Staff benefits and services

The University of Auckland has five childcare/early childhood education centres and two kohanga reo, staffed by qualified, experienced and caring people who provide a safe, nurturing environment and high standards of early childhood education.

If you have a personal or professional issue that's affecting your work, you may be able to get help and support from EAP Services - a confidential and independent counselling organisation that manages the University's Employment Assistance Programme (EAP).

EAP recognises the reality of human problems in the workplace and acknowledges that most difficulties, including relationship issues, job and career issues, and emotional and family problems, are responsive to treatment.

The EAP service is free and is available to all staff except casual employees. The service is totally confidential and voluntary.

Health and medical services are available to all University staff through the experienced and skilled team of health professionals at our City, Tamaki, Epsom and Grafton campuses. The health service is staffed by registered general practitioners, registered nurses and, when required, medical specialists.

Lumino Dental Group provides a full-time service at the City Campus.

As a University staff member you may be able to access medical insurance at a reduced rate, thanks to our partnerships with organisations such as Southern Cross, Southern Cross Agencies, Tower Health & Life and the Education Benevolent Society.

Whether you're a culture vulture, a fitness freak or exploring new physical, cultural and spiritual experiences, the University offers something to suit. We have one of the best performance theatres in Auckland – The Maidment Theatre, a comprehensive Recreation Centre, a leading School of Music, the successful Auckland University Press, the superb Gus Fisher Gallery, Waipapa Marae that honours and celebrates our Māori culture and Fale Pasifika, a unique space for Pacific staff, students and researchers.

There is a great selection of cafés around the University campuses offering a range of tempting options from the simple snack through to the hearty meal, with offerings from a range of cultures. Whether you choose to chill out at the retro-styled Relax Lounge, indulge in a coffee and a treat from Pod Espresso or enjoy drinks in the sun on the deck at Strata, there’s something to suit every occasion.

University staff can join the Staff Common Room Club (SCR) - a peaceful oasis in the stately and elegant Old Government House. The SCR offers a spacious reading lounge along with a lunchtime café (with discounted prices for members) and a bar providing subsidised beverages. There's also a very good range of international magazines and newspapers available for members' reading leisure.

Working at the University gives you access to a library system that covers our campuses and includes the General Library plus 13 specialist libraries and three Information Commons facilities. Nearly two million print volumes are held and there is a world-class range of electronic resources available.

The University Library is an integral part of our research, teaching and learning activities - and it offers a huge range of services and resources designed to enhance research performance and help our staff to create and maintain an outstanding teaching and learning environment. All staff employed at the University have access to the range of services offered by the Library.

Staffed by senior optometry students and supervised by New Zealand registered optometrists, the University's Optometry Clinic provides a range of eye and vision related services for staff, students and the general public.

All University staff who use a computer screen for 50% or more of their work time are entitled to a free eye examination and may be entitled to a further contribution towards lenses or spectacle frames.

University staff enrolling in their first degree or diploma at The University of Auckland may qualify for time off for study, exam preparation, exam attendance and help with tuition fees.

Further study assistance may be available if the course or subject matter being studied is especially relevant to the staff member’s work.

The University operates three superannuation schemes:

• The New Zealand Universities Superannuation Scheme (NZUSS) - this is a registered superannuation scheme available to permanent staff and to employees on fixed term employment agreements (as long as they are for at least two years and have two years to run when you apply). Your eligibility to join will depend on your employment agreement.
• The Government Superannuation Fund - new staff who are already members of this scheme can continue contributing to the Fund.
• KiwiSaver - the University is an exempt employer so new employees will not be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver. However, if you want to join KiwiSaver, you can still opt in and the University will pay the compulsory employer contribution.

If you are a staff member returning to work after taking parental leave. or are interested in the provisions for parents at the University of Auckland, then the Women Returning to Work project will be of interest to you.

Read about the project goals, key activities and network meetings
 

The University is committed to helping staff achieve a balance between their work, family and personal lives - and this includes, where practical, offering flexible working arrangements such as:

• part-time work
• changes to hours of work
• leave without pay
• partial or early retirement
• reduced responsibilities
• working from home
• job sharing