Here at Te Whare Tāwharau we have a diverse team of peer supporters and peer facilitators.
Become a peer supporter
Our peer supporters work closely with the Centre staff to provide confidential and compassionate support to survivors (the affected party) as well as their friends and whānau.
To become a peer supporter you will need to complete a 40-hour training programme.
You must be over the age of 18 and studying at the University of Otago or have graduated within the last 3 years.
What you will learn:
- The various types of sexual harm
- Societal contexts and cultural norms regarding sexual harm
- Information about sexual harm and recovery
- Learning about University and community pathways and services
- Support strategies – how to support survivors and their support networks
- Suicide prevention
- Self-care
- Bicultural awareness under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Diversity awareness
Expectations of peer supporters
We expect our peer supporters to:
- Provide support services to survivors across a range of ethnicities, genders and sexualities, religious backgrounds, abilities and cultural heritages
- Carry out at least one shift in the Centre each week and arrive punctually for that shift
- Debrief support work with Centre staff
- Attend monthly Centre meetings
- Maintain and understand the importance of confidentiality
Opportunities for professional development
More experienced peer supporters can take on a mentoring role for new peer supporters post-training. We often have a range of projects that peer supporters can get involved in!
Become a peer facilitator
Our peer facilitators are crucial to the roll-out of our prevention programs. We would love to hear from students or recent graduates who are confident public speakers and are available to facilitate in O-Week.
We provide essential training to peer facilitators in the first week of February, and cover the following topics:
- Societal contexts and cultural norms regarding sexual harm
- Our approach to sexual harm prevention education
- Facilitation skills
- Responding to disclosures
- Self-care
- Familiarisation with the content of the programme, including plenty of time for practice
This is a paid position that we recruit for at the end of the year. However, you can send an expression of interest at any time.
Contact details
For more information regarding the student leader roles please do not hesitate to contact the team at Te Whare Tāwharau.
Tel +64 3 479 3790
Mob +64 21 278 3795
Email tewharetawharau@otago.ac.nz