About
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.
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.
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.
Associated Bodies/Sponsors
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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