From Monday 28th September, the way you log in to some of your digital platforms will change.  You will be able to log in with your Office 365 username and password and your credentials will be authenticated across the following sites:

• Office 365 apps
• Student email
• Blackboard

This means that you will have the same credentials for all three of those platforms.  It also means that your new Office 365 student email will be your only functional email account going forward.  

Please Note: Access to old email accounts will end on Sunday 27th September. After this date you will no longer be able to access your old account, emails will no longer be automatically forwarded, and any data saved in your old account will be lost. 

If there is any content linked to your old student email account that you wish to keep, make sure to save or transfer it before Sunday 27th September.  

You can find the links to login to your student email and Blackboard below: 

New student mail - https://login.microsoftonline.com (@mds.ac.nz)

Password reset for new student mail (@mds.ac.nz) - https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/

Blackboard Sign-In: https://cas.laureate.net.au/  

Your Safety
Your health, safety and wellbeing are important to us, and a safe and healthy campus will not happen on its own accord. We need to work together by sharing ideas, communicating risks, and supporting each other.

Your Responsibility
You are responsible for looking after your own health, safety and wellbeing. Take the time to become familiar with all safety procedures. If you are unsure of anything, it is important that you ask a staff member for assistance and clarification. They are there to help you. It is better to ask and be sure that you are safe, than making guesses or poor judgements which could result in an accident and harm yourself or someone else. Remember, health and safety is for your protection and will be expected by prospective employers in your near future.

Health
By looking out for each other, having open discussion, actively taking part and always seeking improvement, together we can make MDS a healthy environment for you to study in.

Recognising Distress Signals
Even the strongest person can sometimes experience significant stress. The following are some guidelines about signs and symptoms of distress that warrant support:

• Lack of energy and frequently falling asleep in class
• Marked changes in personal hygiene and/or weight
• Withdrawn from social contact and interaction
• Very emotional over an extended period of time e.g. fearfulness, tearful or nervous
• Unable to make decisions, despite considerable help
• Impaired or garbled speech and disjointed thoughts
• Homicide threats, overtly suicidal thoughts, or high levels of disruptive or abrasive behaviour
• Inappropriately bizarre or strange behaviour, e.g. talking to 'invisible" people
• Has disjointed thoughts - inability to concentrate
• Wanting to learn strategies for managing stress, disappointment, anxiety, etc
• Concerned about loss or grief, sexuality, relationships, managing addictions, depression
• Worried about accommodation, sleep loss, appetite

Counselling and Mentoring
Student Support Manager, Flora Sta.Ana is located in room 1703 (Level 17) offering free, safe, confidential and professional counselling and mentoring service.

Smoking
MDS promotes a smoke free workplace in accordance with NZ legislation and requires that no person smokes inside any part of our campus. If you are a smoker, please show the courtesy not to smoke at the main entrance, as it is unpleasant and unhealthy for non-smokers having to wander through second hand smoke and also restricts the entrance way.

Hygiene
To minimize risk of infection and enhance overall health, proper grooming and healthy personal habits can help.

Some basic personal hygiene habits that are worth thinking about:

• Bathe regularly
• Wash your hands regularly
  • before preparing or eating food
  • after going to the bathroom
  • after coughing or sneezing
  • handling rubbish

Safety
The first priority in the event of any emergency is the safety of all people present, therefore stop and think before you act.

Danger to Life
In case of any emergency where there is danger to life, call 111. This will connect you to the fire, police and ambulance emergency service. Your location is 92 Albert Street, Auckland.

First Aid
A list of First Aiders is located at each emergency exit point within our campus. There are two first aid kits available, one at the main reception area on Level 16 and the other one is located within the Postgraduate study area on Level 20. It is recommended that every student registers at a medical clinic locally.

The St John First Aid Library provides a practical guide to a range of first aid treatments.

Minimising Hazards
A hazard is anything that may cause harm – like broken glass, faulty equipment or blocked emergency exits. It's important to minimise hazards so that we can reduce the risk of accidents, injuries and sickness.

You can help minimise hazards by talking to a staff member about hazards you can't fix yourself. You can also ensure you follow standard health and safety advice around things like lifting heavy items and trip hazards.

Reducing Risks
If you, or your colleague is rushing, irritated or tired, there is a higher risk of injury to yourself or someone else.

You could put other people at risk by:

• Not watching what you are doing
• Not concentrating on what you are doing
• Acting in an unsafe manner
• Coming to school when unwell
• Not reporting a situation which could result in someone getting hurt

Evacuation
During some emergencies, it is important to know how to evacuate the building.

If you hear the evacuation alarm:

• Evacuate IMMEDIATELY through the nearest FIRE EXIT
• DO NOT linger to collect personal belongings
• DO NOT carry anything that can be spilt or dropped (at least one hand should be free)
• DO NOT use the lifts or spiral staircases
• DO NOT run
• DO NOT endanger yourself or anyone else
• Follow all instructions given by FIRE WARDENS
• If you require assistance, wait in the stair landing
• At street level, beware of the traffic and remain on footpaths
• Keep away from the front of the building so that emergency services have free access
• ASSEMBLY AREAS are on the corner of Durham Lane and Albert Street AND the corner of Albert and Victoria Street West.
• DO NOT re-enter the building until the FIRE WARDENS have given the 'all clear' announcement.

Suspicious Behaviour
Promptly report any suspicious persons or behaviour to a staff member.

Fire Safety
Please follow these fire safety rules.

• Never block EXIT ways
• Do not deface, obstruct or remove emergency signs
• Do not interfere with or obstruct fire sprinklers or smoke alarms
• Do not overload electrical equipment with an excessive number of electrical items
• Upon hearing the fire alarm, follow evacuation procedure

Computer Comfort and Safety
By learning to set up your workstation correctly and supporting your friends could help prevent discomfort and pain caused by using a computer.

HabitAtWork is a great tool which promotes self-help and problem solving when working in an office-type environment.

Electrical Appliances and Power Leads
If you notice or cause any damage to electrical appliances, you should report it immediately to a staff member. Do not use the appliance. Make sure power leads don't cause a tripping hazard.

Wellbeing
Your wellbeing is important to us. By looking out for each other, having open discussions, actively taking part and always seeking improvement, together we can make MDS a safe environment for you to study.

Wellbeing Workshops
Wellbeing workshops, and activities are held at different times through the year.  Keep an eye out for these activities so you can sign up.

Time Out Spaces
There are various areas you can go to within the campus for time out from your study to relax and refocus. On levels 17 and 19 are the student kitchens. A toaster, sandwich grill, microwave, boiling and chilled water, fridge and snack/drink vending machines are available. On the ground level (entry via the back atrium), the student common space is available. Within this area are picnic tables, a chilled watercooler, a pool table, table tennis and more.  Throughout the year, we hold various activities and celebrations that you can participate in like Pink Shirt Day where we celebrate our diversity, and openly stand against bullying.

Harassment Prevention and Support
At MDS, any form of harassment by anybody, staff or student, is unacceptable and taken seriously.

Harassment is unwanted and unwelcome behaviour which makes it difficult to work and study peacefully and safely.

Harassment is a pattern of behaviour which is:

• Unwanted by the recipient
• Repeated or of a significant nature
• Unacceptable
• Harmful to the recipient
• Bullying

Harassment can be:

• Written material
• Spoken communication (face to face, phone call)
• Physical actions such as unwanted touching
• Pictures or drawings
• Electronic such as cyber bullying or cyber harassment.

What to do if you are being harassed or bullied
If you feel harassed or bullied by another student or staff member, it's best to speak out rather than stay silent. If you feel comfortable doing so, tell the person you don't like the behaviour and you want it to stop.  Seek help from a staff member if the behaviour does not stop or you would like support. The Campus Life team are here to help you.

In an emergency, DIAL 111.
Your location is 92 Albert Street, Auckland Central.
111 will work even if you have no phone credit.

A 24/7 Emergency contact number is also available for all students who require assistance in emergency situations.  Please register 021575671 in your mobile phones for easy access to contact the school.

First aiders

Ali Cowley
Arien Hielkema
Brian Samuels
Ivan Khmel
Judy Christie
Matt Smith
Roger Feron
Sachin Dhiman
Siddharth Shekar
Tece Bayrak

First aid kit located at:

Reception
PG Lab
MDS cars

Nearest medical centers:

The Fono Health and Social Services
Level 2, 33 Wyndham Street, Auckland City
Open 8am -5.00pm Mon-Fri
thefono.org
093022496

Caring Clinic Doctors
Level 8, 175 Queens Street, Auckland City
Open 8.30am -6.00pm Mon-Fri
caringclinic.co.nz
092222577

Get to know your MDS Student Executive team!

If you have any questions or ideas that you'd like to share with the Student Exec, email mdsstudentexecutive@gmail.com and put the relevant member's title in the subject line.

Simon Aitken, President

Hi, I'm Simon Aitken, the President of the MDS Student Executive. My role is to manage and coordinate the Student Executive team. I am in my first year of the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming).

Zainal Wong, Vice President

Hey everyone, my name is Zainal Wong, and I'm a first year student, currently studying the Bachelor of Media Design (Graphic Design). This year, I am the Vice President of the MDS Student Executive Team and it's my job to support the President while also overlooking the Engagement and Cultural Executives. 

Callum Boyce, Academic Executive

Hello! I'm Callum Boyce and I am in the first year of the BSE program! I am your Academic Executive and my role is to be your student advocate in academia, working to make sure we all have the best opportunity to get the most of our time here at MDS.

Finn Palubinskas, Social Executive

Hey, I’m Finn Palubinskas, I was a Foundation student in 2019 and I am now studying Bachelor of Media Design. I am the Social Executive on the Student Executive team. My role is to organise and host events within MDS.

Rhiannon Phipps, Student Engagement Executive

Hola, I'm Rhiannon Phipps (I also go by Ree), I was part of DC in 2019 (digital creativities/the foundation course). I am currently in the bachelor of art and design - 3D animation and VFX. I am the student engagement executive, and I handle the stuff outside of school (like the minecraft server).

Dylan Chan, Cultural Executive

Hi! My name's Dylan, I'm part of the Bachelor of Creative Technologies and my role in the Student Executive is Cultural Executive. I help the Maori, Pasifika and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as any other communities within the school.  

This section pertains to the sale of Media Design School, Torrens University Australia, and Think Education. 

As you will know, Media Design School is part of Laureate Education Inc. which is based in the United States.​  Laureate Education, Inc. has announced that it has entered an agreement with US education provider Strategic Education, Inc. about the sale of Media Design School and its partner institutions in Australia – Torrens University and Think Education.

We are currently at agreement stage so the sale to Strategic Education, Inc. is not yet final and final processes are underway. This will in no way impact your studies - even after the sale is complete. So keep studying hard and keep your goals in focus. Students will be informed once the transaction is complete.​  Our reputation, academic integrity and your journey of learning will remain unchanged and of highest quality.​ 

You will all have received an email that explains this process in much more detail.  If you have any questions, please refer to the FAQs below, or email feedback@laureate.edu.au.