Whyalla campus honours Nancy Cooper at launch of new social work studio
By Candy Gibson
COMMUNITY Whyalla regional manager Paul Havelberg and UniSA Associate Professor Cate Hudson with Nancy’s daughter Zoe Bentley-Cooper (centre).A new specialist teaching and learning space for social work students has opened at UniSA’s Whyalla campus, replicating a real-world environment where graduating students are likely to work with clients.
The studio is named in honour of the late Nancy Cooper, a highly-respected former staff member who passed away in 2008 after teaching at the Whyalla campus for more than 20 years, earning a reputation for her commitment to students and her strong sense of social justice.
About 50 people joined local Social Work academics to celebrate the opening of the Nancy Cooper Social Work Studio in early April, including industry partners, students, Whyalla mayor Phill Stone, Whyalla campus regional manager Paul Havelberg, UniSA Justice & Society colleagues from Adelaide, and Centacare Catholic Country SA CEO Dr Jen Cleary.
UniSA Dean of Programs (Justice & Society) Associate Professor Cate Hudson says the specialised teaching space is equipped with unobtrusive recording equipment so that students can record themselves and practise the skills needed to work with clients.
The interior of the new Nancy Cooper Social Work Studio.It will also be suitable for allied health students to practise their client interaction skills in a non-clinical space.
"Nancy Cooper was an excellent teacher who worked hard to ensure the student experience was authentic, rich, rewarding and exciting," Assoc Prof Hudson says.
"Her wide-ranging expertise meant that Nancy became very well known in the community for her advocacy work, especially with refugees who were housed at the Baxter detention centre outside of Port Augusta."
Whyalla mayor Phill Stone says the studio “would play a valuable role serving the local community”.
"Whyalla has been fortunate to have had a UniSA campus since 1991, and before that a South Australian Institute of Technology campus for almost 30 years," he says.
"Thanks to UniSA, our local students have been able to further their tertiary education while remaining in Whyalla and often staying here after graduating.
"The ability to experience flexible and quality teaching by passionate educators in a relaxed environment, with practical learning opportunities, small class sizes, tailored support services and strong community connections, is a fantastic outcome for our students."
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