Next generation of clinicians learn from RISE specialist

RISE clinician Lara Buswell is sharing her specialist knowledge teaching a paper on Family Violence to social work and counselling students at NMIT/Te Pukenga.

“I'm hopefully setting up our future social workers and counsellors with knowledge around Family Violence.”

It is the second year Lara has tutored at the tertiary institution. She was approached by her former tutor to come back and share her extensive knowledge with students.

Lara is teaching students on their final years of their counselling and social work degrees. The Bachelor of Counselling is a three-year degree, and The Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences (Social Work) is four.

Lara teaches the Family Violence paper which runs for a semester on Thursdays for semester one from 9am to 2.30pm. The counselling and social work students mix for the class. Lara is contracted privately to do the work.

She says the students learn about Family Violence in detail including – exploring its complexities and how it includes power and control. Their studies also look at the laws around Family Violence including the Family Violence Act.

“It’s just everything around Family Violence.”

The course work includes two assessments – a written assignment and a presentation.

Lara says she really enjoyed it there were 26 in the group she taught last year.

“It feels similar to the groups I facilitate at RISE – but a lot bigger.”

She enjoys the tutoring work as it is empowering people to make change in the community. She is sensitive to the fact people in the class will have different understandings of Family Violence. It might be all new for some, but others might have lived experience of violence, or still be experiencing it.

“That will be some that are living it and some that grew up in in a home with it – it might be triggering for some.”

Lara says she received positive feedback from students about her paper last year. Students enjoyed mixing with those doing the different degree. Others appreciated her understanding and compassion around the demands of course work.

“It’s rewarding as the students want to soak it all up.”

She has worked at RISE since 2016, she works at the coalface as a clinician, and as well as tutoring, also has private supervision clients one day a week. “It’s like three levels of the work.”

Lara enjoys teaching and contemplated a career as an early childhood teacher before getting her social work degree at NMIT.

RISE Clinican Lara Buswell is teaching counselling and social work students at NMIT / Te Pukenga. “I'm hopefully setting up our future social workers and counsellors with knowledge around Family Violence.”

RISE general manager Dee Cresswell says Lara’s teaching role is a huge testament to Lara personally and her skills.

“And I think it’s really great that through our connection with Lara RISE has some input into the training the next level of social workers and counsellors.”

Lara can share her insights from RISE working with people who use violence as well as those who experience it.

The only way to make positive, long-term change with our very high rates of family violence in Aotearoa is to support and educate everyone impacted, including the people who are using violence.

Going down the punitive road doesn’t change anything, it can make things worse for many whānau, especially having a family member in prison where they might not get the support needed to make change.

What is helpful is supporting people through their own trauma and shame, to address how their behaviour now is impacting themselves and those around them.

“It’s important the next generation is getting a broad understanding of Family Violence across the whole whānau, and are able to access help without feeling judged.”