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Awhi Strategy

SAE Auckland’s Safer Spaces Strategy

This strategy draws upon guidance and resources from organisations including SoundCheck Aotearoa, Safer Spaces in Music Education, and wider sector best practice frameworks relating to wellbeing, inclusion, accessibility, and community safety.
AWHI –
  1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to embrace, support, uplift, cherish.
  2. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to surround with care and protection.
At SAE Auckland, AWHI represents our commitment to creating a learning environment where every person feels safe, respected, welcomed, and empowered to be their full self.
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Grounded in the meaning of the kupu awhi, this strategy reflects our belief that safety extends beyond physical wellbeing. A truly safe environment is one where people of all genders, cultures, ages, identities, abilities, faiths, sexualities, and lived experiences feel valued, heard, and able to participate fully in campus life.
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AWHI recognises that diversity strengthens our creative community. As a tertiary provider preparing students for the creative industries, SAE Auckland is committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, accountability, and care — both within our campus and beyond it.

SAE Auckland also recognises that the creative industries have historically experienced significant gender imbalance and underrepresentation of women and gender diverse people.

These imbalances can contribute to environments where students and staff may feel excluded, unsafe, overlooked, or unable to participate fully. Through AWHI, SAE Auckland acknowledges the importance of actively creating learning spaces where women, gender non-conforming, transgender, takatāpui, and gender diverse students and staff feel safe, respected, supported, and empowered.

Creating inclusive educational environments is essential not only for student wellbeing and success while on campus, but also for preparing graduates to confidently enter industry spaces, advocate for positive change, and contribute toward safer, more equitable creative industries in Aotearoa and beyond.

Our Vision

SAE Auckland will be a campus where:
  • all students and staff feel welcomed, respected, and safe
  • diversity is celebrated as a strength
  • women and gender diverse people are able to participate confidently and fully across all disciplines
  • people can show up authentically as their full selves
  • differences in identity, culture, background, beliefs, age, and lived experience are embraced
  • harmful behaviour, discrimination, harassment, bullying, and exclusion are actively challenged
  • support systems are visible, accessible, and trusted
  • wellbeing, inclusion, and safety are shared responsibilities across our entire community

Strategic Priorities

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Develop and contribute to inclusive Policies and Procedures

Review and strengthen local campus and Navitas policies and procedures to ensure they reflect SAE Auckland’s commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, wellbeing, and safer learning environments for all members of the community.
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This includes clear processes and definitions relating to:
  • harassment and discrimination
  • bullying and harmful behaviour
  • sexual harassment and sexual harm
  • accessibility and inclusive participation
  • cultural safety and respectful engagement
  • online behaviour and digital conduct
  • reporting pathways and support processes
Policies will be written in accessible, student-friendly language and supported by transparent procedures.

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Position Safety and Wellbeing as a Shared Responsibility

Recognise emotional, cultural, physical, and psychological safety as core components of campus wellbeing and Health & Safety practice. SAE Auckland acknowledges that creating safer spaces requires collective responsibility and ongoing reflection. Particular attention will be given to ensuring that students and staff from underrepresented or historically marginalised groups feel safe and supported within learning and studio environments.
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Improve Reporting and Support Pathways

Maintain accessible and responsive systems for raising concerns, seeking support, and reporting incidents. Reporting processes should prioritise:
  • accessibility
  • confidentiality
  • trauma-informed practice
  • clarity and transparency
  • timely communication and follow-up
We are committed to ensuring all reporting processes are easily understandable,  clear, and transparent.
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Embed Awareness into Orientation and Induction

Ensure all students and staff receive clear guidance during induction and orientation around:
  • community expectations and respectful behaviour
  • support services and reporting pathways
  • inclusion and accessibility
  • wellbeing and safety resources
  • how to contribute positively to campus culture

Staff Capability and Professional Development

Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for staff relating to:
  • inclusive teaching and learning practices
  • cultural competency and cultural safety
  • accessibility and neurodiversity awareness
  • respectful communication
  • bystander intervention
  • responding appropriately to disclosures and wellbeing concerns
SAE Auckland will continue engaging with external organisations (e.g. Soundcheck Aotearoa) and training providers to strengthen staff capability in creating safer and more inclusive environments.
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Listening to Student Voice

SAE Auckland believes meaningful cultural change must be informed by students and shaped through ongoing dialogue. Student feedback mechanisms, advisory groups, and regular opportunities for reflection will help ensure diverse student perspectives are heard and embedded into decision-making processes.
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Creating Welcoming Physical and Digital Spaces

Support campus environments that encourage openness, visibility, accessibility, and connection across both physical and online learning spaces.
This includes:
  • safer and more transparent shared spaces
  • respectful online communication practices
  • inclusive classroom environments
  • accessible learning experiences
  • consideration of diverse student needs and experiences
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Supporting Diverse Learners

SAE Auckland recognises that students arrive with varied identities, responsibilities, experiences, and pathways into education.
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Dedicated student support services will continue to provide advocacy, guidance, and tailored support for diverse learners, ensuring students are able to engage confidently and successfully in their studies. This includes supporting women and gender diverse students entering disciplines where they may be underrepresented, helping foster confidence, connection, and equitable participation.

Embedding Respect and Inclusion into Learning

SAE Auckland is committed to preparing graduates who contribute positively to the creative industries. Conversations around respect, collaboration, inclusion, ethics, power dynamics, accessibility, and professional conduct will be embedded throughout learning experiences and campus culture. Students will be encouraged to critically engage with industry norms and contribute toward more equitable and inclusive creative communities.
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Building Sector Partnerships and Shared Learning

SAE Auckland will continue to strengthen relationships with external organisations, education providers, community groups, and industry bodies working in the areas of wellbeing, inclusion, accessibility, and safer creative environments. These partnerships will support the ongoing development of evidence-based practices and sector-wide collaboration.

Strategic Goals

SAE Auckland has identified the following aspirational goals as part of the AWHI Strategy:
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By the end of 2027
  • Review and strengthen local and/or Navitas policies relating to inclusion, wellbeing, safety, harassment, discrimination, and respectful behaviour.
  • Ensure campus wellbeing and safer spaces initiatives are embedded within Health & Safety and institutional planning processes.
  • Implement accessible and student-friendly reporting and support systems.
By the end of 2028
  • Embed wellbeing, inclusion, disclosure, and reporting information into all student and staff inductions.
  • Establish regular staff training cycles relating to safer spaces, inclusion, accessibility, and cultural competency.
  • Strengthen mechanisms for student voice and ongoing community consultation.
By the end of 2029
  • Continue developing partnerships with external organisations and sector leaders to strengthen SAE Auckland’s approach to safer, more inclusive creative education environments.
  • Continue evaluating and adapting campus culture initiatives through feedback, reflection, and sector best practice.

Our Commitment

SAE Auckland is committed to building a learning community where people feel safe to participate, create, collaborate, and succeed.

Through AWHI, we seek to foster an environment that embraces diversity, values difference, and empowers every member of our community to contribute authentically and confidently. 

By creating spaces grounded in care, respect, accountability, and inclusion, we aim not only to support our students while they study with us, but also to help shape a more inclusive and compassionate creative industry for the future.

STUDY AT SAE IN 2027