and her passion for social work has seen her transition to the role of social work lecturer on the Bachelor of Social Work programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga, Tairāwhiti campus.
“I am very passionate about social work and about the quality of social work. I’m also very big on potential and supporting people to understand and work towards achieving their potential.”
Petra (Te Aitanga à Mate, Ngati Porou), who began her new role this year, is originally from Feilding, where she completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Massey University in Palmerston North. While at university, Petra was part of Te Rau Puawai, an academic support programme for students who intend to work in the area of Māori mental health.
According to Petra, the programme was incredibly supportive and successful.
“There were a lot of things that they were able to offer me in terms of connecting with Te Ao Māori, extending my learning and offering inspiration through their leadership and wider connections.”
Petra brings a wide range of social work experience across different sectors to her role as social work lecturer. After graduating, her first job was as a Social Worker, working with adult clients in Community Mental Health at Mid-Central Hospital, in Palmerston North. Later she joined the Needs Assessment and Services Co-ordination team at Life Unlimited in Gisborne.
“I supported a number of people who either had a disability or had family members with a disability, around the Ministry of Health funded supports.”
Petra says she had always had a desire to move to Tairawhiti.
“My dad was born here, and his mum was from up the coast”.
Petra has also worked as a Community Social Worker, for what is now called Stand Children’s Services inTairāwhiti, where she got the opportunity to utilise her people skills and her passion for connection and relationship-building.
“I worked for three years at what was then called the Health Camp, but is now called Stand Children’s Services. That was an awesome space to connect with lots of people.”
Petra, who is a mother to 8-year old Henare, says that she “had a lot of encouragement from colleagues and peers” to apply for the position of social work lecturer, at EIT | Te Pūkenga.
Petra attributes the high standard of practice she has always set for herself and for others to the solid foundation which was set in her undergraduate social work degree.
Petra wants to inspire students to challenge themselves to be the best social workers they can be, by “not just learning the basics, but actually going beyond and challenging themselves”.
“What I’m looking forward to is connecting with the students, helping to inspire them and motivating them to really explore what their interests are, and to think more widely about how they can contribute to our community”.
Gwenda Kevern, the Head of School – Education and Social Sciences, Centre for Veterinary Nursing says: “EIT | Te Pūkenga is delighted to welcome Petra to our social work team. The skills and experience she brings will strengthen our Bachelor of Social Work programme and benefit our students and community.”