International Students

NZMSA International Medical Student Welfare Webpage

Studying medicine in a foreign environment and at times in a different language can be a challenge. It is important to look after your wellbeing and part of this is knowing what support and services are available for you. International student support is available at all 4 campuses around New Zealand, some of which students may not be aware of. Below is a reference guide to what resources are available at each centre to help you feel more supported and make the most out of your time at medical school – whichever campus you’re on.

1. Useful Resources & Contacts

An excellent and comprehensive source of information can be found on the international section for each of the university websites:

For all issues including both academic and non-academic support:

Auckland

Staff:
- Karen Dorrian, International Development Manager, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, k.dorrian@auckland.ac.nz
- Yvonne Marren, International Student Assistant, y.marren@auckland.ac.nz
Auckland Unviersity Medical Students Association International or Welfare Student Representative
- www.aumsa.org.nz

Wellington

Staff:
- Alice Jay, Student Affairs, University of Otago, Wellington, alice.jay@otago.ac.nz
- Associate Professor Peter Larsen, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Years 4/5) – peter.larsen@otago.ac.nz
- Dr Michael Humble, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Year 6) – michael.humble@otago.ac.nz
Wellington Medical Students Association, International Representative

Christchurch

Staff
- Carol Milnes, Student Affairs, University of Otago, Christchurch, carol.milnes@otago.ac.nz
- Dr Jan Mckenzie, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Affairs, jan.mckenzie@otago.ac.nz
- Anthony Ali, Medical Education Adviser & IMU Student Advisor, anthony.ali@otago.ac.nz
Christchurch Medical Students Association, Cultural Representative, cmsa.otago.ac.nz

Dunedin

Staff
- Jillian Tourelle, Student Affairs, Dunedin School of Medicine, jillian.tourelle@otago.ac.nz
Otago University Medical Students Association, International Representative, oumsa.otago.ac.nz

Auckland Students

Auckland University International Student Advisors
AUSA International Student Representative and Overseas Student Officer. For contact details, see www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/cs-international-student-support

Otago Students

International Student Advisors, international.support@otago.ac.nz
Dr Warwick Brunton (Associate Dean of International Student Affairs for Health Science Division, warwick.brunton@otago.ac.nz)

Although based in Dunedin, both the International Student Advisers and Dr. Brunton are available via email or phone to provide support for Wellington and Christchurch students. They also visit Wellington and Christchurch a few times a year. An email is usually sent out prior to these visits for appointments.

For the full list of international support staff, see www.otago.ac.nz/international/otago004131.html or email international.support@otago.ac.nz.

OUSA International Representative www.ousa.org.nz
International Mentor Programme http://www.otago.ac.nz/international/otago005588.html

Other Supports:

Your student handbook
Your NZMSA International Representative

2. English Language Support

Communication skills are vital in becoming a good and competent doctor but often overlooked. It is not unusual to experience language barriers coming from a foreign environment, especially for students who do not speak English as their primary language. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to seek help if you need to.

English lessons have helped many students increase their language proficiency not just in casual conversations but also at an academic level such as writing essays and oral presentations. These can be flexible to suit your busy schedule and funded by the university. Some centres also run communication workshops which have helped students improve their confidence for OSCEs.

For further details please contact:

Auckland

Karen Dorrian , International Development Manager, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, k.dorrian@auckland.ac.nz

General language and academic support in Auckland:

The Student Learning Centre:

General academic skills eg reading, writing, presentations, time management

www.cad.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?p=slc

English Language Self Access Centre (ELSAC) & Academic English Conversation Groups:

http://cad.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?p=english_language_skills

Wellington

Associate Professor Peter Larsen, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Years 4/5) – peter.larsen@otago.ac.nz
Dr Michael Humble, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Year 6) – michael.humble@otago.ac.nz
Karen Johnson, Student Learning Advisor, karen.johnson@otago.ac.nz – Karen offers generic workshops on academic writing, study skills, presentation skills and thesis writing as well as individual student appointments too .

Christchurch

Dr Jan Mckenzie, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Affairs, jan.mckenzie@otago.ac.nz
Carol Acheson, Student Learning Centre (Christchurch) http://hedc.otago.ac.nz/hedc/sld/About-us/Contacts/Carole-Acheson.html

For communications workshops, contact your Education Representative for more info cmsa.otago.ac.nz

Dunedin

Professor Robin Taylor, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, robin.taylor@otago.ac.nz

For communications workshops contact your International Representative for more info, international@oumsa.org

General language and academic support in Dunedin:

Student Learning Centre:

General academic skills eg reading, writing, presentations, time management etc.

http://hedc.otago.ac.nz/hedc/sld.html

Language Match @ Otago:

Language Match @ Otago is a conversational exchange programme which match students learning English or international students with students or staffs at the university who are learning (or simply want to practice) their language, ie Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish for informal conversational exchange in both English and the language being learned at university.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Language-Match-Otago/110172575675175?v=info

Video: http://unitube.otago.ac.nz/view?m=O593TcgwVR

Otago University Medical Students Association (OUMSA) Coffee Buddy:

OUMSA Coffee Buddy provides OUMSA members who would like to develop their conversational English language skills and/or their communication skills with an opportunity to do so, with the support of their peers, in a setting where med students teach or help med students. For more info ask your OUMSA executive oumsa.otago.ac.nz

3. Student & Work Visa

4. Health Insurance, Healthcare & Counselling

5. Local Information: Groups, Recreation & Food

6. Frequently Asked Questions

7. Resources for Student Executives: Cultural Gig Guide

A menu of ideas for cultural and non-alcoholic events for your event planning interest. Some have been run successfully by local student executives while others somewhat more imaginative!

General Events:

Cultural Night: Talent show with performances by students +/- food, best dressed, prizes etc. Usually a great night out with many international students attending and a chance to see the talent of your peers.

Cultural Week: aimed at increasing awareness of different countries and cultures. Activities such as dressing in traditional attires and movie nights based on different countries suggested. A potluck dinner over the week. Ending with the cultural night.

Afternoon Tea Party: Possible event for orientation. Getting together some coffee, hot chocolate and tea, as well as some cupcakes and cucumber sandwiches for a cute afternoon tea party. This could also work as a garden party, or as a movie night.

Theatre Outing: Eg Christchurch’s “Scared Scriptless” live theatre sports show, local drama performances/musicals. May be a sponsored event eg with MAS.

Art Auction: Eg 2010’s MSGA event. Donations of art work by staff or students for bidding with an evening of food and guest speakers.

Beach Day: Hiring a bus or coordinating carloads to go out to a beach for BBQ, games and surf.

Ice-Skating: Used for orientation for med students in Dunedin. A skating rink was hired out.

Bowling, Food Festival, Karaoke Night, KFC Eating Contest etc. The world is your oyster!

Movie Nights:

Movie and Mocktails Evening: Get a whole bunch of mocktail recipies, a good movie and some classy nibbles for a night of delicious mocktails, a movie and good company.

Movie and Potluck Party: Screen a movie, can be cultural, and have everyone bring dish.

Coffee and Movie Night: Coffee, baking and can be used for a fund-raising event eg MSGA

Sponsored Movie Night: Eg MAS movie night that was run in Christchurch

General Movie Outing

Sporting Events:

Sports Exchange!: Successfully run for the first time this year

Regular Sporting Groups: Eg outdoor soccer, indoor soccer, netball, badminton, volleyball etc.

Dodgeball Tournament: Successfully run in Christchurch

8. Feedback

Proudly brought to you by international student representatives and contributors from all around New Zealand, international support staff from the University of Auckland, University of Otago and the NZMSA.