ILLUMINATING PATHWAYS INTO
DIGITAL & CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Participant Services
Your first day with us will start with a whakatau, a welcome ceremony, followed by a karakia, mihi from DNA and our partner orgs (Native Tech), whānau will be invited to speak if they choose and we will end with a waiata tautoko.
DNA Self-Review Report 2023
Each year DNA undertakes a self-review of our Rangatahi Wellbeing and Safety System and evaluates our programme overall to ensure we are constantly assessing our programmes for overall effectiveness and impact.
Learning Wellbeing & Safety | Strategic Goals
DNA’s foundation is based on a Te Ao Māori worldview and we provide Kaupapa Māori and Mātauranga Māori programme delivery and see what we do as the manifestation of Tino Rangatiratanga as established by Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840 and He Whakaputanga 1836.
DNA places tikanga and kawa at the heart of what we do.
We value manaakitanga (caring for others), kotahitanga (unity), tino rangatiratanga (self-determination).
We value manaakitanga (caring for others), kotahitanga (unity), tino rangatiratanga (self-determination).
Strategic Goals
We tautoko and support our learner’s wellbeing and safety through a learner and wellbeing safety system which details our key responsibilities to them, which are to ensure they are:
- safe, spiritually, physically, within and mentally
- respected and accepted for who they are
- supported in their learning and wellbeing
Diversity & Inclusivity
- We welcome all ethnicities and religions.
- We are allies to our LGBTQI+ and Rainbow Youth communities
(we will use your preferred name and pronouns). - We welcome learners who are neurodiverse and those with disabilities.
Supporting Rangatahi
Learner Support | Learner Administration | Academic Support
Support
- Your health and wellbeing is of the utmost importance to us and we have trained staff to help ensure you are supported.
- Our Rangatahi Transition Navigators will work with you to develop a plan focused on short, medium and long term goals and help you achieve those goals, step by step.
- Any participant who needs a safe place and person to talk to is welcome
- We will support students with a disability or health concerns,
- Our rangatahi navigators will help refer participants to necessary outside agencies.
Representation
- Two participants will represent their fellow rangatahi to ensure the group’s needs, concerns, feedback and ideas are shared with DNA staff and wider management.
- Participants will help provide guidance around key student related initiatives including end-of-term celebrations and other related activities.
- This allows for rangatahi to build capacity in the areas of advocacy, communication and leadership.
- Participants who show interest will be invited to join our Advisory Board.
Administration
- Our Support Administrator will ensure participants have all the necessary administrative information they need.
- Participants will be assisted with their enrolment if they have any issues or concerns.
- All your records will be maintained and will be up to date and provide accurate information regarding all aspects of participant engagement including attendance, pastoral notes, processing assessment results, creating transcripts etc.
- We will ensure DNA meets all its statutory obligations to the various external agencies.
Academics
- Our Academic Team will work with each participant on a daily basis to discuss any issues that may arise and will keep in touch regarding their attendance or any other concerns that may impact their learning
- When a participant is falling behind in their mahi, staff will support them to achieve their goals.
- Participants will receive one-on-one assistance outside of class time as required.
- We use the VARK guide to learning style which helps us determine if students are visual, aural, reading or kinaesthetic type of learners.