Support at university from student services

University can be a stressful time, student services are there to help you through.

Studying towards a degree or a diploma is no walk in the park. Add to that the pressures of partying, meeting a large number of new people, and grappling with food, finances, and flatting, and you have a recipe for stress. That's where student services come in.

You pay a lot of fees to your tertiary institution, and besides a good education, these fees go towards maintaining services you should make the most of. Below are a few student services that can be found on your campus.

Student healthFirst year at university or polytech can be pretty taxing. Cold flats, late nights, a heavy workload, close proximity with other bodies... but don't worry, each institution has at least one student health facility and they can fix you up for a much lower price than general practices. Among the services they can offer are:

-Sexual health: Confidential, non-judgmental service for students of all ages, cultures, genders, and sexual orientation

-Wellness/nutrition consultations

-ACC injury assessments and treatment

-Travel advice and immunisations

-Support with depression, insomnia and fatigue

-Registered nurses for advice.

Student advocacy
Most people on campus -- staff and students alike -- are caring, restrained amigos. But sometimes in life, you run into people who bully, exploit, disregard your disability, or sexually harass you. If this happens, don't hesitate to go to the good people at student advocacy. They will:

-Act on your behalf

-Listen to your story and also refer you on to a counsellor, if this is what you wish

-Advise you of your rights

-Fight on your side -- in advocates lie the future lawyers, trade unionists, politicians, and leaders of the country -- they are not afraid to throw a few spanners in the works to see justice done.

Disability
Students with depression and other mental health issues, specific learning difficulties, medical conditions, temporary injuries, visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities, as well as those who are deaf, may require additional resources or assistance. Disability services employ note-takers for all classes if someone with a disability attends that class and finds it hard to -- or cannot -- take notes. They will do everything in their power to make sure you can make the best of your time at polytech or university. If you're a speedy and accurate note-taker, working for disability services as a note-taker is a great way to help others and make an extra dollar or two.

Student job search
SJS often have one-off jobs that can help tide you over if you're running low on pesos. Or you can find a permanent part-time or holiday job with the help of these friendly folk.

Career services
The role of this service is to help you get a job after you graduate.

They can help you write your CV and give advice on writing cover letters, as well as providing information about where your qualification can take you.

They can even send you links to potential jobs.

Maori student support
Tertiary institutions support Maori students in a number of different ways: mentoring, allowing assignments to be received in te reo Maori, supplementary tutorials, student support groups and study centres.

Alcohol and drug use counselling
What started out as the time of your life might turn into a dark vortex of abuse, as alcohol and other substances start to affect your mind, body, and dare we say it, soul.

The term drug abuse sounds pretty dark, but if you're worried about the amount of alcohol or drugs you consume, or their effect on your life, talk to these people. They will not judge you.--JET MAGAZINE