Te Pou Whirinaki – Otago’s new wellbeing hub in the Link – was officially opened at a special ceremony today. Surrounded by staff and peer supporters are, from centre left, Director of Student Services Claire Gallop, Minister for Mental Health the Hon Matt Doocey, University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson and Te Pou Whirinaki Manager Genevieve Obbeek.
Te Pou Whirinaki – Otago’s new wellbeing hub – is now officially open.
The hub, which Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora funded through the ‘Tertiary Student Wellbeing’ contract, was today officially opened with support from the Hon Matt Doocey. Matt is the Minister for Mental Health, the Associate Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for Waimakariri.
Initiatives such as Te Pou Whirinaki show how far support for mental health and wellbeing has come since he was a student, Matt says.
“We didn’t have the accessibility of services when we were younger but also there was a lot more stigma and discrimination.
“It’s great to live in a country where people can now openly talk about their mental health journeys. And young people, I believe, are actually driving the mental health debate in New Zealand.”
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson says the hub, which will be accessible to all Otago students from around the motu, is an amazing step forward in how the University supports the wellbeing of its students.
“We have an amazing group of staff over at Student Health who work with us and our students on mental health and counselling issues. It’s incredible work that needs to be acknowledged. It saves lives every day.
“But what’s been missing is the wellbeing support. The space that you can be in to start looking after yourself. To start dealing with issues and resolving things early, rather than being in a situation where you find yourself in a crisis,” Grant says.
“You come here and you’ll be connected to what you need, whether it’s what’s available here or what’s available in the many other services that we have.
“I hope that all the University community will feel a sense of ownership of a place that will change lives.”
Hon Matt Doocey, who is the Minister for Mental Health, the Associate Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for Waimakariri, spoke at the launch.
Te Pou Whirinaki sits within Student Services, which is overseen by Director of Student Services Claire Gallop.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to launch Te Pou Whirinaki, the Student Wellbeing Hub,” she says.
“This initiative is designed to support students before things get on top of them. As well as connecting students to support services, the wellbeing hub will also play an educative role in helping students to manage their own wellbeing.”
More about the hub
The ikoa Māori, Te Pou Whirinaki, was gifted to the University by mana whenua, and represents ‘a post to lean on, dependable person, pillar of support or reliable person’.
Otago’s Planning and Development team also worked closely with mana whenua through Aukaha, led by Kitty Brown, to design a space that was welcoming to all students. The Kai Tahu narrative of Tāwhaki and his journey on the pursuit of knowledge – which features elsewhere on the Ōtepoti campus – is continued in the space.
“The space is unique on campus,” Claire says.
“The colour scheme, soft lighting, comfortable furniture, and fun activities all encourage students to come in the door to relax, unwind, and engage in conversations about wellbeing.
“Lead by a clinician and supported by Hauora Connectors and Peer Connectors, Te Pou Whirinaki will act as a pivotal part of the student support network that Otago provides.”
Te Pou Whirinaki will also offer preventative, educational activities such as workshops on healthy lifestyle choices, study-life balance, and ‘life skills’, and events to promote national health campaigns.
“We expect this approach will reduce the likelihood of challenges arising in the first place, or teach strategies to manage small concerns so they don’t become big ones.”
Manager Genevieve Obbeek, who is a registered mental health clinician, will lead a team of four Hauora Connectors who each have a special interest area of support – Māori, Pacific, Rainbow and refugee background.
They will be joined by students in paid peer support roles who come from all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate study, a variety of disciplines – including Social Work, Pharmacy, Medicine, Psychology – and a range of languages, cultures and backgrounds.
Grant says he is a big fan of peer support.
“These students are going to be the heart of this space because we know the people who will be the most relatable, who will understand the most about a person who walks in the door, will be our peer support team,” he says.
*Te Pou Whirinaki is located near the West entrance of the Central Library. Follow them on Insta
– Kōrero by Internal Communications Adviser Laura Hewson