The Advocacy and Welfare (A&W) Team
UCSA is an independent organisation and the UCSA Advocacy & Welfare (A&W) Team is the sole provider of direct
advocacy services for UC students.
Contact us online
Find out more about the UCSA’s Advocacy & Welfare (A&W) Team!
The University of Canterbury (UC) recognises the importance of student advocacy and student welfare services,
and they fund these via the Student Services Levy Fee (SSL). The University of Canterbury Students’
Association (UCSA) is an independent organisation who receive funding from UC from the SSL funding pool. The
UCSA Advocacy and Welfare (A&W) Team are assigned a limited amount of funding so they can offer services to
UC students at no extra cost. The A & W Team are the sole providers of direct advocacy services for UC
students.
UCSA’s A&W Team consists of a group of passionate people who are committed to student wellbeing, supporting
academic progress and the student experience. We are approachable, responsive, professional, and
accountable. We are committed to develop and maintain positive relationships. Our service is confidential
and free for all UC students. We put students like you at the centre and work together with you to discuss
the best course of action for your circumstances.
Our backgrounds are varied and include experience in social services, education, mediation, student advice,
teaching. Our qualifications are in Psychology, Law, Business and Science. Our experience is diverse and
extensive when it comes to processes relating to all students who are studying at the University of
Canterbury. We utilise professional supervision and professional development to enhance student outcomes. We
provide feedback on UC policies and procedures, and look for opportunities to influence change that will
improve student experiences at UC. As a team, we strive for continuous improvement and are committed to
providing the best support for UC students.
We provide timely responses to all enquiries which may include phone call, email, video-conferencing, and
in-person meetings.
We provide a welfare service and
readily provide students access to food and hygiene items. We also have a Budget Planning Service that
empowers students to get their personal finances in order.