CQUniversity Mackay is ready to give new students a taste of campus life during Orientation Week, starting on Saturday February 21 and continuing on Monday and Tuesday, February 23-24.

There are plenty of opportunities for fun activities but Orientation Week also has a focus on accessing academic services and assistance.

Each of the campuses has arranged opportunities for socialising, with Mackay events including:

- from 4.10pm-6pm on the Saturday, activities around campus - Rock Wall, Street Theatre, Conservatorium of Music Student Performances, Capoeira Dancers, Flamenco Dancers.

- Monday, from 1pm-1.45pm  Lunch - BBQ, Street theatre, Conservatorium of Music Student Performances, competition, prizes and more!

- from 6pm-late on Tuesday - O‐week Celebration/Finale, Film and Arts Mackay and Library Film Night and Con Friends Soiree, Refreshments provided - FREE 1 drink and antipasto nibbles, Performance by Conservatorium of Music, Fancy dress competition - Prizes for best movie character and ABBA character, $5 for family and partners of students.

Mentors are vital to Orientation Week

The event now caters for a broad range of participants, including school leavers, adult learners, parents and partners, on-campus students, distance and flex students, regional campus students and in some cases international students.

Student mentors - more advanced students available to show the newbies the ropes - are a significant key to the event's success and are even available to those studying on-line.

Mackay's mentors will gather on campus for pre-Orientation training on the previous Thursday (Feb 19).

Orientation coordinator Alicia Davenport says the Week gives students the opportunity to network with key academics, program advisors and support staff and to find out what is important. There's also the option to attend skills sessions.

"We don't expect them to be able to do everything up front ... just to know what's important for them to find out," she said.

Comprehensive details are available via the Orientation Week web links.

If you plan to attend a Parents & Partners Evening, Skills Session or Flex Orientation please register on 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or email helpme@cqu.edu.au with your name, student number, location and dates