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Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) students: services and resources
At AUT, our gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGBTQIA+) communities are known as the rainbow community. We offer services and resources for students who identify with diverse sexual orientations, sex and gender identities.
Legal rights of rainbow people in NZ
In New Zealand, rainbow people have legal rights to live freely as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning. The Human Rights Act 1993 outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill 2013 enables adult couples of any gender to marry, including same-sex and different sex couples.
Services and facilities
Rainbow orientation lunches
The information for these will be updated as soon as it is available.
Transgender name change process
If you are a transgender student and need to change your name, download the name change process document below.
Download name change process
All gender bathrooms
All AUT campuses have all gender bathrooms.
Download list of all gender bathroom locations
Support people and contacts
There are a range of people and services you can contact for help and support at AUT.
Counsellors
Counselling is the process of privately talking through anything that concerns you. A counsellor will listen to you sensitively, without judgement, and will try and see things from your point of view. The Rainbow Community Coordinator can help you find a counsellor to suit your needs.
If you’re worried about your safety or the safety of someone else and you need urgent help, call:
- 111 for emergency services
- 0800 800 717 for Crisis Team (if you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm or needs urgent mental health support)
- +64 9 522 2999 or 0800 543 354 (outside Auckland) for LifeLine
- 0800 688 5463 for Outline (24 hour Rainbow counselling service)
Rainbow Community Coordinator
We have a dedicated Rainbow Community Coordinator to support you at AUT. Their role is to:
- Support AUT's Rainbow students by offering information, counselling, and referrals to other services
- Enable social inclusion through the Out@AUT network
- Promote Out@AUT during orientation, club days, and diversity week
- Provide opportunities for rainbow students to participate in events like the Pride Festival, Pink Shirt Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
- Help staff understand the needs of rainbow students by offering staff training opportunities
- Work collaboratively with rainbow community providers for the benefit of AUT students.
Harassment prevention: who to contact
Bullying and harassment aren't acceptable at AUT. If you feel harassed, don't keep it to yourself - there are people and services here to support you:
- Rainbow Community Coordinator
- Student advisors at the Student Hub
- Report an incident of sexual harm, harassment, or bullying
- More info on bullying and harassment for students
Support for Māori students
Māori students can get in touch with a dedicated team to use a range of services.
Safe sex and sexual health
If you’re sexually active, it’s important that you protect your health and that of your partner/s from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
For any questions contact:
Free condoms
You can pick up free condoms from:
- Rainbow student room in WB212
- AUTSA office
- Health, Counselling and Wellbeing
Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) resources
You can access a number of resources for the rainbow community.
Express Magazine
You can pick up this free magazine for the rainbow community at all AUT campuses:
- City Campus: Outside AUTSA, and in the rainbow student room in WB212
- North Campus: Main entry to AS building (cafeteria)
- South Campus: Library foyer, MA building
Rainbow Auckland (formerly GABA) Rainbow Auckland welcomes students and offers members networking and social events. Students have free membership. Rainbow Auckland also works for the community by raising funds which are then distributed as grants, AUT scholarships, and awards.
Other LGBTQIA+ websites
- Rainbow Youth website - Auckland-based organisation for rainbow people up to 27-years-old
- OUTLine website - Free phone and email counselling for rainbow people
- GayNZ.com website - Rainbow news and events website
- New Zealand AIDs Foundation website - Info on safe sex and HIV/AIDs
- Village Collective website - South Auckland-based organisation for Rainbow Pacific People
- Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust - further information on our Rainbow scholarships
Contact us
Rainbow Community Coordinator
+64 9 921 9999 ext 6998
rainbow@aut.ac.nz
Events and groups for rainbow students
Check out the social events and groups for our rainbow community – alongside the student support services we offer, these are another way to help you make the most of your time at AUT.