CQU Gladstone’s newest students' first official day as university undergraduates began with a welcome ceremony on Tuesday morning.

Gladstone Head of Campus, Associate Professor Robert Prater welcomed the students to the university and wished them well on their journey as tertiary students.

About 100 students attended the first day of Orientation activities, with around half of those being high school leavers and half mature-age students.

Mr Prater congratulated the students on making what he considered a smart choice to further their education in a climate where there are extensive skill shortages in the professional sector.

“Studying at university means a lot of sacrifices, especially financial, but in the end it will be all worth it because you will never regret the qualifications which you will gain, the experiences you will have and the opportunities that will come your way because of your time studying.

“We expect that our students’ time spent with CQU will be made all the easier by our small campus environment and the support services we have in place to help them through their years of study,” said Mr Prater.

Following the welcoming ceremony students participated in a day of activities and information sessions designed to help with the transition into a tertiary environment.

The formal activities concluded with a session of fun including, camel rides, a dip in a fountain, food races and a mental quiz.

O’Week Coordinator, Pam Brown, said the activities were part of the Great Chook Wheel Challenge and Quiz Race which is a mix of television’s 'Amazing Race' and 'Survivor'.

“It’s a fun and interactive way for students to get to know each other and learn a bit more about the university along the way,” said Mrs Brown.

The activities at the Gladstone campus finished on Thursday with a 'Be Pampered' night including a smorgasbord of relaxing activities for students and their families.

Photo to Left: First-year Gladstone students gettting wet as part of the Great Chook Wheel Challenge and Quiz Race.

Photo Above: Mentors and first-year students relaxing after their pizza lunch in the library.