Student support

Here at Central, Karen Johnson & Cat Kearsley are our student support staff. They can help you with any personal problems, study issues and academic support.

Email: cotadvisors@op.ac.nz 

For international student's Karen & Cat are the people to contact - you can do so by emailing  cotadvisors@op.ac.nz 

We have other Student Advisors based at our Dunedin Campus – and they are also available to talk via phone or email, anytime.

Email: studentsuccess@op.ac.nz

The staff at Central are committed to making sure your stay with us is a wonderful experience. All staff and New Zealand 'Kiwi ' students at Central look forward to meeting you. For international student support please email: cotadvisors@op.ac.nz 

We understand that when you’re focusing on getting your assignment finished the last thing you need to worry about is a problem with your laptop, or how to access the wireless network. So at Otago Polytechnic, our IT Support team is here to help you with all of your computer-related problems to allow you to concentrate on the really important business of studying. The team has a wide range of skills to keep the megabytes flowing and can help with tasks such as:

• Getting online with the wireless network at Otago Polytechnic
• Accessing and storing your work in the network drives
• Completing the free downloads of any necessary resources for your course

If you need to contact the IT Support team they are available via:

Phone: 0800 765 948 (New Zealand)
Email: servicedesk@op.ac.nz

Tena ra koutou katoa kua tae mai ki te Kura Matatini o Otago mo tou haerenga. He mihi mahana tenei. If you would like guidance and support for Maori students please email: tepunakaowheo@op.ac.nz 

Our Pasifika Advisor provides support to Pacific Island students. Those who identify as being of Pacific Islands descent will be contacted by us, and regular fono are held during the year. Our Advisor is based in Dunedin, however, they can provide support and advice via phone or email to students on other campuses.

Email: pasifika@op.ac.nz

We offer support tailored to your individual needs. This may include classroom note-takers, readers and writers, tutors, equipment, adaptive technology, orientation – and liaison with lecturing staff and community agencies.

Email: cotadvisors@op.ac.nz 

We offer expert guidance and a ‘friendly ear’ to help you make informed career decisions based on your own personal values, goals and interests. We can discuss career options, a possible course of study, job applications or interviews, or any other career-related topic! We take a holistic approach to career guidance. Reflecting on what is important to you will help you decide on the next step towards your career goals.

• What we offer:
• Individual career guidance and planning
• Drop-in career support
• A broad range of career information
• Employability workshops

Email: careers@op.ac.nz

Central gets you ‘work ready’. Our programmes are practical – ensuring that you get the skills you need before you graduate.

Central offers an abundance of work placement opportunities as part of our courses, and our teaching staff have excellent contacts with local industry.  Have a chat to your lecturer to see what work placement opportunities exist. 

If you’re a student studying at Central, you can book an appointment to see our counsellor, Malcolm Creagh. Malcolm is available by appointment. Please contact him via cellphone message or text on 027 254 9323. Alternatively, make an appointment through the office staff (phone 0800 765 9276 or email central@op.ac.nz) or ask your lecturer. This confidential service is free, funded by Otago Polytechnic Student Health. 

Find out about places of worship or talk to someone who can understand your spiritual needs. Our experienced Chaplain can help you with a range of issues, including homesickness, grief and blessing flats. Based in Dunedin (in The Hub, H Block) the Chaplain is available via phone or email for students that are based at Central.

New Zealand 0800 762 786
chaplain@op.ac.nz