Disability at Massey - DaM

25/05/2026

A PhD scholarship opportunity at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University! This research explores Digital Intimacy and Inclusion: Sexual Health, Relationships & Online Engagement

This project will explore how LGBTQA+ people with intellectual disability engage with digital platforms for sexual health, relationships, and community connection. The research aims to advance equity, reproductive justice, and inclusion through co-design and arts-based methodologies.

The project will be shaped by the candidate, supervisory team, and project stakeholders, offering flexibility to shape the research in meaningful and innovative ways. If this opportunity sounds like you, or someone you know, please reach out or share this opportunity through your networks.

📅 Applications close 30th June 2026
💵 $35,188 per annum stipend for three years
🎓 Fully funded PhD
🏫 Based at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
✉️ Contact: [email protected]
🔢 Scholarship reference code: PS2025_CS0719664_THRI

More information is available here under the heading "Scholarships closing 30 June" and "Digital Intimacy and Inclusion: Sexual Health, Relationships & Online Engagement" — https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/grs/scholarships/current

21/05/2026

Have you ever taken a course at Massey University involving a placement, practicum, internship, laboratory-based learning, or work-integrated learning? 🩺🔬👷‍♀️

Have you ever felt like you weren't too sure what it was you needed to have in order to enrol and succeed — or whether accommodations ('reasonable adjustments') were available to help you thrive?

Massey University is proposing a new Inherent Requirements Policy that helps to outline —
🔵 How and where the University publishes inherent requirements (knowledge, abilities, and standards of conduct you will need to participate in a course).
🔵 When reasonable adjustments are (and aren't) available.
🔵 Which kinds of courses need to provide information about inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.
🔵 Who makes decisions about inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.

For this Policy, Massey University is seeking your feedback! You might want to ask yourself —
🔵 Do you think the Policy is in plain language?
🔵 Do you think it helps to make sure students can make informed decisions?
🔵 Do you think reasonable adjustments are well described, and meet the needs of students?
🔵 What would you like to see changed?

Check out the draft Policy here (PDF) — https://bit.ly/inherent-reqs

You can complete a short survey here (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/6qG3zhRKB0

You can provide open feedback here (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4SiHONC7eEOY3PhoLmRDAPWaqB9BPUJHg8EIfSpOi9JUODVINVk1Vzg1U0ZPSkc1VjFOQzlFRU9WTC4u

You can register for the focus group here (set for May 29th at 12:30pm, where you can go in to win one of three $25 vouchers) (Microsoft login required) — https://forms.office.com/r/A5swsCrT0x

Have any questions? Feel free to email [email protected]

04/05/2026

In-person exams for College of Sciences and Massey Business School students are set to begin this semester.

While Disability at Massey (a team of four Student Representatives, independent from Massey University) called for this decision to be postponed, for the University to publish publicly transparent information, and for the University to consider impacts on disabled ākonga before making such decisions, in-person exams will be continuing this semester.

To help you understand whether your course has been affected, where you can find your nearest venue, and what you need to consider, Disability at Massey has published a guide for students to make sure that essential information is publicly available and easy to find.

You can find our guide at https://bit.ly/MUexams

If you have any questions about your exams, please contact [email protected] — if you need any additional help relating to disability, or are struggling to access accommodations, you can also email [email protected] to access Massey's disability support services staff.

Have anything you think we should add to this guide? Let us know in the comments below!

03/05/2026

Do you self-identify as neurodivergent? Have you completed (in the past 5 years) or are currently doing work-integrated learning (WIL), such as a placement, practicum, internship, or co-op?

If so, you might be interested in filling out this survey!

Survey link — https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06VberuQ25N9zme

Associate Professor Kathryn Hay (Massey University, NZ) and Associate Professor Antoine Pennaforte (HEIG-VD, Switzerland) are seeking feedback from neurodivergent learners who have done, or are currently doing, work-integrated learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, France, and Switzerland.

This survey will help tertiary education providers better understand how they (and WIL host organisations) can more effectively support neurodivergent learners in work-integrated learning.

This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, is anonymous and not related to your studies, and at the end you can enter a draw to win a $50 voucher!

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Link to read more (PDF) — https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWCZ2IjEVeQ6oP07WJzz2LYY41Y5eLJe/view?usp=sharing

The survey has ethics approval from Massey University New Zealand ethics committee (OM3 25/64). The survey includes questions related to your WIL experience which may have been negative for you. This may be potentially distressing for some students — you are not obligated to answer every question, and can stop the survey at any time.

Associate Professor Kathyn Hay: [email protected]

Associate Professor Antoine Pennaforte: [email protected]

30/04/2026

Massey University's student services fee (SSF) survey is now live! This is your chance to have your say in how your fee is used — and by filling out the survey, you have the chance to win a pair of Apple AirpPods Pro, 1 of 4 Massey hoodies, and 1 of 10 $10 Prezzy cards!

This year's survey now features the opportunity to indicate whether you identify as Deaf, disabled, or experiencing a disability. This is an important win, where the University will be able to learn what services funded by the SSF are most important to to disabled ākonga (learners)!

Survey link: https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeBmA2BT7VDmFcG

The SSF survey is live until the 17th of May! Survey responses are anonymous — if you enter your details to be a part of the draw, the remainder of your responses will still remain anonymous.

22/04/2026

A survey from researchers at Massey University and the University of Otago on improving accessibility of national parks in Aotearoa! 🌳 (image description in comments) —

Kia ora — we’re inviting you to share your experiences of accessibility in Aotearoa New Zealand’s national parks by completing a confidential, 10–15-minute survey. Taking part is voluntary, you can skip any question, ask us anything about the study, and request a summary of findings. Prefer a paper copy or a phone survey? Email Dr. Karen Jillings at [email protected]

https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6nWBQFws88UnJGJ?fbclid=IwY2xjawRU6TNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtaUJYMnE0RUtVTzVKTVNnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsKmWDsKubZjbA6pwaBRnWhttps://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6nWBQFws88UnJGJ?fbclid=IwY2xjawRU6TNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtaUJYMnE0RUtVTzVKTVNnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsKmWDsKubZjbA6pwaBRnWNEvoZKcmaP3EiJNBq0pdgizA4_M_5pEt7BjGL3_aem_47M-8it8eGIBW1mViZFUUg

25/02/2026

Te Tira Ahu Pae are holding their Special General Meeting (SGM) tomorrow (26th February) at 12pm, which you can attend in-person or online!

This is an important meeting for Massey University students and is where you can have your say in the future of Te Tira Ahu Pae.

Te Tira Ahu Pae will be voting to change their Constitution, which has been developed based on the feedback from Massey University students. Some big changes ahead for us here at DaM include —
🔵 Defining Disability at Massey in the Constitution, making sure we remain a part of the Association into the future!
🔵 Placing Disability at Massey, Rainbow (Rainbow and Takatāpui Advisory Group | RĀTĀ Student Representatives) and Pasifika as Community Representative Groups, which have autonomy in how we operate!
🔵 Allowing two Board positions to be available to all Student Representatives, and are voted in by Student Representatives. This means Disability at Massey Student Representatives have the opportunity to be heard at a governance level at Te Tira Ahu Pae! 🗣

Read more about the SGM here: https://www.tetiraahupae.ac.nz/ents/event/11/
Read more about the changes here: https://www.tetiraahupae.ac.nz/representation/understandingnewconstitution/

📢 Te Tira Ahu Pae will be holding a Special General Meeting on Thursday 26th of February at 12pm!

Make sure you come along, as we'll be presenting and voting to pass our new Te Tira Ahu Pae Constitution! Plus, we'll be shouting a free lunch for attendees! The full agenda for the SGM will be provided in the coming weeks.

The SGM will be held in the Student Lounges on all campuses, as well as online via Microsoft Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/42984114579745?p=N70cz7urdvZxeijwVP
Meeting ID: 429 841 145 797 45
Passcode: 6S2rx3mx

17/02/2026

Disability at Massey, your team of four Student Representatives, have recently become aware of Massey University’s decision to move to in-person exams beginning Semester One 2026. We recognise there is a lot of uncertainty for students, particularly Distance and disabled ākonga, and many of you will have questions for both the University and your Student Representatives.

We were not made aware of this decision prior to its announcement, and are disappointed it was made without thorough consultation with disabled and Distance learners.

Disability at Massey will be seeking to meet with the University to discuss our concerns, ask questions, and determine what information we can provide to students along with a point of contact for your questions. We aim to have a survey for concerns and feedback available once we have more information for students.

For now, you can read our letter to Massey University here: https://bit.ly/DaMExams

*Please note — it appears you will be informed via Stream whether you have an in-person exam*

[Image descriptions in comments]

13/10/2025

The National Disabled Students' Association - NDSA are holding their annual elections — check out the post below and their socials for more information!

10/10/2025

Have you done a placement or internship as a part of your Massey course, and would you like to be an Advisory Group member?

Message from Massey —

Our Canadian-funded project is focused on exploring how universities can better support neurodivergent students with their work-integrated learning (such as placements and internships)

The research extends across NZ, Canada, France, and Switzerland. Advisory Group (AG) members will be from all four countries (2-3 members from each). The AG will advise the research team on survey questions and dissemination, data analysis, and digital outputs.

Honoraria is provided!

Involvement will be from November 2025 to December 2026, with four meetings during this time.

Interested? Please contact Kathryn Hay (School of Social Work): [email protected]

This project has been reviewed and approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Ohu Matatika 3, Application OM3 25/64. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research, please contact the Chairperson, Massey University Human Ethics Ohu Matatika 3, email [email protected]