One process outlined in the code is the requirement for tertiary institutions to have strategic goals and plans for supporting learner wellbeing and safety, and to regularly review and amend these plans. This process is intended to ensure that institutions take a whole-of-provider approach to maintaining a comprehensive learner wellbeing and safety system that responds to the diverse needs of their learners.

Some discussion points for how this process might be met at a tertiary institution could include:

– Developing a cross-functional team to lead the development and implementation of the learner wellbeing and safety strategic plan, with representation from academic, student services, and other relevant departments.
– Conducting regular reviews of the strategic plan, involving input from learners and stakeholders to ensure that it is responsive to their needs and concerns.
– Ensuring that the strategic plan aligns with the institution’s overall mission and values, and contributes to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supporting Māori-Crown relations.
– Providing ongoing training and support to staff to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the strategic plan and respond to learner wellbeing and safety concerns.
– Making information about the strategic plan and self-review reports on learner wellbeing and safety readily available to learners, staff, and the general public, in accessible formats.
– Ensuring that the institution has plans in place for assisting learners and responding effectively in emergency situations, and that these plans are regularly reviewed and updated.
– Establishing formal and informal processes for actively hearing, engaging with, and developing the diverse range of learner voices and those of their communities, including providing support and resources to enable learners to participate fully in decision-making processes.
– Establishing a robust process for handling learner complaints, which is easily accessible to learners and includes culturally responsive approaches that consider traditional processes for raising and resolving issues.
– Recording and reporting on complaints in a timely and transparent manner, and using this information to inform ongoing improvements to the learner wellbeing and safety system.