AUSA wants to make sure every student knows where to turn when things get tough. Whether you're dealing with academic pressure, mental health challenges, financial stress, or personal difficulties, there's a wide network of free and confidential services available to you — both through the University of Auckland and in the wider Auckland community. This page brings them all together in one place.
If you're ever unsure where to start, reach out to AUSA's Independent Student Advice service — we can help point you in the right direction.
Support Services at the University of Auckland
Te Papa Manaaki, Campus Care
A confidential support service that helps with anything affecting your safety, wellbeing, or ability to study, including harm, mental health, housing, or personal issues. You can reach out if you're struggling, unsure what support you need, or even concerned about a friend, and you can also refer someone else with their consent. For example, if you or a friend are feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, or dealing with something impacting uni life, Campus Care can step in and connect you to the right support.
University Health and Counselling Services (UHCS)
A student health service that provides medical care, mental health support, and counselling, including GP appointments, prescriptions, and therapy sessions. You can reach out if you're feeling physically unwell, struggling with your mental health, or just need someone to talk to in a professional setting. For example, if you've been feeling anxious, sick, or need a doctor's note or medication, UHCS can support you directly on campus.
Spiritual and Religious Support
A service that supports students' spiritual, religious, and personal wellbeing through chaplaincy, pastoral care, and a safe space for reflection or conversation. You can reach out if you're exploring faith, dealing with personal challenges, or simply want someone to talk to in a supportive and non-judgemental environment.
Ratonga Hauatanga Tauira, Student Disability Services (SDS)
A support service for students with disabilities, impairments, or ongoing health conditions, providing accommodations like extra time, note-taking support, and tailored study adjustments. You can reach out if your condition is affecting your studies or if you need support to access learning on an equal basis. For example, if you have ADHD, anxiety, a chronic illness, or a physical disability and need exam adjustments or academic support, SDS can help put the right provisions in place.
Student Conduct Office
A university service that manages student behaviour and ensures the Code of Conduct is followed, including handling complaints, misconduct, and disciplinary processes. You can reach out if you need to report inappropriate behaviour, are involved in a conduct process, or want to understand your rights and responsibilities as a student.
Alcohol and Drug Clinician
A confidential service that provides non-judgemental support around alcohol or drug use, helping you understand your habits and make safer or healthier choices. You can reach out if you're worried about your own use, someone else's, or just want honest advice without getting in trouble. For example, if you've been drinking more than usual, using substances to cope, or want to cut back, the AOD clinician can support you with practical strategies.
AUSA Independent Student Advice
A free and confidential advice service that is completely independent from the University, meaning the support you get is unbiased and in your best interest. You can reach out if you're dealing with academic issues, complaints, appeals, tenancy or employment problems, or just need help understanding your rights and options. For example, if you've been accused of academic misconduct, having issues with your landlord, or don't know how to handle a complaint against the university, they can guide you through it and advocate for you.
Career Development and Employability Services (CDES)
A free career support service that helps you plan your future, build employability skills, and connect with job opportunities through CV help, workshops, and employer events. You can reach out if you're unsure about your career path, need help with applications, or want to gain experience through internships, volunteering, or networking.
Aegrotat / Compassionate Consideration
A university process that ensures you are not academically disadvantaged if unexpected circumstances — like illness or personal issues — significantly affect your exam performance or prevent you from sitting it. You can reach out if something serious and beyond your control has impacted your ability to prepare for or sit an exam.
Inclusive Learning
A support service that helps students — especially neurodivergent learners — develop academic skills like organisation, reading, writing, and exam preparation through workshops, one-on-one support, and resources. You can reach out if you have learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or just find studying and managing workload difficult.
Student Emergency Fund
A financial support fund that provides short-term help for students facing unexpected hardship that is affecting their ability to study, covering essentials like groceries, rent, or bills. You can reach out if something sudden and out of your control has put you under financial stress and you've already explored other options like StudyLink or savings. Check the website for full eligibility criteria and application details.
Rainbow Support Adviser
A dedicated support service for LGBTQIA+ students, offering confidential advice, advocacy, and a safe space to talk about anything affecting your wellbeing or university experience. You can reach out if you need support around identity, inclusion, discrimination, or just want someone to understand.
Abuse & Sexual Harm
HELP Centre (Sexual Abuse Survivors)
A 24/7 confidential support service for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, offering crisis support, counselling, and help navigating medical or legal options. You can reach out at any time if you've experienced sexual harm, whether it was recent or in the past, or if you're supporting someone who has.
Victim Support
A free 24/7 service that supports people affected by crime or traumatic events, offering emotional support, practical help, and guidance through the recovery process. You can reach out if you've experienced or witnessed a crime, or if something traumatic has impacted you or someone close to you.
Women's Refuge Crisis Line
A free 24/7 support service for women experiencing violence or feeling unsafe in their relationship or family, offering crisis support, safety planning, and access to safe housing. You can reach out if you are scared, being hurt, controlled, or don't feel safe at home.
Are You Ok? Family Violence Info Line
A free 24/7 helpline that provides information, advice, and support about family violence for anyone affected, including those worried about someone else. You can reach out if you're unsure whether a situation is abuse, need guidance on what to do, or want to help a friend or family member safely.
Shakti Crisis Line
A free 24/7 multilingual helpline supporting migrant and refugee women experiencing family violence, offering culturally sensitive support, advocacy, and safe options. You can reach out if you or someone you know is facing abuse and needs support in a language or cultural context that feels safe and understood.
Shine
A free 24/7 confidential helpline that provides support, information, and advice about family violence for anyone affected, including friends, whānau, and professionals. You can reach out if you're experiencing abuse, worried about someone else, or need guidance on how to respond safely.
Safe To Talk
A free 24/7 confidential helpline for anyone affected by sexual harm, offering support, information, and connection to local services via phone or text. You can reach out if you've experienced sexual harm, are unsure about something that happened, or want to support someone else.
National Rape & Sexual Abuse Crisis Line
A free 24/7 confidential helpline providing support, information, and guidance for anyone affected by rape or sexual assault. You can reach out if you've experienced sexual harm, are unsure what to do next, or need support after an incident, whether recent or in the past.
Counselling & Helplines
Puawaitanga Counselling
A counselling service offering fully funded sessions for University of Auckland students, providing professional mental health support in a safe and confidential space. You can reach out if you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling emotionally, or just want someone to talk to regularly. Available to students 18 and over.
Need to Talk? – 1737
- 24/7 Free Call or Text: 1737
A free 24/7 confidential helpline providing mental health and wellbeing support from trained counsellors via call or text. You can reach out anytime if you're feeling stressed, anxious, low, or just need someone to talk to without judgement.
Youthline
A free 24/7 support service for young people, offering confidential help through calls, texts, and webchat with trained volunteers and counsellors. You can reach out if you're feeling overwhelmed, need someone to talk to, or want support with anything going on in your life.
Samaritans
A free 24/7 confidential helpline offering non-judgemental support for anyone feeling lonely, overwhelmed, or in emotional distress. You can reach out if you need someone to listen, talk things through, or not feel alone.
Depression Helpline
A free confidential helpline offering support, information, and guidance for people experiencing depression, anxiety, or low mood. You can reach out if you're feeling down, stuck, or struggling with your mental health and want someone to talk to.
Anxiety NZ
A free confidential helpline providing support, information, and resources for people experiencing anxiety, panic, or related mental health concerns. You can reach out if you're dealing with constant worry, panic attacks, or anxiety that's affecting your daily life.
Lifeline
A free 24/7 confidential helpline offering emotional support and crisis intervention for anyone in distress or struggling to cope. You can reach out if you're feeling overwhelmed, having thoughts of self-harm, or just need someone to talk to urgently.
Vagus Line (NZ Chinese Community)
A counselling helpline providing culturally appropriate mental health support for the NZ Chinese community. You can reach out if you prefer support in a familiar language or cultural context, or are facing mental health challenges and want someone who understands your background.
New Zealand Ethnic Support Services
A counselling and support service for migrant and ethnic communities, offering culturally appropriate help for mental health, wellbeing, and settlement-related challenges. You can reach out if you're navigating life in New Zealand, feeling isolated, or want support in a way that understands your cultural background.
Suicide Crisis Helpline
A free confidential helpline offering support for people who are feeling suicidal or at risk, available daily from 7am to midnight. You can reach out if you're having thoughts of suicide, are worried about your safety, or are concerned about someone else.
For Parents & Families
Plunketline
A free 24/7 helpline providing advice and support for parents, whānau, and caregivers, especially around child health, development, and wellbeing. You can reach out if you have concerns about a child, need reassurance, or want guidance on parenting and care.
Family Works
A social work service that supports families with counselling, parenting support, and help navigating challenges affecting family wellbeing. You can reach out if you're dealing with family stress, relationship issues, or need practical and emotional support.
Le Va – Pasifika Wellbeing
A national organisation providing information, resources, and support for Pasifika families around mental health, addiction, and suicide prevention. You can reach out if you want culturally grounded support, guidance, or tools to better understand and support wellbeing in your community.
Asian Family Services
A professional and confidential support service offering help in multiple languages for Asian communities in New Zealand, including support for mental health, gambling harm, and family issues. You can reach out if you prefer culturally appropriate support or need help in your own language.
Grief & Loss
Huarahi Ora
A support service for individuals, families, and communities affected by a suspected suicide loss, offering guidance, counselling, and help navigating grief. You can reach out if you've lost someone to suicide and need support processing what's happened or finding ways to cope.
Aoake te Rā
A free counselling service supporting people who have lost someone to suicide, offering compassionate, specialised help during grief and recovery. You can reach out if you're struggling after a suicide loss and need ongoing emotional support.
The Grief Centre
A support service offering counselling, resources, and support groups for people experiencing grief and loss of any kind. You can reach out if you're struggling with bereavement, life changes, or any form of loss that's impacting your wellbeing.
Addictions
Alcohol and Drug Helpline
A free 24/7 confidential helpline offering support, information, and advice for people dealing with alcohol or other drug use, including dedicated Māori, Pasifika, and youth lines. You can reach out if you're concerned about your own use or someone else's and want non-judgemental guidance.
Quit Line – Stop Smoking or Vaping
A free 24/7 support service that helps people quit smoking or vaping through advice, coaching, and practical tools. You can reach out if you're trying to stop, cut down, or need support managing cravings.
Gambling Helpline
A free 24/7 confidential helpline offering support, advice, and counselling for people affected by gambling, including dedicated Māori, Pasifika, and youth services. You can reach out if you're worried about your own gambling or someone else's and need non-judgemental support.
Online Safety
Netsafe
- Phone: 0508 638 723
- Hours: Weekdays 8am–8pm, Weekends & Public Holidays 9am–5pm
A support service that helps with online safety issues, including harassment, cyberbullying, scams, fraud, and harmful digital content. You can reach out if something online is making you feel unsafe, targeted, or unsure how to handle a situation.
Queer Support
OutLine Aotearoa
A confidential support service for Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and Rainbow communities, as well as their friends, whānau, and those questioning, offering telephone and online chat support. You can reach out if you want a safe, understanding space to talk about identity, relationships, or anything affecting your wellbeing.
Rainbow Youth
A support organisation providing information, resources, and safe spaces for rainbow young people, as well as their whānau and communities. You can reach out if you're exploring your identity, need support, or want to connect with others in a safe and inclusive environment.
Burnett Foundation – Sexual Health & HIV
A national organisation focused on HIV prevention, sexual health education, and supporting people affected by HIV through services like testing, counselling, and community programmes. You can reach out if you want information about sexual health, access to testing, or support related to HIV, stigma, or wellbeing.
Disability
NZ Relay
A service that helps people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired, or deafblind communicate with others over the phone through text, video, or relay assistants. You can reach out if you have difficulty using standard phone services and need support connecting to helplines, businesses, or everyday services.
NZ Police 111TXT
A service that allows people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech impairments to contact emergency services by text instead of calling 111. You can register if you may not be able to safely make a voice call in an emergency. If you are in danger and cannot speak or hear on the phone, you can use 111TXT to text Police, Fire, or Ambulance for urgent help.
Auckland Regional Mental Health Crisis Teams
Auckland Regional Crisis Team Contacts
Local crisis services that provide urgent mental health support, assessment, and intervention for people in distress across different areas of Auckland. You can reach out if you or someone else is in an immediate emotional or mental health crisis and needs urgent help that is not a 111 emergency. Call the number for your area to get immediate assistance.
Legal Advice & Advocacy
Auckland Community Law Centre
A free community legal service that provides advice, information, and representation on a wide range of legal issues. You can reach out if you need help understanding your rights or dealing with issues such as tenancy, employment, immigration, or family matters.
YouthLaw Aotearoa
A free legal service for young people that provides advice, advocacy, and support on issues affecting those under 25. You can reach out if you need help with legal matters like employment, housing, police interactions, or your rights as a young person.
Ombudsman
An independent service that investigates complaints about government organisations and ensures fair treatment and accountability. You can reach out if you believe you've been treated unfairly by a public service or your concerns haven't been properly addressed.