Student newcomers’ support mooted

OTAGO Polytechnic’s Central Otago campus says there are risks for students living in smaller communities, as well as the bigger centres.

Cromwell’s Central campus manager Kelly Gay believes there should be consideration of how newcomers to the region are supported.

The comments follow recent reports of deaths at tertiary accommodation complexes, last year in Wellington and more recently in Christchurch.

The body of University of Canterbury student Mason Pendrous went undiscovered for two months until he was found last month.

‘‘I think the recent deaths highlight there are risks in this space about how we treat people and how they can become quite isolated, even within community living,’’ Mr Gay said.

‘‘It’s really shaken up the sector to reconsider how it does that stuff.’’

The Tertiary Education Commission had asked all tertiary providers in the country to carry out a review of their accommodation services.

Otago Polytechnic chief operating officer Philip Cullen said the review was not be available until Friday.

‘‘Otago Polytechnic is confident it has procedures and processes in place to ensure its residents in Central Otago housing are well looked after and have appropriate pastoral care and supervision.’’

Mr Gay said the campus had benefited from robust processes due to its size and students were constantly in contact with campus staff.

‘‘They’re really noticed if they’re not in class.’’

Central campus’ accommodation facility was built in early 2018 and has capacity for 25 students.

Mr Gay said he had been generally impressed from what he had seen.

‘‘It’s probably a low stress environment. The pressures are more significant in the bigger cities.

‘‘The [Central] campus is pretty laid back.’’