Okanagan Charter, Health Promotion, Translation Report, Tertiary Health Promotion
TWANZ Network
The Okanagan Charter

The Okanagan Charter is a document that was published in 2015. It was produced in collaboration of many universities who convened in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada for the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges to discuss what makes a health promoting university. This is the result. In Aotearoa, we have used this charter as a base for our own interpretation of what it means to be a health promoting university.

The Charter can be viewed here. 

 

The Okanagan Charter
Health and Wellbeing, Healthy Environments, sexual violence, Health Promotion
TWANZ Network
"In our own words" - Student experiences of ...

This report by Thursdays in Black is an investigation into student experiences of sexual violence prior to and during tertiary education in New Zealand. It includes statistics regarding the prevalence of sexual assault, an examination of the flaws in the current sexuality education at secondary school and tertiary level (particularly surrounding consent), and several urgent calls to action. 

The report can be viewed here and the results of their sexual violence survey can be found here. 

 

"In our own words" - Student experiences of sexual violence prior to and during tertiary education
Translation Report, Tertiary Health Promotion
TWANZ Network
Applying the Okanagan Charter in Aotearoa New ...

This academic paper was written by two of our executive members, Craig Waterworth and Anna Thorpe. Published in 2017, it can be viewed in the Journal of the Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association. It outlines how the Okanagan Charter could be implemented in the New Zealand context. Abstract is below.

Abstract: In 2015 the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges was held in the Okanagan, Canada. At this conference, a new international charter focusing on health promotion in tertiary education was ratified. The Okanagan Charter was developed with input from 45 countries,including Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The Okanagan Charter builds on existing charters and declarations to apply health, wellbeing and sustainability to tertiary settings. This paper outlines how the Okanagan Charter relates to health promotion approaches that are used in Aotearoa New Zealand in higher (tertiary) education for the benefit of students, staff and stakeholders. The principles and action areas of the Okanagan Charter are discussed in their application to health promotion practice in the higher education setting of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Applying the Okanagan Charter in Aotearoa New Zealand - Craig Waterworth and Anna Thorpe

mental health

Student mental wellbeing in higher education: Good practice guide

Student mental wellbeing in higher education: Good practice guide

"Mental health difficulties can beset anyone at any time, although it is recognised that many of the transition points in life can be particularly challenging. For some students an unfamiliar higher education environment can be very stressful, particularly for those who already have an underlying illness. Higher education institutions therefore take student mental health seriously ... Universities UK commissioned the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Working Group to update the existing guidance, drawing on evidence and practice from within the higher education sector and reports from government and the health and voluntary sectors. This guidance has been written for senior leaders and managers, and aims to support institutions in their promotion of mental wellbeing and in the support they provide for students experiencing mental health difficulties."

To read more, see the full guide here.

#stepchange: Mental Health in Higher Education

#stepchange: Mental Health in Higher Education

This website describes a Universities UK campaign to encourage universities to "work in close partnership with parents, schools and employers to prepare students for transitions and with the NHS to coordinate care for students." 

It also holds that "universities should adopt mental health as a strategic priority, implementing a whole university approach, with students and staff involved at all stages of the journey."

For more information, see the link here. 

Not by Degrees: Improving Student Mental Health in the UK's universities

Not by Degrees: Improving Student Mental Health in the UK's universities

Levels of mental illness, mental distress and low wellbeing among students in higher education in the UK are increasing, and are high relative to other sections of the population ... The higher education sector and government both have an interest in helping to improve the mental health and wellbeing of students. Universities should make the issue a strategic priority and adopt a ‘whole-university’ approach based on prevention and promotion, early intervention and low-level support, responding to risk and crisis management, and referral into specialist care. There is currently too much variation in the extent to which universities are equipped to meet this challenge. This sector-led approach should be complemented by strengthened NHS provision and new government initiatives to ensure that no student is held back by their mental health. 

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The State of the Tertiary Education Sector in New Zealand – 2013

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The State of the Tertiary Education Sector in New Zealand – 2013

"The Survey of Work and Wellbeing in the Tertiary Education Sector surveyed academic and support staff from New Zealand universities, polytechnics, technical institutes and wananga. Almost 3,000 respondents completed the survey, the majority of whom were union members. The findings detailed in this report paint a picture of deteriorating wellbeing, with intensifying workloads and reduced satisfaction with work in the sector."

Full report available here

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A policy brief for promoting mental wellbeing in universities (Healthy Sydney University)

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A policy brief for promoting mental wellbeing in universities (Healthy Sydney University)

"The main aim was to review the effectiveness of population or settings-based strategies and approaches for promoting the mental wellbeing of students and staff within universities. This policy brief focuses on the papers relating specifically to mental health outcomes (around a third of the papers reviewed). The remaining two thirds of papers were focused on alcohol, tobacco or other drugs; we have included a short summary of these papers in the ‘Discussion’ section."

Full report available here