OWEEK_REPORT_2025 Griffith University Student Guild

O-WEEK REPORT 2025

Hayley Butt

Orientation & Student Welfare Coordinator

Address from the Orientation & Student Welfare Coordinator

As always, students and staff alike were excited for O-Week 2025. COVID-19 felt like a distant memory, and the memory of a time when we couldn’t be on campus evaporated; 2024 felt like the final ‘welcome back’ and before we knew it, 2025 was here, and we were ready to welcome students to Griffith! The 2025 O-Week program saw old favourites return, such as Mates in Minutes, and welcomed expansions and new events and partnerships!

In 2025, the Student Guild refocused on welcoming new students and ensuring they felt at home at Griffith, with the Student Guild by their side, as the Student Life Experts. Campus activations included Campus Tours, New to the Gold Coast, Rooftop Roller Disco, and of course, the Beach Party.

The 2025 O-Week Festival was a resounding success, welcoming over 3,500 students across two vibrant days of activities, engagement, and celebration. A key highlight was the ever-popular O-Week Bag, which remained in high demand and provided students with essential items, including a notebook, cutlery set, wall planner, and a voucher booklet filled with valuable offers. The Festival also created an exciting opportunity for students to connect with the University, the Student Guild, and a range of corporate partners through interactive stalls. These stalls offered information, giveaways, and insights into student life, ensuring that students left feeling informed, supported, and excited for the academic year ahead. This year, the Festival expanded to offer a specialised Sports Zone – students could visit the Sports Zone to try their luck at winning prizes, play a game of giant volleyball, learn more about competitive sport, or sign up to Social Sport!

The broader O-Week program gave students even more opportunities to immerse themselves in campus life, meet new people, and connecting with the Student Guild. O-Week had something for everyone, whether students preferred hitting the court, enjoying a night dancing at the bar, or simply making new friends. Building on the success of previous years, the Guild also introduced new offerings like the ‘Plan for Academic Success’ workshop to help students develop strong study habits and feel prepared for the year ahead and the ‘Knowing Your Workplace Rights’ information session to ensure students enter the workforce feeling prepared and empowered.

The electric atmosphere of the O-Week Festival perfectly captured the excitement of starting university life. Designed as a vibrant, market-style street festival, the event gave new and returning students a taste of the dynamic Griffith University Gold Coast campus culture. Sprawling across the Library Lawn, down University Drive, and into G40, the 2024 festival was bigger than ever, with the addition of a dedicated Sports Zone and an expanded range of interactive experiences. G40 embraced a lively sideshow alley feel, complete with fairy floss and carnival games, adding to the festival’s high-energy atmosphere. Across the precinct, students were introduced to everything they would need to make the most of their university experience.

Delivering the O-Week Festival is both an incredible privilege and a vital responsibility, as it sets the tone for the university experience and helps students feel welcomed, supported, and excited for the journey ahead. The festival is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of campus life, a chance to build connections, and an opportunity for students to discover the many services, opportunities, and experiences available to them. The Student Guild is proud to play a key role in shaping these first moments, and we look forward to continuing to support students throughout their university journey.