Category Archives: Wellbeing

Health and Fitness, Health and Wellbeing, Wellbeing

🌈 Mental Health Awareness Week at the UC Rec Centre🌟

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Kia ora koutou,

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is just around the corner, and we’re celebrating with a week of themed group fitness classes at the UC Rec Centre! Whether you’re looking to sweat it out, dance it off, or just vibe with your favourite tunes, we’ve got something for everyone.

Here’s what’s coming up:

🚴  Monday 6 Oct

5:20pm Spin – Taylor Swift Edition

(book quick or join the waitlist – this will sell out!)

💃 Tuesday 7 Oct

5:20pm Zumba – KPOP
Bring a friend for FREE and double the fun!

🏋️ Wednesday 8 Oct

5:20pm Pump – Mamma Mia

🎉 Thursday 9 Oct

5:20pm Spin – Festival Vibes
(book quick or join the waitlist – this will sell out!)

🍒 Friday 10 Oct

12:05pm Core30 – Lana Del Rey

4:20pm – Zumba – KPOP Encore
Couldn’t make Tuesday? Or just want more? Join us again for an encore, and yes, you can still bring a friend for free!

🧘‍♀️ Bonus: Bring a Friend to Yoga – For Free!

Looking for a calmer way to support your mental wellbeing? You can also bring a friend for free to any of the below yoga classes during Mental Health Awareness Week. No theme, just a chance to reset together.

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 1:05pm
  • Tuesday, Thursday – 7:00am

How to Book:

Spots are limited, so make sure to sign up via reception or through our app. Don’t miss out on this chance to move your body, lift your mood, and connect with your community.

Let’s make mental health a priority – together 💙

For additional resources, please visit the MHAW website: Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Awareness Week.

Equity and Diversity, Events and entertainment, Health and Fitness, Health and Wellbeing, Wellbeing

October with UC Student Wellbeing

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October is full of opportunities to pause, connect, and recharge before exams.

This month you can look forward to:

  • Creative workshops like the Wishing Star Wānanga, Kueh Nagasari Workshop, and Pronoun Badge Making.

  • Connection spaces including Social Yarns, Book Club, Rainbow Connections Café, and the Adult Students’ Meet-up.

  • Wellbeing activations such as Connect Zone, Study Break events, and the Navigator Drop-In.

  • Special highlights: Mental Health Awareness Week, the ShakeOut earthquake drill (with free milkshakes!), and the Rūawhetū Hauora Market.

All events take place in The Living Room (next to the bookshop) unless otherwise noted – a welcoming space open weekdays from 9am–4pm where you can relax, connect, or take time out between classes.

Check out the October calendar below to see what’s on and when – and follow us on Instagram (@ucwellbeing) for updates, wellbeing tips, and more! ✨ 

Equity and Diversity, Health and Wellbeing, Wellbeing

Think your story could speak to someone? Been through something others might get?

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We’re looking for UC students who have a story that would help others feel supported, understood or inspired. Whether it relates to fear of failure, finding balance, asking for help, discovering self-kindness, feeling a sense of belonging, or something else entirely, stories are powerful things and can make a real difference to others.  

If you’re willing to share yours, we’d love to hear from you. Those selected will be paid for their time. 

Maybe you’ve been encouraged by someone else’s story in the past and you want to be a part of making a difference for others. Your story could help someone feel less alone, enable a shift in perspective or help someone open up to have conversations about their experiences. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need a perfect ending. You just need to be open to sharing something real. 

What to expect 

  • We’ll look through all the stories people have to share and select some that help show a range of different experiences. 
  • For those selected, we’ll film you sharing your story. Thinking maybe that being filmed isn’t your vibe? We can try and be creative in how you share your story in a way that is comfortable. 
  • You’ll be supported throughout the process, and you are welcome to bring a support person. 
  • Your story will be one of several others and shared through UC Wellbeing digital channels e.g. Instagram, UC website, with processes in place to manage online safety.  
  • You’ll be paid for your time, with rates reflecting the commitment involved. 

How to get involved 

If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, or just want to learn more about it before deciding, we’d love to hear from you. 

👉 Fill out a quick Expression of Interest form or email us at studentwellbeing@canterbury.ac.nz 

Please get in touch by 26 September 2025 at 11:59pm

Thinking about putting in an expression of interest but feeling unsure about the form or the process? If you’d like to talk through your application, you’re welcome to reach out for an initial kōrero. We’re happy to offer guidance where we can, or help fill out parts of the form if needed. This conversation is just to support you in getting started or feeling more confident about putting your name forward. There may be a delay in a staff member being able to assist so please get in touch as soon as you can.