Becky cody & phoebe robertson (and ducky) - our advocates!

VUWSA Advocates are on leave until 28 April 2025.

For emergencies, call 111 from any phone or mobile phone. For anything less urgent, emails are welcomed. For non emergency health or mental health issues, contact Mauri Ora: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/student-health-counselling

Use our free advocacy service 

We all need someone who can support us. Our advocacy service is professional and confidential. We are 100% independent from the University, which means the advice which we provide will always be in your best interest, and won’t be influenced by any university source.  

We help many students a year, and we’re here to help you.

What we can do:

  • help you understand your options, rights and responsibilities

  • help you raise an an issue or make a complaint

  • facilitate communication, mediate disputes, problem-solve

  • assist you in appeal procedures

  • prepare you for meetings and even attend them with you

  • advocate on your behalf

  • refer you to the best services to help

Contact us if you:

  • feel you've been treated unfairly, or think a university policy or rule has been applied poorly or unfairly to your situation or circumstance.

  • are seeking information or referrals about non-academic issues affecting your studies like employment disputes, finances and tenancy problems.

  • want to clarify your options, rights or responsibilities

  • need to understand which policies or procedures apply to your situation

  • need someone to advise on any problems between yourself and another member of the University community

  • are appealing a grade or making another academic decision

  • have been harassed or are feeling unsafe on campus.

Need help with something?

Connect directly with our confidential advocacy service by filling the form below.

Pūtea Āwhina/Hardship fund

All students pay a levy to the Hardship Fund, which allocates money to financially troubled students through an application process. 

Grants are decided via the Hardship Committee on a weekly basis after your appointment with a Student Financial Adviser. Successful applicants are notified on the next Wednesday after their appointment.

For more information:

If you need help making ends meet, VUWSA can help out with the food side of things: 

Need info about uni life, the messy world of renting, or tips and tricks to make your life easier? Sign up to the advocacy newsletter.