You will explore the issues that affect our community, and learn from highly experienced lecturers, researchers and practitioners, many of whom have active roles in the community and national organisations.
print versionCommunity and Social Practice
Community and social practice
Study at Unitec for a rewarding career in social practice – community development, counselling, liaison interpreting, literacy support and social work– and benefit from a great combination of theory and real world learning.
Rewarding careers
If you’d like to help those in need, and have a keen sense of social justice, a future working with people and their communities could be just what you’re looking for. Community and social practice roles focus on improving the quality of communities, as well as people’s lives, and range from community developer to counsellor, liaison interpreter, literacy educator, not-for-profit manager and social worker.
As our society becomes more open to addressing community challenges, the need for qualified professional practitioners increases. Whichever role interests you, a community and social practice qualification from Unitec will help you to succeed in these rewarding fields.
Academic relevance
Our lecturers have recently come from, or currently have, active roles in social practice and are highly respected for their knowledge and experience. They work both nationally and abroad in private practice, the state sector and non-government organisations, and in areas such as child advocacy, counselling, literacy or refugee support, local community development projects, and mental health. Their relevant experience in these helping professions ensures an approach to learning that is grounded in reality.
Close ties with the community
We have great relationships with community and not-for-profit organisations around New Zealand and the Pacific. As part of your study, you will get hands-on work experience with key community and state-run organisations in all the fields of social practice and the not-for-profit sector. And as part of your assignments, you will research and analyse real life work, personal and community issues.
Programmes available for Community and Social Practice
Community studies
Master of Social Practice
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Practice
Postgraduate Certificate in Social Practice
Graduate Diploma in Counselling
Bachelor of Social Practice (Community Development)
Bachelor of Social Practice (Counselling)
Bachelor of Social Practice (Social Work)
Certificate in Liaison Interpreting
Certificate in Community Skills
Certificate in Foundation Studies: Whitinga - Social Practice
Not-for-profit management
Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management
