“Those in front give sight to those behind; those behind give life to those ahead.”
Tui Ora kaimahi Lucinda Byrnes (Counsellor Te Piringa Wara Petipeti / Gambling Harm), and Tracy Amstad (Alcohol and Other Drugs Peer Support) have walked the path of addiction, overcome it, and used their lived experience to carve out a career in helping others do the same.
And if that wasn’t inspirational enough, they also set their minds to study and recently completed Level 7 qualifications with a focus on addiction support to further equip them to help whaiora achieve their hauora goals.
Lucinda completed a Diploma in Applied Addictions Counselling at Te Taketake in Rotorua, receiving a 100% grade, and Tracy achieved an A and A+ grade average across the board for her Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice at WelTec in Wellington.
When speaking to them both about their achievements they’re incredibly humble, and quick to change the focus to those who have supported them along the way.
“I have so much appreciation for all those who have supported me,” says Tracy, “People I have met on my journey that see your worth and the value in you, and the mahi you can provide, and want to be in your corner, that’s uplifted me to keep doing this.”
Lucinda is thankful for the support she’s received from her team at Tui Ora, “My leaders have been hugely important in terms of just being on the end of the phone. I can call Ron and Linda anytime, and our team is full of experience and always there to awhi and believe in me. I’m pretty grateful really!” she says.
Touching on how study has changed them and how they’re applying their learnings, Tracy says, “I incorporate all of what I learned into my mahi, it’s not just what’s in the books, it becomes a part of who you are. Learning and healing through study makes you become stronger and do better mahi with whānau.”
This sentiment is echoed by Lucinda who shares “It’s been helpful for me to apply everything I’ve learned with whaiora. I’ve completed an undergraduate degree before, but this was different because it was applied, it required me to go deep or step aside. if you can’t meet yourself, then how can you draw on yourself to help whānau,” she says.
Their drive to start studying stemmed from their desire to help others alongside their curiosity to learn.
“I’m a bit of a geek, I like to understand things in depth and I knew I wanted to learn more – so I started studying,” says Lucinda, “I always wanted to be in this kind of role, especially coming from recovery myself. I still wear that hat, and the essence of what sees me sitting here today is knowing that there is hope to change. I wouldn’t be here without it, so I want to support people and walk alongside them to increase that hope for them too.”
But choosing to prioritise study didn’t come without its sacrifices.
“It was a lot! Travelling away every month, leaving the whānau at home to keep the fires burning, it’s a big sacrifice!” says Lucinda.
For Tracy every three weeks there was a campus class in Porirua that she had to travel to without any financial support because she was studying part time. Once she made the switch to full time study in her second year, she received a scholarship to help her with travel costs.
“It took four years to complete the degree,” Tracy says, “In that time, I calculated I did 22 return flights, 9 return car journeys and approximately 90 nights away from home!”
Sacrifices aside, no hurdle is too big for these two and they both admit they’re not finished with their study aspirations just yet!
“Getting the clinical knowledge from Te Taketake, I feel like that’s just the beginning for me,” says Lucinda, “I was going to do more study next year, but I’ve decided to take a little break to let the learning consolidate for a bit,”
“Slowing down and being able to get in the garden is a celebration for me, so I can reflect on where I was ten years ago and how far I’ve come!”
Reflection is a big part of their journey.
Tracy says, “It doesn’t matter where you get to in life, if you decide that you want to learn more or do more, you can.”
“I think the study journey isn’t over for me that’s for sure! Getting that doctorate, that’s the goal, I would love that! But just one thing at a time!” she laughs.