New institute giving boost to support for students

TE Pukenga and Otago Polytechnic are unifying in their approach to support students to succeed in what remains a challenging environment.

By January 1 next year, Te Pukenga will be responsible for about 250,000 students across New Zealand as institutes of technology, polytechnics and industry training organisations come together.

Ahead of this date, with an eye to helping lessen the impact of Covid19, Te Pukenga has already been working across its network of subsidiaries to better support the wellbeing of its students.

Te Pukenga learner journey and experience deputy chief executive Tania Winslade said the organisation was dedicated to putting students and their whanau at the centre of everything it did, and that meant taking a holistic approach to wellbeing as part of vocational learning.

‘‘Learners have told us that we need to do better to support them and we’re responding to that call to action.

‘‘Our network is producing local action plans to identify and enable operational practices that ensure learners have what they need to be successful, especially in our current Covid19 environment.’’

Ms Winslade said that between July last year and March this year, Te Pukenga distributed $5.64 million to students experiencing hardship due to Covid19.

Those funds provided support towards housing costs, food, utilities, transport and healthcare, as well as technology access so students could continue studying.

However, students had also told Te Pukenga it needed to do better in the area of mental health services.

She said 19% of students had accessed mental health support at some point.

As a result, the organisation partnered with the Ministry of Health to spend $3.24 million on new and enhanced mental health and addiction services that could potentially be accessed by more than 160,000 students across all 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics.

The funding also provided greater opportunity for Maori and Pacific students to access services that were tailored and fit for purpose.

‘‘It’s really important that akonga feel safe, welcome and comfortable when they’re accessing services.

‘‘If we can provide those in ways that support their identity, that makes a real difference to them and their wellbeing,’’ Ms Winslade said.

❛ Learners have told us that we need to do better to support them and we’re responding to that call to action