Tears flowed and tributes were made at the farewell for popular Access4Success Interim Team Lead, Emma Hall on Wednesday.
Despite only being in the role for three years, Emma made a huge impact on her colleagues, external agencies and more than four hundred learners registered with Access4Success, which provides resources that enable students with disabilities to access learning.
Many of them gathered at the Access4Success office in Te Puna to share kai and say their goodbyes to Emma.
The tributes that were shared highlighted her strong leadership and advocacy for disability services and learners at Unitec.
“I haven’t even known you long, but the impact you’ve made has been huge,” said Pacific Student Success Coordinator, Helen Luka.
“Thank you for sharing your beautiful energy with us. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you and loved your peaceful way of communicating. I wish you all the best and know that whoever you work with are so blessed to have you like we had.”
Academic Advisor, Te Puna Ako, Rosario Iguin added: “Thank you for collaborating with Te Puna Ako, we appreciated your advocacy in the disability space and you’ll be missed.”
“Thank you for all your hard work in the Ally and Rainbow space,” said Maree Lightfoot, Wellbeing and Safety Advisor. “Your energy is amazing and we will really miss you.”
Academic Development Lecturer, Ruth Laing reflected on her close working relationship with Emma and remarked: “I’ve loved every minute and am sorry you’re leaving. Appreciate all the connections you made with the students and us.”
Environment and Animal Sciences lecturer, Sofia Chambers added: “Without you we would’ve had a lot more issues trying to graduate as many students as we do, and I have seen a lot of success as a result of your mahi. We are going to miss you.”
Emma gave an emotional thank you to her team and colleagues. “It’s been a really amazing opportunity and a pleasure to be part of a team that cares so deeply,” she said. “I just want to thank everyone I worked with. It’s incredible what we can all do when we work together.”
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Emma joined Unitec in mid-2022 to take up the role of Assistant Technology Advisor with the Access4Success team. At the start of the year, she was elevated to the Interim Team Lead position.
“I think I had some really great support coming in,” she reflected. “The Access4Success team are really good at supporting staff and students across Unitec.
“For me, watching our students grow from being anxious and nervous when they first come to us, then seeing them excel academically, and watching them cross the stage at their graduation, was always a proud moment for me.”
Emma says while there is progress being made, existing societal views and misunderstandings of learners with disabilities and who are neurodivergent remains a barrier.
“Certainly, the stigma that surrounds that is still there, but Unitec is an awesome place in that we’re trying to improve, and we have made good gains in the time I’ve been here,” she explains.
Emma is moving to Hamilton to take up a job opportunity there.