Advocacy & Welfare

ADVOCACY AND WELFARE

Advocacy

The Student Advocate is here to give you advice about your situation, explain what your options are, and also help you navigate the university system.

If we cannot help with your situation, we can definitely put you in contact with someone who can.

Independent Advocacy Advice

As an employee of the UCSA, which is independent from the university, the Student Advocate is able to act on behalf of you, the student (something that UC staff are unable to do). The Student Advocate is able to assist you with a number of matters here at UC.

We can assist with:

Academic Appeals
Grievances, Complaints, Concerns
Special Consideration Applications or Late Withdrawals
Dispute Resolution
Disciplinary Issues

The Student Advocate can:

Provide confidential independent advice and support
Assist you with drafting applications and letters
Attend meetings with university staff with you

UCSA has partnered with Specsavers (Riccarton) to provide enrolled UC students with $10 eye exams!

Location

UCSA Optometry Process

Enrolled UC Students are to present their valid UC student identification card to the UCSA reception or UCSA Help staff member. Each successful applicant will be given a UCSA OPTOMETRY $10 eye exam voucher which will allow them to receive a $10 eye exam at Specsavers (Riccarton).
The successful applicant will then make an appointment with, and redeem the $10 eye exam voucher at, Specsavers located at either the Riccarton Westfield mall or the Riccarton Windmill Centre.

* PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT SPECSAVERS (RICCARTON) WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT *

To Book Your Eye Exam

Scope here of the eye exam

Each student is entitled to one eye exam and one pair of discounted prescription glasses every 2 years, subject to appointment availability.

$10 eye exams are provided at Specsavers at the Riccarton Westfield mall and the Riccarton Windmill Centre.
25% off glasses applies when selecting one pair of glasses from the $169 range or above.
Valid UC student ID card and UCSA OPTOMETRY $10 eye exam voucher must be presented at the time of exam to redeem offer.
$10 eye exams apply to standard eye examinations only, which are normally valued at $60 and reduced to $10.

Fine Print

Payment Policy

Cancellation Policy

Limitations

Complaints / Feedback

To make a complaint or provide feedback, the student needs to write out their concerns in an email and send to the Advocacy and Welfare Manager, Ee-Li Hong, ee-li.hong@ucsa.org.nz. Once the information is received, the student will receive a response confirming we have received it.

If a student wants to provide feedback about the products or services provided to them by Specsavers (Riccarton), they need to contact Specsavers (Riccarton) directly. As the team in store hold their personal records, contacting Specsavers (Riccarton) directly will ensure their query is dealt with as quickly as possible.

* PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT SPECSAVERS (RICCARTON) WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT *

There are a number of financial assistance options available to assist enrolled UC students in times of hardship.

Foodbank Food Support Service Hardship Grant Medical Prescription Grant Mickle Fund Loan Mickle Fund (Small Loan)

Foodbank

If finances have gotten a bit tight and you need some help with groceries, the Foodbank may be for you. Enrolled students are eligible to apply for UCSA Foodbank once a term, and if approved will be provided with $30 New World vouchers and non-perishable items that the Advocacy & Welfare team keep in stock in their office. The vouchers, however, cannot be used on alcohol, cigarettes or phone cards. To enquire about Foodbank, drop in to see the UCSA HELP volunteers or contact the Advocacy and Welfare Team members to make an appointment.

**Please bring your own bags to hold the non-perishable items**

Food Support Service

If finances are frequently tight and you need more help than the emergency Foodbank, the Food Support Service may be for you. Enrolled UC students are eligible to apply for the Food Support Service, and if approved will be provided with a maximum of 10 monthly food parcels. To enquire about the Food Support Service, drop in to see the UCSA HELP volunteers or contact the Advocacy and Welfare Team members to make an appointment.

Hardship Grant

Hardship Grants may be granted to students who have had something unforeseen or unexpected arise and have exhausted their options in finding a means of payment. The maximum grant to any one student should not exceed $300 but in exceptional circumstances may be approved up to $800. Students are eligible to apply for the Hardship Grant once per calendar year.

There are strict criteria around Hardship Grants, such as, the circumstances being truly unforeseen or unexpected (hint: rent payments are generally foreseen… please see the Mickle Loan Fund below), the student being willing and able to succeed in their studies, and having less than $1000 across all of their bank accounts. If you would like to find out more/apply for a Hardship Grant get in contact with the Advocacy and Welfare Manager to make an appointment.

Medical Prescription Grant

The UCSA Medical Prescription Grant aims to provide financial assistance to students who are not able to afford unexpected medical expenses, for short-term emergency support only.

If your application is successful, you will be provided with a Medical Prescription Grant voucher. You can then present the voucher to the UC Pharmacy (located in the Undercroft, Puaka-James Hight Library), and UC Pharmacy will invoice UCSA Advocacy & Welfare for the prescription. No money is to be paid directly to you. The maximum grant to any one student should not exceed $50, and you can only get one Medical Prescription Grant per Semester.

You will need to demonstrate that either the need for the medical prescription is unexpected and temporary, or that the financial hardship is unexpected and temporary. You will also need to bring the current valid medical prescription with you when you apply.

Mickle Fund Loan

The Doctor AFJ Mickle Student Loan Fund is a recoverable loan made available by UC Financial Services to students of ability and good character who by reason of their financial circumstances are unable to pursue their studies or are seriously handicapped in doing so because they cannot meet their daily living expenses. It was established in 1937 as an endowment by Mrs AME Mickle, widow of Doctor AFJ Mickle, medical practitioner of Christchurch, of a one-eighth share in her estate to establish a “Special Trust fund… for the purpose of assisting any deserving students.”

In 2013, the University of Canterbury delegated the administration of the Mickle Fund Loan to UCSA. UC Financial Service remains responsible for approving, making payment and collecting all loan repayments.

If your situation fits the criteria and your loan application is approved, you could receive a loan up to $5,000 of no charged interest while studying at UC, and the loan period will reflect your financial circumstances but will not exceed 10 years. Interest may be charged, depending on your financial circumstances, in a range between 0% and the annualized CPI as per the RBNZ applying as at the date of approval of the loan, calculated on a daily basis from the date of completion of your studies at UC.

Interested students need to contact the UCSA Advocacy and Welfare Manager to arrange an appointment to complete an application. Only ONE loan is available to an individual student at any given time.

Mickle Fund (Small Loan)

If your situation fits the criteria and your loan application is approved, you could receive a loan up to $1,000 of no charged interest while studying at UC, and the loan period will reflect your financial circumstances but will not exceed the student’s enrolment period (i.e. up to one year). There will be no interest payable.