Tauranga woman Jena Young is one of the first three people who will graduate from the University of Waikato's Bachelor of Social Work programme.

She is also the first person in her family to receive a degree, an occasion she will celebrate at graduation this week on Friday, April 29.

Jean Young has overcome a demanding workload and life pressure to complete a university degree – a first for someone in her family.

Jena completed the Diploma in Social Practice at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in 2008 and went on to complete the final two years of her four-year degree through the University of Waikato.

'It's a huge thing for me and my family and they're all coming to the graduation,” says Jena, who was juggling study with paid evening work and solo parenting her young son.

'In my last year I was ready to quit because it all got too much, but I'm over the moon that I stuck with it.”

She spent three months last year on placement with Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust in Greerton and has secured a full-time position there as a social worker.

'It's an amazing job, I just love it – social work just seems to come naturally to me and I've found my passion is in working as an advocate for people, by assisting them to meet their goals and objectives,” says Jena.

Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust provides free advice, mediation and advocacy to anyone needing help.

Jena says typical requests for help may be supporting people with custody situations, legal-related issues, health and housing needs, Work and Income advocacy and Child Youth and Family advocacy. The trust also refers clients to specific agencies for help if required.

'Clients may come in with similar issues, but how you go about helping them is different for everyone,” says Jena.

'We work with them, not for them, to find solutions and ask them to take part in the planning.”

The Bachelor of Social Work was the first programme jointly developed as part of the university's partnership with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

This began in 2009 and has included both university social sciences students and graduates of the two-year Diploma in Social Practice from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust general manager Lloyd Davies says he is privileged to employ one of the first graduates from the programme and thinks the social work profession will benefit hugely from having a four-year degree based in Tauranga.

'There are a plethora of social work qualifications available, but being a four-year degree, the University of Waikato programme has a high level of credibility and is robust,” says Lloyd.

He says the university also has an exceptional reputation in addressing bicultural issues, an area which is extremely important for social workers.

Course convenor Trish Hanlen is happy to see the first graduates come through and attributes the growing popularity of the programme to the increasing community awareness of social issues and the wide range of career paths that a social work degree can lead to.

'People are realising that for social issues to improve we need trained professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable about ways to assist,” says Trish.

'Students are also more aware of the wide range of career opportunities open to them with a social work degree.”

She says child protection and advocacy are important areas, but graduates could also choose to work with youth, in community development, elder care protection, social policy, social work in schools, health and mental health, residential care, women's refuge or counselling.