Social Impact Leads

 
 

Who are Social Impact Leads?

Our Social Impact Leads (also known as Studio Leads) are a huge part of the magic behind UniCrew and the wider mahi of the Social Impact Studio. They bring a powerful blend of creativity, energy and passion to all our mahi. Every year, we are grateful to spend time with this motley crew of student volunteers made up of different year groups, academic disciplines and lived experiences. The role of Social Impact Lead is a year long commitment.

 

SOCIAL IMPACT LEGENDS

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SOCIAL IMPACT LEGENDS ~

 

What do they do?

Social Impact Leads engage other students with purpose. What this looks like differs for each student - it might be introducing them to the roles on Priceless, inviting someone to a Good Deed and Feed, or collaborating with another group to cook up something completely new!

Our Social Impact Leads get to lead community-based events and programmes, have the chance to design, implement and evaluate initiatives, and get a deep insight into the community sector.

  • There are up to 3 positions for students to organise and host the monthly Global Citizens Cafés, which are intentionally cosy speaker series on topics with global relevance. The programme is aligned with the Matariki Global Citizenship Programme, an initiative of the Matariki Network of Universities (MNU), which includes 7 unis worldwide.

  • GDAFs are one-off events where we organise a bus full of students to do good work of some kind in Dunedin. After the mahi, we enjoy a shared lunch. GDAFs have often been a planting day with the HALO project out at a stunning Dunedin beach. GDAF needs 3 leads to welcome and host the students and lead the mahi.

  • Every fortnight we take a group of students up to Araiteuru Marae to help with their community kitchen initiative Pātaka Ora. Meet some great people, learn about te ao Māori, serve up some delicious kai to the community, and tuck in yourself! We're looking for 2 leads to lead other volunteers through this rewarding experience.

  • Created in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Otago, Minds Together is a buddy programme for people with early stage dementia. MT needs 2 leads to run the programme including recruiting and training uni buddies, liaising with university departments, communicating with Alzheimer’s Otago, and coordinating the sessions.

  • Each year we hold a speaker event like On Purpose that invites students to hear from some social impact legends who do impact and community in their own awesome way. We need a handful of leads to help plan and organise the event, 3 interviewers, and all leads to help on the night.

  • Reading Oasis is about sharing your love of reading with children. The programme needs 2 leads to manage the recruitment, training and rostering of the volunteer readers.

 
 

We love people who are committed to upholding our values of community, creativity, empathy and collaboration.

 

Who are we looking for?

Passion for community, creativity, empathy and collaboration is the secret sauce that gives our work it’s unique flavour. Social Impact Leads also need to be champion ready, hosts with the most, and curious learners. Come on over if you have the following traits that we have found make for epic leads.

 

A big part of our mahi is creating epic events and experiences for students to connect with their passions, their community, and other humans. Being confident to host such spaces is integral. From welcoming the sh*t out of people, to hosting kōrero, to ensuring that everyone is included (not just the people most like you). This isn't all extrovert territory, space holders of all types are celebrated here.

Our mahi is fun, but we also dive into the hard and uncomfy kōrero. A Studio Lead needs to be in constant learner mode, with empathy, humility and open-mindedness. 

 
 

We are calling in Social Impact Leads who are not only passionate, but have the skills and experience to channel it into positive action. You’ll be excited to share and celebrate the work of this space, including calling in your own communities, flatmates, and friends to be a part of it.

We are about making connections and being a hub for the good and important stuff that is happening on and off campus in the social impact realm. This looks like matchmaking students with community organisations, it looks like connecting students with other students who they may not have otherwise met, sharing content/events etc.

 

How do I apply?

Applications for 2025 are now closed… applications for 2026 Leads will open in October 2025.