Student Health will be closed for appointments 9 December 2024 to 7 February 2025.

Dunedin Campus

We are available for medical appointments Monday-Friday, 9.00am-4.30pm. However you will need to book in for a phone consultation first before being seen. See appointment information below.

Conveniently located on our Dunedin Campus, the Student Health Centre provides the same services offered by your family doctor. It also promotes health education, and offers health screening tests, nutrition advice, vaccinations and some minor surgery options. 

The cost for a consultation is $15, or is free if you have a current  Community Services card. Missed doctor appointments are charged $20. 

Appointments 

• All patients must phone for an appointment - please do not arrive at Student Health in person. 

• All patients will be triaged over the phone and depending on your symptoms and vaccination status a decision will be made about how your appointment will take place. This might be in person or via telehealth (phone or video). 

• All appointments will incur the usual charges (including telehealth). 

• If you are having a telehealth consult, please make sure you are available at the agreed time for your consultation. If the doctor is unable to get hold of you at that time, you will need to ring back and arrange another time. Missed appointments will still incur a fee.

Please phone us if you have any concerns 03 479 6082 or 0800 762 786 and ask for Student Health

Central Campus

Wanaka

Queenstown

Auckland Campus

Please contact the Auckland International Campus for advice regarding recommended medical centres in Auckland.

Other freephone or free text numbers:

• Need to talk Free text or call 1737

• Lifeline free call: 0800 543 354 text 4357

• Youthline: 0800 376 633

• Tautoko crisis line: 0508 828 865

• Samaritans 0800 726 666

• Outline 0800 688 5463

• Lowdown: free text 5626

• Skylight: 0800 299 100

• 0508 Music Helps: 0508 687 424 text 3577

Confidential counselling with one of our three on-campus counsellors is offered free to all OP students. Confidential counselling with one of our three on-campus counsellors is offered free to all OP students.

Counsellors are registered, experienced and professional, with a broad range of counselling experience. They will work with you, providing a safe place to talk through your worries and current concerns. The focus is on helping you find/explore different ways to manage situations that may be causing difficulty or distress. Some of the things that counsellors help with

• Study related issues
• Relationship issues
• Loneliness
• Anxiety and panic
• Loss and grief
• Depression
• Substance use
• Gender identity/sexuality
• Stress
• Health issues
• Problematic eating
• Adjustment

Bookings

Online booking system

Choose your counsellor and preferred method of meeting: face-to-face, MS Teams or phone

Telecounselling option (Puawaitanga)

Puawaitanga offers extended hours (9am-9pm and weekends) which works well for some students. See the section below for how to access Puāwaitanga.

Vitae Counselling Services Tari Whakapakari Ngākau

Vitae Counselling Services Tari Whakapakari Ngākau is a free, 24/7 confidential service provided to Te Pūkenga - Otago Polytechnic students.

Counselling services are available face-to-face (wheelchair friendly premises available on request), by telephone or video (Zoom).

See the section below for how to access the Vitae Counselling Services

Dunedin Campus

Hours: 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. This is a free service. 

Missed counsellor appointments are charged $10. 

Central Campus

All learners are able to use the Vitae Counselling Services Tari Whakapakari Ngākau (face to face or online) or contact the counsellors below. 

Fill out a referral form to book an appointment and you will be contacted within three working days to make a time. The service is provided every Monday 12.30 – 4.30pm and based out of the REAP office at the Erris Street Campus.

Auckland Campus

Online counselling with OP counsellors 

A Microsoft Teams call or phone appointment can be made with any of our OP counsellors. You will be asked to provide your OP email address and phone number. If a phone call is required, the counsellor will ring you at your appointment time.

OP has partnered with Puāwaitanga to provide support around stress, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, addictions or other related issues that may be affecting your life.

Puāwaitanga offers:

• Phone and/or video counselling sessions to help strengthen your hauora (wellbeing)

• You can choose which counsellor you'd like to do sessions with from the Puāwaitanga team

• Sessions available 7 days a week, 9am-9pm

• Sessions are free to enrolled students

• A booster session to check in with you three months after you've finished sessions to see how things have been going 

Please note that to access this service you need to be:

• Currently enrolled as a student with Otago Polytechnic

• Living in New Zealand

• Aged 18+ years

To enrol

Enrol online (You will be asked for your student ID number to confirm you are an enrolled student) or you can call 0800 782 999

Puāwaitanga as an Otago Polytechnic partner, will communicate your contacting them, and a summary of care provided back to the OP Counselling team.

 

Vitae Counselling Services Tari Whakapakari Ngākau is a free, 24/7 confidential service provided to Te Pūkenga - Otago Polytechnic students.

Counselling services are available face-to-face (wheelchair friendly premises available on request), by telephone or video (Zoom).

If you need help with:

• personal or workplace stress

• relationship problems

• conflict situations

• anxiety/depression

• anger/violence

• grief/loss

• harassment

• personal trauma

• addictions

Call 0508 664 981 or complete the online referral form

Or you can download the Vitae app free by searching Vitae NZ at the apps store.