Media release

How to make the most of Orientation Week

Paramedicine student Ryan Webster offers his top tips for getting the most out of Orientation Week.

Orientation is here and it’s one of the biggest events on the uni calendar. Check out Ryan’s tip to get the most out of it:

• Visit the student portal – Make sure to register for all the sessions and activities you think are relevant to you, this will give you your personal planner. Print it off or have a copy on your mobile and trust me, you’ll be so grateful you’ve taken the time to organise it when you rock up for Orientation fully prepared!
• Wear a comfortable pair of shoes – Orientation is like a boot camp after all that time-spent binge watching your favourite season on Netflix during your massive holiday. Physical activity can be tough and the furthest thing on your mind. Compared to high school, uni campuses can seem huge, and the buildings are spread out, so it is easy to get lost and confused. With activities going on anywhere and everywhere, walking is certain, wearing comfortable shoes ensures you don’t get sore feet from your week long cardio session smashed out in one day (and that’s not counting the extra miles to walk after you go astray).
• Accept the freebies – There will be a free food, drink, merch, brochures and information guides at Orientation. My advice is take them, take them all! The food and drink is self-explanatory you’re uni students now, never ever refuse free food!  The brochures etc are helpful, and good reading material for the next time you procrastinate.
• Check out the clubs and societies – There will be a wide variety of stalls set up by special interest and society groups. They’re a great way of meeting people who have similar interests and tastes to you. It’s usually a fairly cost effective way of finding social opportunities. You can feel free to sign up to as many groups that interest you and if you don’t like it, there’s no pressure to go back.
• Take your new timetable and find your classes – By Orientation you would have allocated your classes, take your new timetable and participate in a campus tour or ask an ACU student or staff member where your classes are - believe me this helps on the first day so you aren’t running around stressed about being late, and you look like you are completely prepared even if you’re not feeling that way.
• Talk to a stranger – It’s the opposite of everything you have been told about stranger danger your entire life, but trust me. One of the best things about Orientation is the opportunity to meet heaps of people who are going through the same transition and may be feeling just as daunted or out of their comfort zone as you. So please try to summon all your self-confidence and start conversations with strangers who look friendly. If you’re at an event alone and you see someone else who is alone – go over and chat! It’s during this time when people are most open to making friends.

If you have any questions get in touch with ACU by visiting www.acu.edu.au/askacu