About the Pastoral Care Code of Practice

The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) supports the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners enrolled with New Zealand education providers.

It sets out the requirements that tertiary education providers (TEOs) must meet for the wellbeing and safety of their learners. It builds on, combines and replaces existing codes and became effective in January 2022.

What is the Code?

The Pastoral Care Code of Practice is a code for learner wellbeing and safety, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of TEOs in promoting and supporting student wellbeing, development and educational achievement.

Under the Code, TEOs should be helping students to be:

  • safe, physically, and mentally
  • respected and accepted for who they are
  • supported in their learning and wellbeing
  • connected with their social and cultural networks and
  • able to have their say in decisions about services.

The Code has twelve outcomes.

Outcomes 1 and 2 focus on education providers taking a whole of organisation approach to learner wellbeing and safety, and that learner voice is embedded into the organisation.

Outcomes 3 and 4 focus on wellbeing and safety practices for all tertiary providers and relate to physical and digital learning environments.

Outcomes 5 to 7 focus on student accommodation to ensure that it is safe and creating inclusive communities.

Outcomes 8 to 12 focus on international learners, and have the same requirements as the previous international Code for tertiary learners, and ensures international learners have access to the right information and support before and during their study.

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