Your student experience starts here
Excitement levels were at an all-time high for O-Week 2023 as we welcomed 5,000 new students with a big celebration. This year the Student Guild ran a record number of events across O-Week, ranging from online information sessions, dedicated social connection events, to unique and new experiences.
A key focus of the Guild’s O-Week program was to provide opportunities for students to create peer-to-peer connections. Campus activations included multiple sessions of speed friending (Mates in Minutes), a Mature Age Morning Tea, sports events, a Dive In Movie Night at the pool, as well as the famous Rooftop Roller Disco. For the second year, a low-sensory experience was provided to cater for students who may prefer a low-sensory environment. The space was positioned away from music and the hustle and bustle of the festival precinct and provided students with somewhere to chill out if experiencing overstimulation.
The major event, O-Week Festival, was held on Tuesday 28 February and saw approximately 5,000 people attend across the day, the details of which can be found in the following report. For those students who could not attend on Tuesday, there were still several activities to participate in every day during O-Week, including campus tours, social sport come and try events, and collecting a free O-Week bag filled with practical items to support students with the commencement of their studies in 2023.
The nightly social program included something for everyone, and each was well attended. Our outstanding students volunteered their time to facilitate and support event delivery, ensuring all new and continuing students felt welcomed at Griffith University.
The Guild also continued to offer its successful online sessions and build on last year’s success by introducing new webinars like "Intro to Uni Tech Systems" to help new students navigate the Griffith system.
O-WEEK IN NUMBERS
23 Guild events
INCLUDES:
• Wallplanner
• 3 subject notebook
• Voucher booklet
• Keep cup
• Playing cards
• Tote bag
103% Increase in check-ins at Uni Fitness
10,308 Overall attendance 443h Total hours volunteered by Guild Crew
O-WEEK FESTIVAL
Nothing epitomises the start of university life like the Guild’s O-Week Festival, a market day with a street festival vibe which brings new and returning students to campus to soak up the vibrant Griffith University Gold Coast campus culture. Sprawling across University Drive, Carpark A, the G07 deck and the Library Lawn, the 2023 edition was the biggest one yet. The festival included a Welcome to Country and Aboriginal dance performance, amusement rides, campus tours, corporate partner stalls and student support stalls from many University departments. This ensured students could find out about services available to them while immersing themselves in the festival atmosphere.
5,000 Attendees
27 Corporate & community stalls
58 Club stalls
13 Griffith stalls (services)