Thirty Bachelor of Social Practice ākonga celebrated the culmination of a four-year learning journey by presenting their final capstone papers at the Just Practice Symposium.
The symposium is a flagship event for the programme and was held at our Waitākere Campus on Thursday.
Just Practice brought together students, staff, whānau, and community partners to acknowledge the collective effort, resilience and dedication underpinning the journey toward becoming effective social practitioners.
The capstone paper provides graduating students with an opportunity to develop critical awareness and advanced skills —competencies that will enhance their future contributions to social justice and change.
Through their presentations, ākonga shared the personal motivations that guide their commitment to justice-oriented and Te Tiriti-informed approach. Many reflected on the insights, courage and lived experiences that have shaped their identities and growth as emerging social workers.
“Just Practice marks the point where learning, unlearning, deconstruction and reconstruction meet. It is a space that invites reflection, identity, and responsibility,” says Senior Lecturer Craig Tunnicliffe.
“The symposium honours this process by centring the voices of students as they articulate the kind of practitioners they aspire to be and the communities they intend to stand with.”
This annual celebration recognises not only academic achievement but also the deep ethical and relational commitment required for effective, justice-focused practice.
For many students, the symposium serves as both a milestone and a moment of affirmation—an opportunity to acknowledge the transformative nature of their studies and the relationships built along the way.
As one of the highlights of the academic year, Just Practice stands as a powerful reminder of the impact of social work education and the significant contribution these graduates are now prepared to make within their communities and the wider social sector.