2008 Student Profile

Getting back into a learning environment after two years working did little to deter Vanessa Burrett, who is currently fulfilling a long term goal of studying Clinical Psychology at Waikato University. 

'I worked in an office administration position and this really helped me to realise that I wanted to be more involved with people and be able to help them'.

Vanessa chose to study Psychology because the subject has always interested her and she hopes to work with children and adolescents in the future.  After completing her Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours, she enrolled in a Master of Social Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology and is hoping to complete her studies in 2010.

Vanessa keeps herself very busy and is involved in several other projects outside of her study.  Over the summer of 2007-2008 she worked at the Henry Bennett Centre at Waikato Hospital, she is currently working part-time as a Sessional Assistant for the Psychology Department, and she is a member of the Management Committee for the Hamilton YWCA, a position she obtained through a scholarship she won last year.

'I really want to stay involved with community organisations.  You meet so many great people so it's a great chance to network, and it really keeps you grounded'.

Vanessa has almost completed the first year of the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology and will be heading into work placements within the Waikato region next year.  She will also be working on her thesis over the summer period, which assesses intellectually disabled sex offenders and evaluates if the tests effectively measure risk and changes in the client post-treatment.