Psalma Angela A. Zabala

Court Registry Officer, Ministry of Justice – Te Tāhū o te Ture
Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice with Honours (First Class)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminology

She has always been interested in why people behave how they do, says Psalma Angela A. Zabala who studied a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, followed by a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

“I chose to pursue a degree in psychology as it became apparent growing up in different environments to my friends and classmates that we would have different ways of approaching a task and behaving. This curiosity for why people behave differently was further enriched by being introduced to psychological theories in high school. I came to AUT because the people I met at AUT LIVE, AUT’s open day, were not only helpful, but also enthusiastic to showcase what AUT is about. My mum is also an AUT alumna, so hearing her experiences of AUT also provided me with insight as to why AUT would be a good choice for me.

“The knowledge from my psychology major and my minor in criminology strengthened my choice to return to AUT for postgraduate study. I had a lightbulb moment in the course Children, Teens and the Law, which was part of my master’s degree and run by Dr Kristen Hanna. This course shed light on the experiences of children and adolescents that gave evidence in court, and the different methods that are implemented so that they can speak with minimal harm done to them. This sparked my interest in working with victims of crime or working within the Ministry of Justice.”

She says the opportunities she had access to throughout her studies were among the highlights of her time at AUT.

“One highlight was being a student ambassador, which enabled me to make friends with people from other faculties who became lifelong friends as well as giving back to the AUT community by welcoming new students onto campus. Other highlights were the opportunities to work for AUT, first as an Are You Okay Advisor, then as a teaching assistant for undergraduate criminology classes. I also loved the extracurricular activities run by AUTSA, including being the postgraduate affairs officer for 2022 and being part of United Apart, a student-led response to the COVID-19 lockdowns.”

Making a positive difference
After completing her studies in 2023, Psalma now enjoys being able to make a positive difference through her work as a court registry officer at the Ministry of Justice – Te Tāhū o te Ture.

“I’m responsible for supporting the judiciary and participants of the courts that may be involved within the family court, both digitally and in person, and answering enquires that may come to the registry. I’m also involved with administration while court hearings take place to ensure hearings run smoothly.

“I enjoy my role as no two days are the same, and I work with a diverse team that has a common goal in mind. I also like the fact that this role continues to have training and workshops that not only broaden my knowledge, but allow for an opportunity to grow professionally.”

While she is still in the early stages of her career at the Ministry of Justice, she is embracing the opportunity to develop new skills.

“What I’m most proud of is being able to learn te reo, including proper pronunciation, and being able to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi during court hearings as introductions and announcements are made in both te reo and English.”

Advice for other students
Psalma – who received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Study – has some great advice for other students.

“Be open to trying new things. One of the best attitudes that can be applied anywhere is to approach tasks with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Having that enthusiasm to learn and having an open mind usually is 75% of the struggle, especially in postgraduate study.”

It's okay to make mistakes while you’re learning, she adds.

“The tutorials and discussions you have with the teaching and support staff are there to support you and guide you. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions – you never know; your classmates might be thinking the same thing as you.”