A University of Waikato social work graduate says he owes his success to the on-going support of his family.

Mark Bramley, who graduated at the University's Tauranga ceremony on Friday, was chosen to speak on behalf of students during the ceremony.

University of Waikato social work graduate Mark Bramley at the Tauranga graduation.

While graduation was a day to celebrate student success, Mark chose to acknowledge and applaud the considerable family support he and fellow students received during their years of study.

'All study programmes have their pressure points and it can be really challenging at times, especially around assignment deadlines and exam times.

'I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels the support of my family has contributed to me being able to stand here today.”

While Mark had toyed with the idea of Social Work as a career early on in his life, he ended up travelling, qualifying as a chef and working in sales and customer service roles before finally realising that people often came to him to talk through personal issues.

Now 36, he is relishing his new role as a social worker with Community Mental Health in Whakatane and says he would never return to his former career.

'I work with vulnerable people who are experiencing traumas in their life.

'My strength is in building relationships with people from the outset and working with them to find the most appropriate way to help them move forward. We aim to bring stability back into their lives.”

Returning to study later in life was a positive experience for Mark and he says his accumulation of life skills has been invaluable in his new career.

'Sometimes my role is just about listening and engaging with the client until you have the whole picture and then you can draw on those years of study and your own life skills to find ways to help.

'The four-year degree encompassed a huge amount of information but without it I wouldn't be able to do what I can now.”

For most of his four years at the University in Tauranga Mark was the student advocate and representative on the social work programme Community Advisory Board, which ensures the programme continues to meet needs within the community.

In his current role, he has continued study towards a one-year postgraduate qualification in Mental Health through Auckland University of Technology.

The four-year University of Waikato programme, which is only offered in Tauranga, was developed in partnership with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in 2009.

This year Mark graduated alongside eight former social work students.