Support Services (A to Z)
Please scroll the A-Z Topic section to see the corresponding description of Service/s available, and how to contact.
To email any Ara staff member, use the following convention: firstname.lastname@ara.ac.nz
Learning Services provides support to learners who need help with learning and study skills, assignments, and course-related maths.
Tutors refer learners to Learning Services for 1:1 support via an online referral form when they identify needs that may impact on course completion or achievement.
Contact:
Academic Support:
The Ara website provides a list of rental companies and accommodation providers for learners to approach.
Contact:
Ōtautahi House is Ara’s student residence comprised of 185 single rooms in 35 apartments. (5 – 6 per apartment).
It is managed by Ara and learners have access to all Ara support services.
A live in Manager is onsite, and on-call afterhours support for emergencies is provided.Ōtautahi House has 181 single rooms in 34 flats. It is managed by Ara and learners have access to all Ara support services.
Contact:
Office:
For after-hours emergencies:
Security: 03 940 8076 / 027 540 8076
Live in Manager, Dayne Ngatuere
Dayne’s Manager, Heather Clark
Several online sites advertise rental options. Visit Trade Me and Realestate.co.nz
Admissions & Enrolment staff are in the Atrium at City Campus, in the Learner Services Building at Woolston Campus, and next to Learner Support in Timaru.
Contact:
This is an independent student advocacy service. Learners can contact Duncan Dunbar the student advocate to explore concerns about any issues that impact on study, e.g., academic, accommodation problems, justice issues, StudyLink problems.
Contact:
Student Advocate - Duncan Dunbar:
The Health Centre (nurses, doctors, and counsellors) and Timaru campus counsellor, will work with and refer learners to appropriate services.
The Student Advocate will support learners to work through related academic matters.
Contact:
Health Centre:
Counsellors to support learners with anxiety work from the Health Centre City Campus, including Doctors and Nurses. There is a Counsellor at our Timaru campus, and a Counsellor one day a week at Manawa. There is a Learning support person Sharon Lloyd at our Ashburton Campus, and Ruth Dickson at our Oamaru campus.
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/assessment related to mental health conditions.
Contact:
Health Centre:
03 940 7566 healthcentre@ara.ac.nz
Disability Services:
Disability Services provides advocacy where there are access issues related to disability.
Contact:
Disability Services:
Ara Te Pūkenga is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment in which all students and staff are treated with respect and dignity. As a student here, it’s important you can identify behaviours that are not appropriate or acceptable and report any incidents as soon as possible. These skills will also be important when you are offsite on placement in another workplace. Knowing what bullying is and what to do if you experience it, will help keep yourself and others safe.
To learn more: https://www.ara.ac.nz/about-us/need-help/bullying-and-harassment-modules/
If you think you are or have been bullied or harassed you can talk to a tutor, drop into learning support or contact the Learner Wellbeing Advisors.
Contact:
Learner Wellbeing Advisors:
City campus, C block / Tahatika room C135
Student ID cards are issued by Security services. Course / programme receipt must be presented at the office.
Contact:
Security Office:
The Careers and Employment team assists prospective and current learners with decision making on their career and course options, including use of the Ara Career Voyage Programme.
Contact:
Careers and Employment:
Ara’s online job management system can assist current and graduate learners to find employment.
Visit careerhub.ara.ac.nz
Contact:
Careers and Employment:
An online decision-making tool that provides a personal profile of job suggestions.
Contact:
Careers and Employment:
Ara is a secular organisation; however we welcome learner-focused spiritual groups to use our facilities.
Muslim Prayer Rooms
Ara has two early childhood facilities available to learners and staff: Ara Early Learning Centre, and Te Waka Huruhurumanu ki Ōtautahi, both located at City Campus.
Contact:
Te Waka Huruhurumanu:
Ara Early Learning Centre:
Ara Te Pūkenga is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment in which all students and staff are treated with respect and dignity. As a student here, it’s important you can identify behaviours that are not appropriate or acceptable and report any incidents as soon as possible. These skills will also be important when you are offsite on placement in another workplace. Knowing what consent is, follow the link for more information on how to keep yourself and others safe.
To learn more: Consent - Ara
If you feel you need to talk to someone, you can talk to a tutor, drop into learning support or contact the Learner Wellbeing Advisors.
Contact:
Learner Wellbeing Advisors:
City campus, C block / Tahatika room C135
Free counselling is available from the Health Centre, City Campus, Manawa and Timaru campus. We are here to support learner's psychological health and wellbeing, including longer-term psychological support with referral to external agencies.
Counselling sessions are available every day at the Health Centre including evening sessions.
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/assessment related to mental health conditions.
Contact:
Health Centre:
Disability Services:
The Careers and Employment team assists prospective and current learners with decision making on their career and course options including use of the Ara Career Voyager program.
Contact:
Careers and Employment
Free counselling is available from the Health Centre at City, Manawa and Timaru campus. We are here to support learner's psychological health and wellbeing, including longer-term psychological support through referral to external agencies.
Counselling sessions are available every day at the Health Centre including evening sessions.
Learners can also self-refer to two external providers OCP, or Puawaitanga for counselling support. This includes online or phone counselling.
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/assessment related to mental health conditions.
Contact:
Health Centre:
OCP:
Disability Services:
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/ assessment, due to any impairment or long-term medical condition.
Contact:
Disability Services
With a medical certificate, Disability Services may provide alternative exam arrangements for learners with temporary impairment.
Contact:
Disability Services:
The Health Centre (nurses, doctors and counsellors) will support and refer learners to appropriate services. Referral services are available through Learner Support at the Southern Campuses.
Contact:
Health Centre:
Dial 111 in an Emergency
After an emergency call, you must alert Security who can assist with other services (defibrillators) to meeting points.
For non-urgent and medical attention, call the Health Centre.
The Safety and Wellbeing Manager should also be contacted promptly.
Psychiatric Emergency
If a person shows potential to harm themselves or others Dial 111 and state “Psychiatric Emergency” giving exact LOCATION.
- Ensure your own safety.
- Alert staff in the immediate vicinity, ask them to call for assistance.
- Call Security for assistance.
Contact:
Madras and Woolston Campus:
Southern Campus:
Contact the Ara Director, Safety, Health and Wellbeing as soon as possible on 021 192 9941.
Health Centre:
Timaru:
Ashburton:
Oamaru:
The Careers and Employment and Transition teams:
- support learners and graduates to prepare for work, and to seek and apply for jobs while they study.
- deliver seminars and workshops in programmes and classes.
- provide a point of contact and online job management system for employers to register vacancies to be promoted to Ara learners.
Ask us about careerhub.ara.ac.nz
Also check out Student Job Search and MyGPS
Contact:
Careers and Employment
Enrolment & Admissions staff are located in the Atrium at City campus, in the Learner Services Building at Woolston campus, and next to Learner Support in Timaru.
Contact:
Learning Services can help learners with study strategies and tips for test and exam preparation.
Contact:
Academic Support:
Ara is a secular organisation however some organisations do meet at Ara.
Muslim Prayer Rooms
L235 & L236, City Campus
Payments for fees, gym memberships and Metrocard top-ups may be made at the City Campus Student Finance Office in the Atrium next to Admissions, and next to Learner Support at the Timaru campus. StudyLink prefers to deal with cases online.
Financial hardship – refer to ‘Hardship’ below.
Student Finance Team
Health Centre, City campus.
Defibrillators are available:
Sports Court in the Whareora building.
Security
Timaru – next to Learner Support.
Health Centre
03 940 7566
Security
03 940 8076
027 540 8076
Recreational facilities in the Whareora building are accessible 7 days per week. These include a membership gym, sports, court, personal trainer services, and fitness classes.
Discounts to external facilities are available in Timaru.
Assessments can be arranged through The Zone: Sports Science and Wellness Centre.
Green prescriptions are available from the Health Centre.
Sport & Recreation Centre, Whareora
03 940 8051
The Zone Sports Centre, Whareora W222
Ph 03 940 8653 or email
the.zone@ara.ac.nz for appointments
Christchurch City Mission is in Hereford Street, near Ara. Foodbank is open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm.
Some food parcels available at Learner Support - Timaru Campus.
0800 787855
Free counselling available at the Health Centre, City Campus and Timaru campus.
Referral services available through Learner Support at the Southern Campuses.
Health Centre
03 940 7566
Hardship funds are available on application. Application forms and support to complete the forms are available from Student Support, at City campus, Learner Services Building at Woolston Campus, as well as Learner Support at the Southern Campuses.
Student Support, all campuses
Ara Te Pūkenga is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment in which all students and staff are treated with respect and dignity. As a student here, it’s important you can identify behaviours that are not appropriate or acceptable and report any incidents as soon as possible. These skills will also be important when you are offsite on placement in another workplace. Knowing what Healthy Relationships look like and know the support is available to yourself and your peers.
To learn more: Healthy Relationships - Ara
If you feel you need to talk to someone, you can talk to a tutor, drop into learning support or contact the Learner Wellbeing Advisors.
Contact:
Learner Wellbeing Advisors:
City campus, C block / Tahatika room C135
International Advisors, Bilingual Advisors, and Refugee and Migrant Advisors are available.
Student Support, all campuses:
Get involved with learner events and learner groups and clubs – more information can be found on MyAra.
Bilingual Advisors and International Advisors: Nepalese and Chinese Mandarin.
Student Support:
Ara is developing a system for learner voices to influence what we do and the way we do things. Contact the Learner Voice Coordinator.
Learner Voice Coordinator
The library offers an extensive range of resources. There are locations on the city campus, Manawa campus, Woolston campus and Timaru campus.
Contact:
Get involved with learner events and learner groups and clubs – more information can be found on MyAra.
Nau mai piki mai ki Te Puna Whakamānu o Kiwa
Learner Support offers range of services including; course information, language, and advice/referrals around exams.
Māori support staff will explore opportunities for various grants, including iwi scholarships. They can discuss a range of matters that will ensure you have a positive experience at Ara.
Employment Transition Liaisons – Māori and Pacific are available to support all Māori learners and Graduates in career planning and employment.
Learning Advisors are available to support all Māori learners with their learning and assessment questions through drop-in Quick Question sessions in the Madras library or online.
Student Support, all campuses
learnersupport@ara.ac.nz
The Health Centre doctors, nurses and social worker and counsellors are here to assist with physical, social and psychological health. Located at the City Campus.
Referral to local medical services is available through Learner Support at the Southern Campuses.
Health Centre
03 940 7566 healthcentre@ara.ac.nz
Free counselling is available from the Health Centre at City, Manawa, and Timaru campus. We are here to support learner's psychological health and wellbeing, including longer-term psychological support through referral to external agencies.
Counselling sessions are available every day at the Health Centre including evening sessions.
Learners can also self-refer to two external providers OCP, or Puāwaitanga for counselling support. This includes online or phone counselling.
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/assessment related to mental health conditions.
Health Centre
03 940 7566 healthcentre@ara.ac.nz
OCP:
0800 377 990
Disability Services:
03 940 8089 disability@ara.ac.nz
Disability Services provide Mentors to support students develop skills in problem solving and time management.
Disability Services
03 940 8089
MyGPS is an online navigation tool to support Ara learners and graduates in their career development and employment readiness throughout their learner journey.
or ask the Careers and Employment team for more information
03 940 8720
Māori and Pacific student support navigators work with priority learners prior to their first days in the class and support them to be successful throughout their learning journey.
Māori - Kaitaunaki@ara.ac.nz
Pacific – Pacificsupport@ara.ac.nz
Health Centre, City Campus
Refer also to the Recreation, The Zone Sports, and Wellbeing Centre.
Contact:
Health Centre:
Craig McGuire:
Talofa lava, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō e lelei, Ni sa bulk vinaka, Namiste, Mālō ni
Student Support offers a wide range of services including course information, language support and advice/referrals around exams. Pacific support staff will explore learners’ eligibility for various grants, including scholarships. They can discuss a range of matters that will ensure a positive experience at Ara.
Employment Transition Liaisons – Māori and Pacific are available to support all Pacific learners and Graduates in career planning and employment.
Pacific Learning Advisors are available to support all Pacific learners with their learning and assessment questions through drop-in Quick Question sessions in the Madras library or online.
Student Support, all campuses
learnersupport@ara.ac.nz
Peer Assisted Study Scheme or PASS support learners to review and learn course content in active ways, such as using quizzes and activities and small group discussions. Ask the staff at Learning Services for advice.
Academic Support
Health Centre counselling staff are trained to help people deal with relationship matters.
Located at the Whareora building, City campus.
Referral services are available through Learner Support at the Southern campuses.
Health Centre
03 940 7566
Ara provides a range of scholarships and fees discounts in particular study areas and administers several scholarships that are funded by external agencies.
Student Support can assist learners to search for scholarships that suit their individual circumstances.
Student Support, all campuses
learnersupport@ara.ac.nz
Security offices are located at the City, Woolston and Timaru campus.
Security Office
Contact:
Madras and Woolston Campus:
Southern Campus:
Ara Te Pūkenga is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment in which all students and staff are treated with respect and dignity. As a student here, it’s important you can identify behaviours that are not appropriate or acceptable and report any incidents as soon as possible. These skills will also be important when you are offsite on placement in another workplace. Knowing what sexual harm is and what to do if you experience it, will help keep yourself and others safe.
To learn more: https://www.ara.ac.nz/about-us/need-help/sexual-harm/
We are here to support, we will listen, we will find the support you need, you can talk to a tutor, drop into learning support or contact the Learner Wellbeing Advisors.
Contact:
Learner Wellbeing Advisors:
City campus, C block / Tahatika room C135
Ara has two social workers - one at Christchurch Campus and the other based in Timaru, covering all Southern campuses.
The Ara social workers provide help and support to learners experiencing social issues such as housing, employment, financial, family dysfunction or other personal issues.
The social worker will:
- Assess learners' needs, situations, strengths, and support networks and in conjunction with learner, develop a safety and wellbeing plan.
- Provide information, advocacy, and connect students to appropriate resources within the internal and external community such as learning support, emergency accommodation, financial support, respite care, health, or legal services.
The Christchurch social worker is available Mon - Thurs
The Southern campuses social worker is available Mon - Fri
Disability Services provides support for learners who experience barriers to learning/assessment related to specific learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia.
Disability Services
03 940 8089
Recreational facilities, Whareora building Courts, gym and classes at the best rates.
Recreation Centre, Whareora
Contact:
Rec Centre:
Craig McGuire, Team Leader:
Contact the Health Centre.
Referral services are available through Learner Central at the Southern campuses.
Health Centre
03 940 7566
Student Ambassadors are learners who are paid by Ara to help out with student events, Recreation Centre, marketing, communication and the library.
Learning Services provides support to learners who need help with learning and study skills. Quick questions drop-in sessions and extensive online study skills resources are available to all learners.
Academic Support
03 940 8089
The Health Centre (nurses, doctors and counsellors) will support and refer learners to appropriate services. Referral services are available through Learner Support at the Southern Campuses.
Contact:
Health Centre:
A peer support matching service available through Learning Services. Tuakana are students in Year 2 of their programme, who are available to support Teina, learners in Year 1, or Semester 1 of their learning.
Security offices are located at the City, Woolston, and Timaru campus.
Security Office
03 940 8076 / 027 540 8076
International Advisors, Bilingual Advisors, and Refugee & Migrant Advisor.
Student Support, all campuses:
03 940 8359
Ara provides support for women in non-traditional vocational areas in Trades.
Learner Support - Women’s Advisor:
(based at Woolston campus)
The Careers and Employment team can support learners to develop their work readiness in preparation for employment. This includes development of employment skills, interview skills, CVs, job search, finding work experience and volunteer work, etc.
Careers and Employment team
(all campuses): 03 940 8720
Learning Services provides support to learners who wish to develop academic writing and referencing skills related to course assignments. Quick questions drop-in sessions and extensive online writing skills resources are available via MyAra to all learners.
Academic Support
03 940 8089
Our Youth Advisors can help with support and general advice in relation to all youth, including Dual Enrolment and Youth Guarantee.
Student Support, all campuses:
youth@ara.ac.nz
Recreational facilities in the Whareora Building are accessible 24 hours per day.
Assessments can be arranged through
The Zone: Sports Science and Wellness Centre.
Green Prescriptions are available from the Health Centre
The Zone: Sports Science and Wellness Centre, W222, Whareora
Ph 03 940 8653 or email
the.zone@ara.ac.nz for appointments