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Join the Team as a Red Shirt at Hands-On at Otago

Hands-On started as Hands-On Science in 1990 as a science summer camp with 139 students from 68 schools from across the country.

Hands-On has continued to grow ever since. In 2016 the programme saw its largest expansion becoming Hands-On at Otago and encompassing Humanities and Business Divisions and becoming a full university experience.

The programme now hosts 400 senior school students from over 100 schools from around the country.  

Hands-On at Otago provides rangatahi in Aotearoa with the opportunity to:

  • Explore what tertiary study looks and feels like (the academic and the social!)
  • Discover for themselves what practising scientists and researchers do and who they are
  • Meet like-minded individuals from all over the country
  • Be pushed out of their comfort zone and try lots of different things in just one week

There is an emphasis on getting to know other people and having fun, alongside the emphasis on learning/research/access to cool stuff.

What is a Red Shirt?

The Red Shirt role is essential to Hands-On at Otago.  You will be a caregiver, friendship facilitator, negotiator, dance coach/encourager, and fountain of knowledge about Uni life.  You will be a member of a team of people who work really hard on planning and running the social programme for hundreds of teenagers.

You will meet a diverse range of students from all walks of life. You will need to be flexible, able to use your judgement and prioritise when necessary, putting students first at all times.

Red Shirts stay in the residential college alongside our Blue Shirt students, you will have all your meals for the week provided and be paid for your week of hard work.

Expect the week to be challenging, but extremely rewarding, and a lot of fun.

Interested in joining the team?

Applications to become a red shirt are now open and close on 8 August 2024.

Apply now to be a red shirt

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