We are excited to host the 2025 DASSH Aotearoa in-person member gathering in March. DASSH President Heather Zwicker and Vice President Cynthia White look forward to welcoming you to the Massey University Pukeahu Campus located in Wellington next to the Pukeahu National War Memorial on Thursday 27 March for a full-day event.
Thursday 27 March
10am-4pm (NZT)
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University
Pukeahu Campus, Wellington
All members welcome
The event will commence with a facilitated round table discussion where members will be encouraged to introduce themselves to colleagues from around the country and share opportunities and challenges.
This will be followed by lunch and an expert-led afternoon session focused on psychosocial safety in uncertain times led by Professor Kirsty Ross, Acting Head of School of Psychology, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University.
This interactive session will focus on exploring psychosocial issues that pose challenges for staff and students, along with practical strategies managers can implement to support wellbeing and safety of those involved. It will be relevant to managers who seek to balance staff concerns with the needs of students with regard to their learning, during times when staff or students experience personal issues that impact their work.
The workshop traverses case studies related to three scenarios: firstly, when students complain about the performance of a staff member in relation to their teaching and behaviour; secondly, staff wellbeing in the face of life course events that impact them personally and potentially their ability to manage workloads; finally, when students are experiencing mental distress such that they become a risk to themselves or to others. It is intended for at least two of these scenarios will be discussed in-depth, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and explore other issues relating to psychosocial safety facing managers within the tertiary sector.
We are building on the work we have done with the Council, in advocating publicly around the cuts to research funding in Aotearoa and building the Associate Deans (Research) Community of Practice. Over the next year we will host five online lunch and learn sessions – the Essential Insights series on topics identified by Aotearoa and Australian members as their major challenges and priorities. We will also be establishing two special interest groups and continuing to grow our public presence in Aotearoa.
We look forward to seeing you there!
