Rate My Professor Louie Claasen

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).