Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is the provider of this service?
A. Vitae. Vitae is one of New Zealand’s most comprehensive providers of Employee Assistance Programmes and Wellness Services. It is a professional company that provides access to a team of independent counsellors and psychologists throughout New Zealand.
Q. What are the benefits of using a service like Vitae?
A. There are a number of benefits:
- Access to a wider range of services and expertise
- Operational across New Zealand
- Confidential independent service
- Wider delivery capability to staff and students
- Cost effectiveness
Q. Is there any cost to the staff member or enrolled student? / Is there a limit to the number of counselling sessions you can have?
A. It will cost nothing to attend three counselling sessions. Whitireia provides this service free to staff and students / Whitireia will provide three free sessions per person per year
Q. What if more than three counselling sessions are needed?
A. This would be assessed on a case by case basis and would need to be recommended by the counsellor.
Q. What happens if a counselling session is missed or the person can no longer make the session?
A. At least 24 hours notice must be given to cancel or re-arrange the appointment. If no notice is given then Whitireia will be billed for the missed session and the individuals available free sessions will be reduced by one.
Q. What will Vitae be offering?
A. They will offer:
- Self referral service.
- A range of services to access via:
- Toll free number
-Website (online referral)
- Email
- 24/7 access
- Range of counsellors available – 350 in over 70 locations across NZ
- Qualified counsellors and quality control of counsellors
- Confidentiality
- Manager support line
- Critical incident provider
Q. Is this service available for staff and students?
A. Yes. This service is available for staff and all enrolled students (including distance students). This service is not available to people or organisations that are contracted to Whitireia.
Q. Is the service confidential?
A. The service is confidential. Anything discussed remains confidential no one else receives any details about the discussions without permission. An exception is when someone is at risk to themselves or others.
Q. Who gets to know what?
A. As part of the agreement with Vitae Whitireia will receive quarterly reports. The reports will not identify individuals it will report on:
- Referral numbers by location
- Summary of issues by location
Q. What type of access is there to the service offered by Seed?
A. There are three ways you can access Vitae:
Q. How many counsellors will Vitae offer Whitireia and what are their qualifications?
A. There are a number of counsellors and psychologists available to Whitireia – for example there are over 80 in the Wellington region with a range of qualifications and experience.
Q. Will Vitae provide the counselling service for all campuses?
A. Yes the service will be offered across all campuses – this includes Auckland, Porirua, Wellington and Kapiti. Auckland and Porirua campuses current international pastoral care arrangements remain in place.
Q. Are there a range of services that Vitae can offer?
A. Yes there is a wide range of services. However there are two core services that Whitireia have requested under the arrangement. These are:
- Individual Counselling Programme
- Trauma Support
For further information on Vitae visit www.vitae.co.nz
Q. What types of issues will Vitae address under the Whitireia arrangement?
A. They will address:
- Personal or study stress
- Relationship problems
- Conflict situations
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief/loss
- Violence
- Harassment
- Personal trauma
- Addictions
- Budget advice
Q. How will Vitae know whether the client is a staff member of a student from Whitireia?
A. You will need to provide:
- Staff ID number
- Student ID number and programme name
This information will at all times remain confidential.
Q. What happens if someone is at risk? How is this managed?
A. Call 0508 664 981 and identify that help is needed immediately. The clients situation will be assessed immediately and a counsellor assigned accordingly
Q. Where do students go if they need financial or academic support?
A. Auckland students who need personal, financial and academic support can phone 027 274 2423 or email Christina.Honan@whitireia.ac.nz
All other students:
Financial advice (excluding distance students)can phone +64 4 237 3100 extn 3885 or email gail.gardiner@whitireia.ac.nz
Academic learning support can phone +64 4 237 3100 extn 3721 or email poutama@whitireia.ac.nz