Students were welcomed to campus in an official ceremony attended by deputy major Lisa Intemann along with head of campus Greg Linsdell and faculty members, before embracing their first taste at university life –meeting people, clubs and groups on campus.

“Over the weekend we welcomed 100 local and international students into the new accommodation block on campus, which is a fantastic state of the art facility; each student has their own en-suite and room to make it feel like home, but more broadly we have students from all walks of life coming to our campus to get a great education in 2018,” Mr Linsdell said.

“Beginning this semester we have local students from all over Australia, but also students that hail from all over the world, including from the Netherlands, United States and Nepal who will take what they learn here in Port Macquarie back to their home towns.”

Mr Linsdell also said the advice he would give to new students is be respectful and embrace the opportunity on offer to them.

“All students have their own story and I hope they all achieve their own goals and objectives,” he said.

“I hope that all students engage with their studies, it is easy to find reasons why studying can become isolating but resist that temptation and engage with the world and be respectful of your classmates.”

Cr Intemann said she hoped the incoming class of 2018 embraced opportunities afforded to them living in the Hastings region.

“I want new students starting here in Port Macquarie to first and foremost embrace their studies but secondly to make friends and connections which I am sure will last a lifetime,” Cr Intemann said.

“We have such an incredible local area not just in Port Macquarie, but across the Hastings, and I hope during their time at CSU they embrace their studies and the community.”

Cr Intemann said the incoming students will give a boost to the local economy both monetary and through a cultural exchange.

“With students coming to Port Macquarie from all over Australia and the world, it is just wonderful for students as well as the wider community to make new and exciting connections,” she said.

“These incoming students will create more diversity within the community and bring a heighten sense of enthusiasm to the region.”

O-Week Coordinator and president of the Student Representative Committee, Jamie Hart, said that O-Week is just the beginning for students starting their journey with CSU Port Macquarie.

“Starting university is an exciting time for many people, but it can also be distressing not knowing anyone, or thinking that everyone has made friends but you – but that is absolutely not the case and most of our incoming students have moved to town so O-Week is the perfect opportunity to meet people and make friends,” Miss Hart said.

“The thing I tell all new students is that university is like starting over and it is a great opportunity to get involved in any club or sport that you like; make the most of your time at university because it is the best time of your life.”

Miss Hart said that during O-Week students have the chance to mix with a range of different students and to see what life in Port Macquarie can offer.

“Everyone is in the same boat and it is about making the most of every opportunity, this week new students can learn to surf, play trivia or chill and watch movies on a big screen so we are creating chances for everyone to make friends with no expectations about being someone you aren’t.

“If someone is struggling to make friends they should definitely come and see one of the Student Representative Committee members and have a chat to us because we love meeting new people and hearing people’s stories,” she said.