“This placement has completely changed my perspective” – Tijo Joseph, social work student
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? My name is Tijo Joseph and I’m a second-year student in the Bachelor of Social Practice – Social Work and Community Development programme at Unitec in Auckland. I’m 35 years old, originally from India, and I spent part of my early life in the United Arab Emirates. I’ve lived in New Zealand for the past eleven years, mainly in Auckland and Wellington.
Before studying social work, I trained in pharmacy and worked for many years in retail and hospitality. Those jobs taught me valuable interpersonal skills, but over time I realised I wanted a career with deeper meaning and purpose. I wanted to contribute in a way that could genuinely improve people’s lives.
Q: What inspired you to pursue social work?
Tijo: I’ve always been passionate about supporting children and young people. Growing up, I witnessed many injustices affecting youth, and those experiences stayed with me. I realised I wanted to become someone who could advocate for vulnerable children and help them overcome challenges.
My long-term goal is to work in child protection and youth services. I hope to support young people in reaching their full potential and creating safer, more stable futures.
Q: Why did you choose The Hearing House for your practicum placement?
Tijo: I chose The Hearing House for my first three-month placement because I wanted exposure to the disability sector and an opportunity to broaden my understanding of social work practice. From the beginning, the team was incredibly welcoming and supportive, which made the experience even more meaningful.
The placement has deepened my understanding of how hearing affects communication, learning, relationships and overall wellbeing. Before I started at The Hearing House, I had only a very basic understanding of Deaf/deaf culture and the experiences of people with hearing differences. This placement has completely changed my perspective.
Q: What has been the most eye-opening part of the experience?
Tijo: One of the biggest things I’ve learned was how complex hearing differences can be. I discovered that traditional hearing aids do not always provide clear sound for people with profound hearing differences. Many kiritaki/clients can hear noises but still struggle to recognise or distinguish sounds clearly, especially certain frequencies like smoke alarms.
I was also amazed by the technology behind cochlear implants and the life-changing impact they can have. Seeing how these devices connect to phones, televisions, and other technology through Bluetooth showed me how much innovation can improve communication and independence for kiritaki.
At the same time, I learned that receiving a cochlear implant is only part of the journey. Kiritaki often require ongoing auditory training, speech therapy and daily practice. Progress usually happens gradually over many months, which highlighted the importance of patience, encouragement and long-term support.
Q: What kind of work were you involved in during your placement?
Tijo: As a social work student, I particularly valued learning about the psychosocial impacts of hearing differences — the emotional, social and psychological challenges that can affect both kiritaki and their whānau.
I also supported kiritaki with practical needs, including transport issues, needs assessments, specialised smoke alarms, insurance matters, panic alarms and even assisting one kiritaki with an application for a hearing dog. These experiences strengthened my advocacy skills and taught me the importance of holistic support.
Q: What will you take away from this practicum?
Tijo: What stood out most to me was the professionalism, kindness and compassion shown by the team at The Hearing House. Their whānau-centred approach has been a great example for me as a future social worker.
I’m due to complete my degree next July, and I believe the insight and experience I’ve gained during this placement will be incredibly valuable as I begin my career in social work. This practicum has strengthened my passion for helping others and confirmed that I’m on the right path.
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