Introduction: Each ANZSSA member by right of their membership is automatically affiliated with the Regional Group appropriate to their institution.
Mission statement: The New Zealand Group is provided for the benefit of those who are employed as student services personnel within the New Zealand post-secondary education sector.
Networking, professional development, information and resource sharing and discussion are all goals of the NZ Group.
Responsibilities of the Convenor: The NZ Group currently has Co-Convenors. The responsibilities of the Convenors are to:
- represent the interests of the NZ Group on the ANZSSA Executive
- initiate professional development opportunities for student services personnel in post-secondary education
- promote the sharing of information and resources via the ANZSSA website and the ANZSSA Bulletin Board
- be a contact point for ANZSSA members who are student services personnel in post-secondary education
- encourage the submission for publication (in JANZSSA) of articles relevant to student services in post-secondary education.
Current Convenor Contact details are:
North Island Coordinator: Stephanie Hills
Student Counselling Service
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105, Hamilton
Ph: 0064 7 856 2889 Ext. 8571
Email: sjhills@waikato.ac.nz
South Island – vacant position
Treasurer: Ruth Moorhouse
Student Services
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600, Wellington
Email: Ruth.Moorhouse@vuw.ac.nz
Counsellors’ Special Interest Group: Gerard Hoffman
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600, Wellington
Email: Gerard.Hoffman@vuw.ac.nz
Other New Zealand Committee member: Joanna Tennant
Student Services
Whitireia Community Polytechnic
Private Bag 50910, Porirua
Email: J.Tennant@whitireia.ac.nz
Details of professional development activities: A portion of the ANZSSA membership fee allows for some support for professional development of members.
In 2005, ANZSSA New Zealand began A Series of Conversations – a forum which allows student support staff throughout the country to have themed discussions on a specific topic. The first of these, held in May, was entitled “Meal or Side Dish? The Place of Student Support Services.” Gatherings were held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Stimulated by a provocative talk from Dr Stuart Middleton, participants were invited to discuss questions such as ‘How can Student Services measure the value of what they offer to show that the services are integral to a student’s retention and success?’ and ‘How do we adapt to the changing needs of a changing cohort?’ Ideas from around the country were collated and distributed.
Members of the NZ Group have contributed strongly to all the ANZSSA conferences and are keen contributors to the Association Journal-JANZSSA.
Meetings
Meetings of the NZ Group occur at the ANZSSA Biennial Conference, and between conferences, in Wellington.