For the past eight years, Buddle Findlay has been proud to host young leaders from the Halberg Youth Council in our workplaces as part of the Buddle Findlay and Halberg Career Experience programme. We partnered with the Halberg Foundation in 2019 to create a tailored work experience programme for members of the Council, all with physical disabilities. This creates the opportunity for participants to learn about pathways available in a law firm while developing practical skills and confidence in a professional setting.
In late September and early October, Amy Ellis joined our Auckland office for a three-day placement. Having been selected to speak on behalf of the Council at the 2026 Halberg Awards, she’s keen to leave her mark on the world of sports. We asked her to tell us more about her passions, goals, and what she’s taking from her experience working with Buddle Findlay.
Q: Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself what you’re studying and what interests you most at the moment?
I’ve been involved with BLENNZ (the Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ) since I was five, and I’m currently working as a teacher aide at the BLENNZ School in Homai, while studying Psychology at AUT. However, I also train six days a week as a para sprinter. I competed at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Australia this year, and my next goal is to qualify for the World Para Athletics in 2027 – and ultimately, the Paralympics in 2028.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your long-term career goals or areas you’d like to explore?
Psychology offers a lot of career pathways, and I’d like to complete a teaching diploma once I graduate. I’d be open to working either in sports psychology or within the disabled community, in an educational or advocacy role.
Q: Outside of study and work, what do you enjoy doing, and what helps keep you balanced?
I’ve just been chosen to join the Para Sport Collective, which is a programme developed by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) and High-Performance Sport NZ. This is creating a pathway for me towards the Paralympics.
Q: Are there particular skills you’d like to develop further, or areas where you’d welcome more experience?
I chose this internship in order to be able to put myself in a professional environment. I’d love to become confident in a professional setting and also learn more technological skills. One of my interests is how businesses can make products, marketing and communications more accessible and user-friendly.
Q: What drew you to the Halberg Youth Council and why is being part of it important to you?
I want to be the voice for young sportspeople. The only way for people to learn more about disability sport is to ask questions, and I’m happy to answer them and speak up on behalf of the community.
Q: What do you hope to contribute through your role on the Council?
I’m keen to make my mark. I’ve been part of the Youth Council for two years now, doing things like filming for the CoachMate app, helping schools and coaches find ways to be more inclusive of students with disabilities.
I’m also working on a project I instigated myself, as part of the Council. I can’t discuss what it is yet, but I’m really excited about delivering it within the next couple of years!
Q: Thinking about opportunities like this placement, what were you most looking forward to and what do you think has been the most challenging?
Going into a new workplace can be a challenging, especially as someone who’s visually impaired. But for me, going into the unknown isn’t a challenge, it’s an opportunity. I wasn’t nervous; I was excited about trying a variety of different things.
Q: Have you learned anything about the law or the different types of career paths available in a law firm you didn’t know before?
I’d never thought much about law before this, but I learned there are so many sub-groups and that you don’t have to be a lawyer to work in law. It’s been great learning about all the different practice areas.