Rate My Professor Louie Claasen

Louie Claasen is a Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Social and Community Work, School of Social Sciences, at the University of Otago. He coordinates and teaches essential papers such as SOWK 320/570: Introduction to Professional Practice, SOWK 392/592: Fieldwork Practice 1, and SOWK 492/593: Fieldwork Practice 2. His main role centers on facilitating and coordinating social work fieldwork placements for students in government and non-government sectors, primarily in Ōtepoti (Dunedin) and across Aotearoa New Zealand. Claasen offers postgraduate supervision for Master's students in care and protection social work, with interests in family/children's courts, tamariki and rangatahi in care, reunification and restorative practices with whānau, relational social work, and supervision.

Bringing substantial practice experience in statutory social work from South Africa and Aotearoa New Zealand, Claasen previously worked at Oranga Tamariki in a specialist team for rangatahi (youth) and their whānau, utilizing intensive relational social work via the PARTH model while co-located in the Ōtepoti community. He later led and supervised a team supporting tamariki (children) in care, partnering with Tiaki Taoka, a Kāi Tahu mandated whānau care service. His research focuses on statutory social work, specifically children's experiences in the family court system and ways to enhance participation. Currently completing a PhD part-time, his master's research revealed children's frequent exclusion from child protection proceedings, inadequate court preparation, and negative emotions. Notable publications include Claasen, L. (2024), 'Amplifying voices: Enhancing children's participation in research through creative and participatory data collection methods'; Scott, A., Wason, S. E., Claasen, L., & Clark, F. (2024), 'Field education in Te Waipounamu: Context, collaboration and practice'; and Claasen, L. T., & Spies, G. M. (2017), 'The voice of the child: Experiences of children, in middle childhood, regarding children's court procedures'. He has presented at the International Association for Social Work with Groups symposia (2013, 2014) and the 9th Annual Child Trauma Conference (2017).