About

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Who is Achieve for?

Achieve advocates and lobbies for people with a range of impairments who are transitioning into or studying in post-secondary education or training. For example; at a university, polytechnic, private training establishment, wananga or college of education.

Anyone with an interest in post-secondary education and training for people with impairments can join. Corporate and individual membership is available.

Achieve's membership may include:

  • Students with impairments, the Deaf community, their families and support networks.
  • Polytechnics, colleges of education, universities, wananga, private training establishments and other training providers.
  • Disability support staff and other professionals supporting students with impairments in post-secondary education and training.
  • Students Association.
  • Service providers and organisations in the disability community.

Become a member

What does Achieve provide?

  • A coordinated national effort in securing quality educational opportunities for students with impairments in post-secondary education and training.
  • Opportunities for members to network, support and learn from each other.
  • Monitoring of equal education policies developed by Government, the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education Commission and post-secondary institutions, that impact on students with impairments.
  • Liaison with groups and bodies who have similar interests.
  • Advice, support and information.

Achieve promotes:

  • A commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.
  • Public and professional debate on equal opportunity policies and practices.
  • Sharing of initiatives through research, publications and conferences.
  • Cooperation to ensure smooth transition for students with impairments.
  • Staff development for those supporting students with impairments.
  • Monitoring of services and support for students with impairments.
  • Best practice models for those providing services for students with impairments.
  • An environment where students with impairments can ACHIEVE their best possible academic outcome.

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What are Achieve's achievements?

  • Achieve has played a key role in securing funding for supporting students with impairments in post-secondary education and training - most notably, the Special Supplementary Grant: Tertiary Students with Disabilities.
  • Fostered the development of a number of networks for students with impairments.
  • Advocated for, supported and played an active part in National Conferences and Gatherings for students with impairments and disability support services staff at polytechnics, colleges of education and universities.
  • Developed written information to encourage best practice and networking - Kia Ōrite Achieving Equity.

Stay up to date

Associated Bodies/Sponsors

Ara Institute of Canterbury
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Auckland University Students Association (AUSA)
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Windermere Campus, Tauranga
Be Accessible
Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)
Laidlaw College Auckland
Lincoln University
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)
Massey University
Massey University Extramural Massey Student’s Society (EXMSS)
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
NorthTec Whangarei
NZ Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA)
Otago Polytechnic Student’s Association (OPSA)
Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA)
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) Invercargill
Tai Poutini Polytechnic Greymouth
Te Wānanga O Aotearoa (TWOA) Te Awamutu
Unitec Institute of Technology Auckland
Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Palmerston North
University of Auckland
University of Canterbury
University of Otago
University of Waikato
Victoria University of Wellington
Waikato Students’ Union (WSA)
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) New Plymouth
Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)
Whitireia and WelTec

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Auckland University Students Association (AUSA)

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Windermere Campus, Tauranga

Be Accessible

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)

Laidlaw College Auckland

Lincoln University

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)

Massey University

Massey University Extramural Massey Student’s Society (EXMSS)

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)

NorthTec Whangarei

NZ Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA)

Otago Polytechnic Student’s Association (OPSA)

Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA)

Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) Invercargill

Tai Poutini Polytechnic Greymouth

Te Wānanga O Aotearoa (TWOA) Te Awamutu

Unitec Institute of Technology Auckland

Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Palmerston North

University of Auckland

University of Canterbury

University of Otago

University of Waikato

Victoria University of Wellington

Waikato Students’ Union (WSA)

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) New Plymouth

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)

Whitireia and WelTec

National Executive Committee

Melissa Lethaby

University of Otago

President

Jo Hodge

Victoria University of Wellington

Vice-President

Donna Cavell

UniTec

Polytech Representative

Sabrina Sharma-Pillay

Manukau Institute of Technology

Polytech Representative

Jackie Fox

University of Otago

University Representative

Debra Tanfield

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

General Representative

Olena Smyth

University of Waikato

Student Representative

Alice Mander

Victoria University of Wellington

Student Representative

Interested in learning more?

Feel free to send us a message if you have any questions about membership, sponsorship, or anything else!

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