Experience

• 

  Write Your Essay With Me

  • Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

  • Essay Writing Coach

    • Nov 2016 - Present
    • Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

    At @writeyouressaywithme, I provide essay writing coaching to women enrolled to study at university / polytech in New Zealand. By way of my 1:1, online sessions, I talk students through their assignment briefs and marking guides, I review essay drafts, and provide advice and feedback that is constructive, comprehensive, and kind.My hour-long Zoom, Messenger, or Teams sessions allow students the opportunity to discuss their upcoming assignments with me. In these sessions, we'll chat through the following: addressing the essay question; how to structure an assignment to allow for a logical flow of ideas; how to present a piece of writing that will be suited to the desired audience; how to build a clear and strong argument; how to reference appropriately so as to avoid plagiarism; and tips for polished presentation.

• 

  Rape Prevention Education (RPE)

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • Rape Prevention Educator

    • Aug 2017 - Sep 2017
    • Auckland, New Zealand

    In this role, I educated young people on the importance of respect and consent in relationships. With other educators, I travelled to various high schools in Auckland, where we delivered information to students and held discussions about sexual violence and its prevention.

• 

  Victoria University of Wellington

  • New Zealand
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Student Administration Assistant

    • Oct 2016 - Mar 2017

    In this position at Victoria University of Wellington, I greeted university students at the reception area of the Faculty Offices for Science and Engineering, determined who best to direct students to based upon their queries, or offered them help with where to find printed or online course advice. I was also responsible for entering data into Excel spreadsheets for the purpose of calculating degree audits for undergraduate students who were wishing to complete their degrees, or were in the process of applying for further study in the 2017 academic year. I also processed payments for academic transcript applications, and filed student paperwork once change requests were actioned.

  • Examination Supervisor

    • Oct 2008 - Nov 2016

    During Trimester 1 and 2 examination periods I supervised examinations for the following departments at Victoria University of Wellington: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Law, and the School of Education. Some of the examinations required a sole supervisor, while other, larger examinations demanded that I act as lead supervisor in a group. Key tasks were to ensure that students were comfortable and safe in the examination environment; to take a roll prior to commencement of examinations; to ensure that students received clear instruction as to what was expected of them; to distribute examination papers to each student and collect these when the examination was completed; to monitor any problematic behaviour or suspected cheating and report this to the examination coordinator; to safely transport all completed papers to the examination coordinator.

  • Proofreader

    • Oct 2016 - Oct 2016

    Prior to the end of year examination period, for a concentrated period of 3.5 weeks, I focussed my attention on proofreading approximately 100 examination papers for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. This involved checking over papers to ensure that formatting was standardised across the board, that marks to be allocated to students added up correctly, questions were worded in such a way that these would be easily understood and correctly interpreted by students, and any spelling or grammatical errors were minimised.

• 

  SHORE Research Massey University

  • Wellington

  • Interviewer for NZ ADUM and IDMS Research Projects

    • Apr 2010 - Oct 2016
    • Wellington

    For the NZ ADUM and IDMS projects run by Massey University, I recruited and interviewed participants about their use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Participants in the NZ ADUM study were selected from a pool of people who have been detained at Wellington Central Police station, while IDMS participants were members of the general population. Such interviews require trust and rapport between interviewer and participant, and often deal with sensitive and confidential information.

• 

  Victoria University of Wellington

  • New Zealand
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Criminology Tutor

    • Mar 2008 - Oct 2015

    Over an eight year period I tutored 200 and 300-level students in a range of different Criminology courses at Victoria University of Wellington. This role required me to read and research a range of criminological topics, and to prepare and deliver regular tutorials to both small and large groups of students. I also held regular office hours to enable on-campus students to meet with me in person in order to discuss any concerns they might have had and to provide them with extra help with assignment work. Throughout the term, I maintained ongoing email contact with my students to ensure that they were comfortable with course content and had a clear understanding as to what was expected of them. I was known as a tutor who would take the extra time and care to send information to my students in order to help them with common problem areas, such as how best to structure an essay, how to build an argument, and how to present an assignment to suit an academic audience. Whilst I was often required to mark up to 60 assignments during one marking period, I always took the time to provide constructive feedback that would allow students to improve upon their work. I have tutored for the following courses:CRIM 219: Youth CrimeCRIM 212: Crime and Criminal Justice in New ZealandCRIM 313: Women, Crime, and Social ControlCRIM 217: Crime and PsychologyCRIM 321: Criminal Behaviour and InvestigationCRIM 215: Contemporary Issues in PolicingCRIM 214: Introduction to Criminal BehaviourCRIM 211: Introduction to Criminological Thought

  • Student Administration Assistant

    • Jan 2015 - Apr 2015

    This position required me to monitor the NZQA level 3 results of students wishing to enrol in Science courses at Victoria University of Wellington. Those who did not meet the standard requirements were then offered alternative pathways to study. Students were advised by email and were offered clear and considered advice when necessary. I was also charged with actioning changes to courses of study where necessary (by way of the University-wide Banner computer system) and informing students by email or telephone when these changes had been made. This position also required me to carefully and concisely calculate degree audits, and to advise students of the number of courses still remaining in order to complete their qualifications. Once such paperwork was actioned, I was then responsible for ensuring that it was filed appropriately.

• 

  Workforce Development

  • Arohata Prison, Tawa, Wellington

  • Pathway Support Officer and Tutor

    • Aug 2014 - Dec 2014
    • Arohata Prison, Tawa, Wellington

    This role consisted of carrying out literacy and numeracy assessments with learners at Arohata Prison. Once the assessments had been carried out, I would enter the data into the ALNAAT (Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool). Assessments were marked and students' skill levels were determined. This allowed me to propose relevant pathways for students to reach their academic goals. In addition to this position, I also acted as tutor to those who wished to improve upon their budgeting, CV writing, and job interview skills, thus providing these learners with a better chance of securing employment upon their release. I prepared and delivered regular group sessions for learners, providing them with scenarios and examples that we could read through together before engaging in group discussion and working through exercises together. I also had the opportunity to spend one on one time tutoring a brain injured prisoner. Together, we worked through journals and books, which helped to improve her reading skills and build her confidence.

• 

  The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

  • Lower Hutt, New Zealand

  • Corrections Programme Coordinator

    • Sep 2013 - Feb 2014
    • Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    In this role I received and logged enrolment applications from prisons and forwarded relevant details to the Academic Registry and Enrolments Department for further action. I also liaised with Workforce Development Coordinators across the country and acted as first port of call between Corrections and Open Polytechnic teams. Once students had been enrolled in the correct courses, I monitored their progress and when learners had completed their units of study, I updated student records and organised for certificates to be processed and sent out. This role also required me to attend regular internal and external organisational meetings to discuss student progress and enrolment projections.

• 

  Victoria University of Wellington

  • New Zealand
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Student Administration Assistant

    • Feb 2012 - Aug 2013

    In this role I assisted and worked alongside other members of the Student Administration Team, to ensure that Law students were enrolled in the correct courses, were on track to complete their degrees, and would have their work assessed appropriately. I monitored enrolment applications from these students and actioned changes to courses when necessary, carefully calculated degree audits for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and assisted with the administration of postgraduate assessment procedures. I was solely responsible for the processing of academic transcripts, as well as graduation applications from students, and liaised with the Graduation Team along with academics in order to ensure that these processes ran smoothly. In addition to these responsibilities, I was also tasked with organising the gown hire for Faculty staff during graduation periods.

  • Enrolments and Administration Assistant

    • Oct 2011 - Jan 2012

    This role allowed me to assist the student advisors working in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Offices, by ensuring that student paperwork was appropriately and securely filed and archived. This meant maintaining order in the records/archives storage spaces and general filing cabinets. I was also tasked with monitoring GDA processes (General Disposal Authority for University Records) to ensure that paperwork would be securely destroyed following the relevant allocated period of time for which it was to be held on record.

• 

  Victoria University of Wellington

  • Enrolments Department

  • Team Leader of Admissions and Tracking

    • Sep 2006 - Jun 2007
    • Enrolments Department

    The key purpose of the Admissions Team in the Enrolments Department is to ensure that prospective students have met the required criteria to enter and study at a tertiary institution. As the leader of this team at Victoria University of Wellington's Enrolments Department, I discussed incoming applications with team members during regular team meetings, liaised with NZQA officials about students' records of learning, and entered details of enrolment applications into the University computer systems (BANNER and Student Records). I was also responsible for the processing of Discretionary Entrance and Special Admission applications, which required me to maintain regular contact with the Dean of Students, who would give the overall approval for students to study.

• 

  AC Nielsen

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Field Interviewer

    • Feb 2006 - Aug 2006
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    As a market research interviewer for AC Nielsen, I worked on both the NZ Sport & Physical Activity Survey 2006, and the Crime and Safety Survey 2006. Both of these studies required me to conduct face to face interviews with respondents in their own homes, using a company laptop. This role required good time management and organisation skills, as well as a kind and patient manner with members of the public. At times, the information offered to me by respondents was of a sensitive nature. Therefore, it was necessary for me to maintain a professional and non-judgemental attitude toward research participants at all times.

• 

  UCB Home Loans

  • Sutton, Surrey, England

  • Mortgage Consultant (Underwriter)

    • Dec 2000 - Jul 2002
    • Sutton, Surrey, England

    While working as an underwriter for UCB Home Loans, I received home loan applications from residential home buyers, ran credit checks on these potential buyers, and assessed their eligibility to receive loans. This process involved looking over applications, ensuring that all relevant documentation had been received and was in order, and chasing any paperwork that remained outstanding. In order to do this, I liaised with sales representatives, solicitors, surveyors, and customers themselves. I maintained regular contact with applicants, in order to keep them informed of progress, as well as to meet application turnaround deadlines.

• 

  Early Learning Centre

  • Richmond, Surrey, England

  • Assistant Manager

    • Feb 2000 - Dec 2000
    • Richmond, Surrey, England

    As Assistant Manager of this busy toy store, I received and placed stock, sold to customers, interviewed and trained new staff members, maintained the staff roster, monitored sales, and relayed sales figures to the Head Office. For one month, I stepped in as store Manager while our own Manager was tasked with running a store elsewhere. During this time, I led the team to win the Regional Battery Sales competition.

• 

  GLASSONS LTD

  • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

  • Sales Assistant

    • Feb 1996 - Nov 1997
    • Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

    As a sales assistant as Glasson's Napier, I greeted customers, promoted stock, and achieved add-on sales, which led me to achieve 2nd place in the region for the Mystery Shopper Competition 1996 . When my family and I moved to Wellington, I transferred to the Lambton Quay store.