COVID-19 Update 18 August 

Updates for students     Updates for staffs

Kia ora students

Following the Government announcement yesterday afternoon about the change in Covid-19 Alert Levels, we want to let you know how we are preparing to reopen our campuses under Alert Level 2. To follow is a general overview - your tutor will advise you of any other details relating to your specific course.

Teaching, learning and assessments (your tutor will confirm any extra details for your course):

• Continue as they are planned – mostly remote - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday this week.
• Will return back to campus - from this Friday 10 September.

Important: Students should NOT return to Ara ahead of any dates provided by your tutor.

Although schools/education providers can reopen under Alert Level 2 this Thursday, our campuses are not reopening for staff and students until Friday. 

We’ve made that decision to support our many staff and students who are also parents organising children back to school on Thursday. We’re also getting our campus facilities set up and ready again to ensure the least disruption and  impact on your learning when you return. Please keep in contact if you need extra support.

This Alert Level 2 (Delta) is different than the last Alert Level 2:

The Delta variant is incredibly challenging and the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and wider communities depends on us all being extremely vigilant to follow all requirements:

• Contact Tracing is MANDATORY - scan QR codes at EVERY building entry - if there is a positive case of Covid on campus the following actions will be critical towards helping to manage its spread in our community – your diligent scanning could save lives.
• Make full use of the Government’s Contact Tracer App – including enabling the Bluetooth feature.
• Scan the QR codes at all sites and when moving between buildings (QR codes are now on each individual building).
• Please also swipe your Ara ID cards at any building you enter (swipe-card reader), even if the door is already open. 

• Wearing face coverings / masks – one of the most important ways to protect ourselves and others.  
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED - where physical distancing may be difficult, like in classrooms. If in doubt, please wear your mask.
• MANDATORY – you must wear a mask for activities that require close contact with people – your tutor will work with you on this but typically it will include areas like hairdressing, osteopathy, massage, beauty therapy, etc. And in public campus spaces like libraries, moving around campus common areas indoors, cafes or lifts and corridors.
• Please always bring a face coverings/mask to any campus in case you need it. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience. Below is a list of services I encourage you to reach out to if you need any help.

Ngā manaakitanga – take care of yourselves

Darren Mitchell

Chief Executive (Acting)

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Ara IT Support

Email ictservicedesk@ara.ac.nz or tel 03 940 8800 8am-4pm Monday to Friday.

Ara Library Services

• AskLive – chat online weekdays, 8am-4pm - Ask Live - Getting set up for study - Subject Guides at Ara Institute of Canterbury
• Zoom Service Desk: Click here to connect. Ask any Academic Support Question 10am-3pm, weekdays.
• Catalogue and database search here.
• Subject Guides: All Subject Guides Alphabetically at Ara

Reminder: all library loans have been extended – please do not try to return items until campuses reopen. 

Ara Support and money worries

We have funds to assist with food, study and living essentials, connectivity etc particularly those impacted by lockdown: studentsupport@ara.ac.nz, text 021 285 8481 or complete the financial assistance application form.

Wellbeing and Health

• Ara counselling and health support - available by phone, video or email. Contact Susan Woods: susan.woods@ara.ac.nz, or phone 021 246 7567.
• Virtual health services from all practitioners – to see a doctor in person or after hours in Christchurch: Moorhouse Medical Centre (03 365 7900). 
• Ara wellbeing checkin form – tell us how you’re feeling and how we can support you.

We want you to know, however you’re feeling, there’s someone you can talk to:

• Free call or text 1737 anytime
• 0800 543 354 (LIFELINE)
• 0800 611 116 (Healthline)

Vaccinations – even more important now we’re heading back to Alert Level 2 (Delta)

Book online or by phoning 0800 28 29 26 seven days a week 8am-8pm.

• Christchurch: Pharmacy Xtra, Moorhouse Ave vaccination clinic for Ara Sunday 19 September 9–12pm. Book an appointment via Health Centre Manager susan.woods@ara.ac.nz and indicate an approx time (3min timeslots) by 9 September.
• Southern: For area specific details visit the South Canterbury District Health Board site. Oamaru colleagues can visit the Southern Health site.  

• Christchurch: MIHI Māori Mobile Vaccine Clinic – Shop 2 (by Street Legal Shoes), South City Shopping Centre, Colombo St. Book for you and you whānau: phone 0800 MIHI 4U (0800 644 448).(Collaboration between the Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, Mana Whenua Ki Waitaha and the Canterbury District Health Board.)
• South Canterbury Arowhenua Whānau Services: Call (03) 615 5180, text (027) 407 6211 or email: reception@aws.health.nz

Keep checking Locations of Interest which continue to be updated: now in greater Auckland only:

• If you have been in any of those locations, you must immediately self-isolate and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice.
• If you undertake a COVID-19 test or are identified as a close contact and subsequently take a test, please advise Freedom Preston – preston@ara.ac.nz (Ara Safety and Wellbeing Manager) as soon as possible so we can monitor respond with prompt support of you and Ara.

COVID-19 Update – Wednesday 18 August, 2.30pm 

Kia ora Ara students

I want to let you know our plans for your learning needs in coming weeks as we work around COVID-19 restrictions.

Ara is working hard to ensure this disruption has the least impact on your learning and you are not disadvantaged in any way. However, we know this is a challenging time and I encourage you to please reach out to your tutor, or any of our support services (see below) if you need any help.

Reminder – no learning this week

• Ara campuses and onsite facilities are CLOSED to everyone.
• All Ara teaching, learning and assessments have been put on hold until Monday 23August 2021. This includes workplace learning that is onsite or face to face.

Planning your learning for next week – from Monday 23 August 2021

• While we don’t know when our campuses will be able to reopen it’s important you are able to continue your learning.
• For that reason, from Monday 23 August, all teaching, learning and assessments will restart, but only online.
• We’ll send details on this later this week, but don’t hesitate to contact your tutor if you want to discuss.

Planning your learning for the following week – from Monday 30 August 2021

• If Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, our plan is to reopen our campuses to go back to on-campus teaching, learning and assessments.
• However, please be prepared to continue learning online if we are still in lockdown and campuses are not allowed to reopen.

I know you may have questions or concerns about online learning if this is something you are not used to and we will provide further details about this later this week. Please reach out to your tutor, or any of the support services below. It’s important we hear from you about your needs and how we can support you.

At a glance: Who can help?

Have you been at a location of interest in Auckland and Coromandel between 12 August and today? Please apply the Level 4 restrictions for 7 days wherever you are. If you are connected with the situation in any form (ie you are identified as a contact and take a test) please advise Freedom Preston – freedom.preston@ara.ac.nz (Ara Safety and Wellbeing Manager) as soon as possible so we can monitor that in support of you and Ara. Please keep checking locations of interest and follow Ministry of Health instructions.

Stay safe, look after each other and your whānau, and again, please reach out if you need help.

I will continue to provide regular updates as more details are confirmed.

Ngā manaakitanga – take care of yourselves

Darren Mitchell

Chief Executive (Acting)

Ara Institute of Canterbury Ltd

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COVID-19 Update – Wednesday 18 August, 1.30pm 

Kia ora Ara colleagues

Thank you all for your preparedness and swift response when lockdown was declared last night. While there is much to do and I know many of you are busy organising family needs around your work priorities in coming days, we are in a good starting position.

IMT has met this morning to review and to plan next steps. We’re also monitoring government updates and instructions to ensure you remain as informed as possible. I also want to reinforce government messages announced today – it’s just so critical that we follow the rules and play our part.  Mask wearing is mandatory from 11.59 pm tonight for people aged 12+ when visiting essential services (supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations).  Vaccinations are also resuming and I encourage you to make your booking as soon as you can.

1. Your wellbeing is important

As well as your own wellbeing, your bubble is important too and we recognise that is your priority. Please look after yourself and your whānau and if work needs to be put aside, keep connected with your manager about this – we understand. Work closely with your manager about a work schedule that is realistic and achievable. I strongly encourage teams to defer or cancel anything that’s not critical. Put your hand up if you need any support.

2. Working from home

Under these lockdown restrictions, we are not able to access campus for any equipment. However, should that change in coming days and we can access campus, our DCEs are currently checking with team members where this is a critical need for additional equipment at home. This list will be prioritised with ICT around those who support learner needs. Please be thoughtful about any such requests.

3. ICT and Capability Support

The ICT service desk is available via phone or email (ictservicedesk@ara.ac.nz , 940 8800) 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday. Please contact them with any issues including challenges connecting to Ara services with personal equipment and using home devices to access your machine on campus remotely. Our Capability team has resources to support you to work from home – the page on Waituhi will be continuously updated.

4. Our learners’ needs are our focus

While we don’t know how lockdown will progress beyond this week, it’s important we plan ahead. Note: there are many unknowns, so we need to stay flexible and these plans may well evolve as things change. We are advising learners of this plan today to help them prepare and our Capability and Awa teams are currently updating online resources to support teaching colleagues for online learning:

• Reminder – no learning this week - all Ara teaching, learning and assessments (including online) are on hold until Monday 23August 2021. This includes workplace learning that is onsite or face to face.
• All learning online next week – from Monday 23 August 2021 - all teaching, learning and assessments will restart, but only online for the week. We have to make that decision now to put this in place, even though we don’t know if campuses will be able to reopen or not.
• Learning for the week beginning Monday 30 August 2021 - depending on restrictions, we hope to be able to return to campuses in some way. However, please be prepared to continue with online teaching/learning if campuses are not allowed to reopen.

At a glance: Who can help?

Important reminders:

• We are currently operating under Level 4 Guidelines – please remain familiar with theme on Waituhi.
• Managers – please keep checking in with your teams and their wellbeing – particularly those who are vulnerable, and may also have online challenges so you know messages are being received.

Have you been at a location of interest in Auckland and Coromandel between 12 August and today? Please apply the Level 4 restrictions for 7 days wherever you are. If you are connected with the situation in any form (ie you are identified as a contact and take a test) please advise Freedom Preston – freedom.preston@ara.ac.nz (Ara Safety and Wellbeing Manager) as soon as possible so we can monitor that in support of you and Ara. Please keep checking locations of interest and follow Ministry of Health instructions.

Stay safe, look after each other and your whānau, and again, please reach out if you need help.

I will continue to provide regular updates as more details are confirmed.

Ngā manaakitanga – take care of yourselves

Darren