Five times CQU student mentor Sherry O’Brien is excited about being in Rockhampton this week.

The CQU Bundaberg graduate is now enrolled with CQU as an external student in a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (GDLT) - but it is her experience helping other students survive their journey through tertiary studies that really inspires her.

The aim of the student mentor program is to provide students with access to vital information in a more efficient and effective manner, to smooth the transition to university life and to foster a sense of belonging.

“There are about 16 students from Bundaberg enrolled as external students in the GDLT program and I will be their mentor,” Ms O’Brien said.

Ms O’Brien began her studies at CQU Bundaberg 6 years ago as a mature-age student and knows first hand the mixed feelings that go with the territory.

“Everything is new – it’s both exciting and daunting at the same time,” she said.

“New students don’t feel comfortable bothering their lecturers and other university staff with what they [the students] assume are trivial questions.

“It makes a huge difference when queries can be resolved in the course of general conversation with someone who’s been through it all, rather than making a big deal of it".

Ms O’Brien said her mentor in first year was very warm and always available to his mentees – it made a huge difference to her understanding of life as a new tertiary student.

“Now I enjoy being a mentor to others because I know that I help soothe the overwhelming feelings that face new students – especially those that come with trying to balance all the different aspects of life.

“It makes all the difference just being able to speak with someone who’s done it before – to know that it is doable.

“O-Week is information overload for new students – a mentor helps them wade their way through".

More than 90% of all on-campus students at CQU’s regional campuses and over 600 distance education students were linked with a student mentor in 2006.