If you look along the rows of a future graduation, some of those in robes might be there thanks to an Optimism Program offered by CQU Student Services.

The program is available in person at the regional campuses (in a group-based format).

In a reflection of our technological world, 'optimism' is also available online for flex students. It's also built into the STEPS ('Tertiary Preparation Skills Extended) initiative.

Student Counsellor Roslyn McCarthy, who has been studying the program's success, said the concept of optimism is not as simple as viewing the glass half full or half empty.

She said the real basis of optimism lies in the way a person thinks about causes of negativity, disappointment or failure.

An optimist explains negative events as being caused by the impersonal (caused by other things and people), as well as situational (only affects one part of my life), and temporary (short-lived).

Ms McCarthy said students who benefitted from the program were better able to cope with pitfalls and challenges along their study pathway.

"It's about people changing from the inside in order to handle the outside world.

"When Student Services first decided to design, formulate and present a program based around the optimism theory they were responding to an identified need to address the increase in depression in tertiary students and its relationship to failure and attrition in university numbers.

"Adapting the concept to tertiary studies became a preventative intervention for depression, anxiety and other stress-related disorders.

"In the period since the program commenced in 2002, more than 400 students have participated in 1 of its 3 forms, face-to-face group work, by email or online.

"Of that number more than 70% of participants have either graduated or are now making satisfactory progress through their degree programs".

Ms McCarthy said the optimism program has an important application of the optimism theory to study skills.

"Skills acquisition is targeted towards specific needs of the participants as they are ‘partnered’ through a term of study by a group of peers working in groups as a learning community".

The Optimism Training initiative arose out of research done by Ms McCarthy as part of a postgraduate degree at CQU.