Trina Woodcock decided after travelling overseas for a year, to settle down and study towards the Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage. Originally from small town Katikati in the Bay of Plenty, Trina saw an advertisement for Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) on television and decided to move to Invercargill to take up the massage degree, as she has always had an interest in the human body and how it works together, as well as enjoying relieving people of their aches and pains.
Having just finished her first year of study, Trina already feels that she has gained a huge amount of knowledge.
“The course is a balanced amount of both practical and theory, which are both important when we venture out into the workforce. Most days we will have a morning class and the rest of the afternoon free, if not a whole day. This free time is a great way to stay on top of assignments which are usually portfolios of information gathered/researched.”
The massage department staff are well connected in the community and always helpful in updating the students if any massage work opportunities become available. Trina was lucky enough to land a position as a casual relaxation therapist at Ryding2Health clinic, where she works Monday nights.
“I see it as a great stepping stone for gathering experience in this field as it is a skill that develops with practice. Overall, SIT has definitely given me the best opportunity to achieve my goal in becoming a qualified massage therapist.”
Trina has described her first year of the Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage as “an amazing experience” and in just a year of study, is already well on her way to carving out her career in massage.