Ara Institute of Canterbury is a dynamic environment where, together with your colleagues, you will respond to the needs of students and employers within the Canterbury region. This makes Ara a genuinely stimulating and engaging place to work.
To ensure you are well supported professionally when you work with us, you will be actively encouraged to participate in ongoing training and development.
We also have a number of employee benefits available:
Employee Discounts and Support for gaining Higher Qualifications
Employees with over six months service (conditions apply) may be eligible for a substantial discount on Ara courses.
The institute is a member of the Canterbury Tertiary Alliance, which means that as an employee, you may be eligible to access fee discounts at our partner tertiary institutions in Canterbury.
The Financial Support for Obtaining Higher Qualifications Policy applies to employees whose role and position requires a higher level qualification.
Income Protection
If you’re a permanent employee and employed for more than fifteen hours a week, you are covered by income protection insurance.
Medical Insurance
Group discounted membership to Southern Cross is available to employees and their families.
Relocation Costs
If you live outside of the region and are successfully appointed to a role, we may contribute to relocation costs for you and your family (conditions apply).
Recreation Centre
Our Recreation Centre at the City campus in Christchurch provides a brand new gym and weights room with memberships available to employees and students at discounted prices. Employees also have access to free group fitness and yoga classes.
Health Centre
Our Health Centre, located at the City campus in Christchurch, provides an accessible and competitively priced health service. Although primarily established for students, employees can access nurses, a general practitioner (GP), counsellors and a physiotherapist.Employee Assistance Programme (OCP)Visions on Campus Restaurant and Visions Pantry
Staff Rooms and Facilities
Each campus has a staff room for the use of all employees and most sections have facilities for making refreshments. There are a number of food outlets on site at the City campus and the Woolston campus has a café serving a range of food. In Timaru there are cafés, shops and supermarkets within walking distance of the campus, while the Ashburton and Oamaru campuses are just a few minutes’ drive away from the main street.
Car Parking
Car parking (either free or low cost) is available at or near all campus locations. You can learn more about parking, and other options for travelling to and from our campus locations.
Early Learning Centres at the City campus, Christchurch
Te Whare Manaaki o nga Tamariki
This Ara-operated Early Learning Centre is available to all employees and has an excellent reputation for high quality care. All employees working in the centre have an early childhood education qualification and places are highly sought after.
Te Waka Huruhurumanu ki Ōtautahi
This is a bilingual Early Learning Centre for children from six months to five years. The centre offers high quality care and education with emphasis on using Te Reo Māori. Although not operated by Ara, it is on the City campus and is available to employees and students.Library
The Ara library has a wide range of publications, resources and Learning Services available to employees.