Updates from our community No images? Click here Welcome to Whītiki, our Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington student newsletter.VUWSA, alongside clubs and student groups, invite you to our annual Sustainability Week, filled with fun, free, and sustainable activities that work towards a more climate-friendly future. Let’s come together to learn something new, create change, and make better habits! Sustainability Week is August 10—14, so make sure to take part in our programme of events and remember to RSVP to our Facebook page. Science and Health Careers Webinar Series Wellington Careers and Employment are under way with their series of webinars, on now until Friday 7 August. A diverse range of employers will be available for students who are excited to connect with industry professionals. Register now for one of the remaining webinars. Join us for a conversation about climate change in New Zealand between leading climate change scientist Professor James Renwick and Hon. James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change and co-leader of the New Zealand Green Party. They will discuss what is currently being done in our country to combat climate change, what more we can do in the future, and how COVID-19 may have changed things. Professor Renwick and Mr Shaw will discuss their views and expertise on New Zealand’s climate change present and future for around 40 minutes, before taking questions from the audience. Registration is essential to attend this event. By Vanessa Sieng, student of Psychology at the University. Imagine walking the streets in your hometown, but everyone you see is a stranger. Every sign on every corner reminds you that you are different. That you are not at home at all. This feeling of unease and disconnect may be familiar for refugee background and international students starting a new chapter at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. After talking to students from refugee backgrounds and listening to their experiences, there is a common struggle to feel heard and included. However, there is also a collective yearning to connect with others who may have the same experience, share stories of hardship and success, and to form a community that provides support in times of need. Student-led co-design and peer support are at the core of the Cultural Coffee Club—a safe, non-judgemental space for refugee background and international students to come together, meet new people, and form a community. Each week is a chance for the community to share their experiences and talk about wellbeing from a cultural lens over a cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer!). Non-refugee background and domestic students who are willing to listen and learn about these unique experiences are welcome to join. No matter where we grew up, the colour of our skin, or our cultural heritage, we are all here to make Wellington our home because we belong here. Kodrean Eashae, the University's assistant adviser for refugee-background students is also available for information, support, and advice. Email kodrean.eashae@vuw.ac.nz, or call 022 498 7460. His working hours are Monday and Tuesday from 3.30 to 6.30 pm, and Wednesday all day. Visit the website for more details. The Cultural Coffee Club runs every Friday 1–2 pm in the Bubble. Help yourself to a hot drink and chat and connect. The Back to the Bubble competition prizegiving was held today, celebrating our return to campus and the wonderful creativity within the student community, as well as demonstrating what an integral role the arts play in wellbeing. As part of the competition we asked students to tell us how their creative activity helped their wellbeing. The following themes emerged—helping others, active relaxing, activities as calming, reducing feelings of being overwhelmed, and improving the space they resided in during lockdown. A panel of seven Student Wellbeing Leaders judged the 27 entries based on their innovation, creativity, and relevance to wellbeing. The prizegiving concluded with a gallery viewing of entries and their wellbeing descriptions. Overall winner: Vince Chilton—Happy video. Runners Up: Ugrin Vuckovic—Aperitif video, Gloria Hickey—Happier Meals blog, and Sashi Athota—Wellness Poem. Highly commended: Indina Hera—Virtual candle, Regan Gemming—Dungeons and Dragons crochet, Louise Lin—Alligator Pie, Rebecca Lauryssen—The Dark Truth Slam Poem, Kerryn Palmer—Drama Class, and Sanskriti Sharma—The Naked Picture. Urgin Vuckovich was a runner-up with his 'Aperitif' video. Lots of students enjoyed the artwork and refreshments. Gloria Hickey was a runner-up with her 'Happier Meals' blog. Students—enter the 2020 Sustainability Photo Competition There's just a few weeks left for students to enter the competition and claim one of the great prizes, which includes a $500 Prezzy card for first prize. Visit the website for full entry details and get snapping! A reminder to students that you can enjoy warm meals with the opening of the microwave station outside the level 1 entrance to the Kelburn Library this Friday 7 August. The new common space, Heat and Run, has five microwaves to heat food. There will also be a vending machine with healthy options such as fresh fruit and pasta, and a spot to fill bottles with instant hot or chilled water. Head along from Friday to enjoy this service. Full details of the campus food options can be found on our website. My Journey with a Labrador named Oxford Just out of a coma, and unable to make purposeful movements after suffering a life-threatening medical event, the most amazing man brought his black Labrador to my bedside in Wellington Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. My name’s Amanda and I want to share my journey of recovery with you. About three and a half years ago I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and went into a coma. I was in the ICU for three weeks and hadn’t shown any signs of responsiveness after coming out of the coma until one day the hospital arranged for a man named Rick and his dog Oxford to visit the ward. Read more. Share your stories with us! Update your details Please ensure your contact details are up to date so that we can get in touch with you to share important updates, including in an emergency situation. You can update your contact details in Student Records via myTools. Whītiki As a student, we want you to feel connected with your Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington community. Whītiki is a Māori word that is often used in a phrase heard at the University: 'Whītiki mai tō waka ki te wharenui nei, ki Te Tumu Herenga Waka'—'tie or bind your canoe to this meeting house, to the hitching post of canoes.' This weekly newsletter provides important information and updates from the University, resources to support your studies, and stories from our student community. |