Services and Facilities

OPSA operates a number of free or low-cost services and facilities for students:

 

OPSA STUDENT ID CARDS
All Otago Polytechnic students are entitled to a student ID-card. These are processed at the OPSA office (upstairs in the Manaaki Building on Harbour Tce). Processing will be quicker if you can bring along your OP Tax Invoice (should have been posted to you), and if you're a first time OP student some photo-ID (eg driver's licence, passport, etc).

Use your student services ID-card to access UNIPOL, Clubs & Socs, Student Job Search, the Robertson Library, to access OP computers, and to get student discounts, and much more...

Your 2012 student ID card is also a free LTD discount card. Register it here (using the LTD number from the front of your ID card) for access to wicked discounts including all-year and daily deals.

 

OFFICE SERVICES & SHOP
OPSA offers a range of handy office and related services:- Cheap Phone-cards, Cheap DCC Rubbish Bags, Lamination, Binding, Fax, Colour printing and Photocopying, Cheap CDs & DVDs, Stamps & Mail-collection, Diaries, Wall-planners & pens, Budgeting & Tenancy advice, ISIC travel card validation, Free Pool, OP exam compliant Calculators, and more...

The OPSA Office is a good place to find out about advocacy, mediation, and other help. The OPSA Office can be found upstairs in the Manaaki Building on Harbour Tce.

• Mondays to Thursdays: 9am - 5pm
• Fridays: 9am - 3pm

• Contact Us & Map

• Price List of cheap stuff for students at OPSA

OPSA also provides free student telephones, microwaves and water-filters on OP's various campuses.

 

UNIPOL Sports & Recreation Centre
OPSA owns 20% of the UNIPOL sports centre on Anzac Avenue, and OPSA members can use the centre for FREE. At UNIPOL you'll find social and competitive sport, a gym with cardio and weight training areas, aerobics classes, volleyball and basketball courts, sporting equipment, and pool, snooker and table tennis tables, and low-cost equipment hire. Over 10,000 students use UNIPOL each week.

• Mondays to Friday: 6am - 11pm
• Saturdays: 8am - 9pm
• Sundays: 9am - 11pm

Phone Unipol on 479-5888 or email UNIPOL to make enquiries or bookings.

 

CLUBS & SOCIETIES
The Clubs & Socs building is at 84 Albany St. It's a facility where student groups can meet, and students can take a sauna, play snooker, make music or study. They also run a large number of low-cost courses, ranging from dancing to stonecarving to kickboxing.
The facility is owned by the Otago University Students' Association, and OPSA members are allowed to use it. Students can use rooms in the building at no cost.

• More information

STUDENT JOB SEARCH
SJS is a nationwide service run and funded by students, with a contribution from the government. It aims to place students in work while they study or during the holidays, and has a high success rate. The three students' associations in Dunedin combine to run SJS here.

You can register online at www.sjs.co.nz and then contact the team by calling 0800 SJS JOB (free call).

 

SOCIAL EVENTS
OPSA runs various social events through the year. Check your free Polytechnic e-mail account, or keep an eye out in Gyro or the Social Events Diary on this web site.

• Orientation
• Quizzes & BBQs
• Lunch entertainment
• Polytechnic Graduation Parades
• Competitions

If you have any ideas or suggestions, or want to help organise events e-mail OPSA's Technical Services Manager – he’s always looking for keen helpers…

 

LOST PROPERTY
OPSA deals with lost property at Otago Polytechnic. If you've lost or found something let us know: OPSA office (upstairs, Manaaki Building on Harbour Tce.), 477-6974, or e-mail OPSA's Technical Services Manager.

• Mondays to Thursdays: 9am - 5pm
• Fridays: 9am - 3pm

 

STUDENT DISCOUNTS
OPSA & OUSA organise student discounts in the Otago area. Most require you to show your OPSA student ID-card. Check out the list of discounters here.
If you wish to have your businesses' discount add please contact OPSA's Technical Services Manager.

 

SPORTING "BLUES" AWARDS
OPSA recognises those individuals who have achieved sporting excellence at local, national and often international levels.
In addition to being outstanding performers, recipients must have also displayed a high standard of sporting behavior and have contributed to their club or sport (i.e. coaching, administration, leadership etc).

 

REPRESENTATION
OP students are represented by OPSA at various levels. OPSA oversees the Class-rep system, and has representatives on various Otago Polytechnic boards and committees. The association also represents students' views to the local community and nationally. So if something grinds your gears as a student please let OPSA know.

 

ADVOCACY & COMPLAINTS
Students who are experiencing personal or course related problems are welcome to approach the OPSA Technical Services Manager, Student Services Manager or President who can offer confidential advice and support, or act on behalf of students. They can be found at the OPSA office (upstairs in the Manaaki Building on Harbour Tce), tel (03) 477-6974.
Complaints can be to do with problems with your course, your landlord, your finances - whatever is bugging you, let us know and if we can't help we can link you up with someone who can.

 

HARASSMENT
You have the right to enjoy your time at OP without being made uncomfortable about your age, gender, race, religion, or sexuality. Harassment of any sort is not tolerated at Otago Polytechnic.
OPSA is often the first port of call for students experiencing harassment problems. The Polytechnic has a procedure for handling complaints, and OPSA is here to support and assist students through that procedure.
If you think you are experiencing harassment from another student or a staff member, contact Mark Baxter or Lesley Scoullar, ring them at OPSA on (03) 477-6974, or free-call 0800-762-786 (extension 8332), or pop in to the OPSA office (upstairs in the Manaaki building on Harbour Tce.).

 

GRADUATION AWARDS
Every year OPSA gives awards for students who have given excellent service to fellow students in their school or class, by helping with course related work, attending departmental meetings on behalf, or has been an inspiration to study with etc. Contact me for a nomination form.

 

FREE CAMPUS PHONES
OPSA provides free phones for students on campus. There phones at: Maanaki Building (upstairs in the lobby with the computers), Art School (Ceramics, Leith Block, Albany Block), L Block, Botanic Gardens campus, and Cromwell campus. There are taxi phones in the Manaaki.

 

ACCOMMODATION
Advice, problem solving, and useful links here.
If you're have issue with your landlord, OPSA may be able to help.

 

POSTE RESTANTE
If you temporally have no postal address, eg between flats etc, OPSA can receive and hold your mail until you collect it (by arrangement only, contact OPSA's Technical Services Officer).

 

BOOK EXCHANGE
Swap-A-Book - Simply bring a book you've already read and swap it for a book from the exchange collection, or give a gold coin donation. Books in the collection include many newer and older paperbacks and some non-fiction.
OPSA also accepts donations of used books that staff or students might like to read. The exchange can be found in the OPSA office, upstairs in the Student Centre on Harbour Tce.

 

Gyro STUDENT 'ZINE
Gyro 'Zine comes out couple of weeks during OP term, and focuses on issues which are important to students. You can pick up your free copy from the Student Centre, or from one of the holders around campus. All students are welcome to contribute articles, letters, reviews, or artwork etc to Gyro.
• Contact the editor
• Read Gyro online

 

UNIQ & Queer Support
For all your all your questions, concerns and suggestions with regard to 'queer' issues on campus.
• Check out the latest Queer Support

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
OPSA gives information on finding assistance to students experiencing hardship. OPSA and Otago Polytechnic administer the student hardship fund through a committee. This committee meets weekly, and is able to offer grants, interest-free loans and advice to students in hardship. To apply for assistance, fill out a form at OPSA.
OPSA also has information on scholarships and award schemes available to students.

 

DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS
Each class may be entitled to a small grant from OPSA to help with social events, exhibitions, study and conference grants. To apply, fill in a request form at OPSA or download one from here.