Plan your orientation - Southern Cross University

What to do for Orientation

Step 01

Complete the FYI Module - Your online orientation

Step 02

Step 03

Step 04

Connect with your peers

Welcome, your Orientation starts here!

We have a range of amazing workshops and activities planned for you.

We will be running information-packed online workshops, from the 16th June 2025, to ensure you have a smooth transition to uni, where you will get the chance to have all your questions answered.

Don't miss your essential on-campus Orientation Event* which will give you the tools to prepare yourself for university life, meet your faculty and classmates, and enjoy the Campus Expo with free food, live music, info stalls, and activities. There will be lots of prizes to be won on the day including the major prize of $500.

Check out the orientation program below, and register for your online workshops and on-campus event.

Term 3 Orientation Program

* If you study online and live close by, we encourage you to attend!

To access your on-campus orientation event program, please register below.

Orientation Workshop Descriptions

Thriving as a Mature age student

Returning to university as a mature age student comes with unique challenges—but also incredible strengths! This interactive workshop equips you with practical strategies to manage your time, adapt to new technology, refresh academic skills, and build resilience. Connect with like-minded peers, discover campus resources, and gain confidence in your student journey. Whether you're balancing work, family, or other commitments, this session will help you thrive in your studies.
Academic Skills: Busting common assessment myths

In this workshop we demystify assessments and help you to avoid some common pitfalls students face when completing assessments. We will also equip you to determine when and how to use GenAI in an assessment.
Client Services Course Navigation:

Join us for an informative session designed to help students navigate course progressions, enrolment procedures, and class registration at Southern Cross University. Whether you're planning your academic journey, selecting subjects, or ensuring a smooth enrolment process, this workshop will provide essential guidance, practical tips, and expert support. Don't miss this opportunity to streamline your study plans and set yourself up for success!
Tips from students who have nailed it

Learn from two of your fellow students who are a little further down the track, as they share all their clues, crashes and conquests about how to master the Southern Cross University’s 6-week term.
PALS: The ultimate combo of friendship and study

Meet the Southern Cross University PALS mentors! They will fill you in on what PALS is, how PALS can help, how to book a PALS support session and what to expect, and hand you some sneaky study tips that will put you out in front.
MySCU: Understanding your learning sites

The MySCU workshop is designed to help new students get familiar with the university's online learning platform. In this workshop students will learn how to navigate MySCU/Blackboard, access course materials, participate in online discussions, submit assignments, and communicate with their peers and lecturers.
Empower Neurodiversity: Navigating Uni Your Way

Join our panel of academics, support staff, and students to learn how to make uni work for your way of learning, and connect with support that actually works for you.
Your Library

Discover how to navigate the library to find help and resources for your study journey.
From fear to focus

Starting university is both exciting and nerve-racking. Your PALS Mentors know how this feels firsthand and have some amazing insights on how to harness those strong emotional waves, so you don’t get dumped, but instead learn to ride the waves gracefully into the shore.
International Students: MySCU Walk Through

The MySCU workshop is designed to help new students get familiar with the university's online learning platform. In this workshop students will learn how to navigate MySCU/Blackboard, access course materials, participate in online discussions, submit assignments, and communicate with their peers and lecturers.
Career hints and tips for starting uni

Congratulations – your career has started! Find out what you can do alongside your degree to kick start your career, where to find career resources and connect with the Careers team.
Academic Skills: Structure smarts - Level up your

Struggling with how to structure your writing? Unsure about what headings to use or how to organise your ideas at the paragraph and sentence level? Or maybe you just want to learn how to structure your writing more effectively. If any of these sound like you, join our workshop! Here’s what you’ll learn:

How to set up the overall structure of your writing.

Techniques for writing well-supported and fully developed paragraphs.

Strategies for creating smooth transitions between your ideas.
Early Childhood Professional Experience info

This session is designed for international students who are enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) course. This session focus on assisting students to get prepared to meet the mandatory placement requirement and the professional conduct in the Australian context.
International Students: Study Abroad Session

This workshop will help Study Abroad students get organised before classes start, so you feel confident, settled, and ready to make the most of your time at SCU. You'll also receive a checklist with essential tasks and helpful tips for a smooth start.
Write it right- academic language made simple

Ever been told your writing needs to be "more academic" but not sure what that means? This workshop is for you!

Through real examples and hands-on practice, you'll learn simple techniques to transform your writing from casual to academic.

In 30 minutes, you'll learn:

How to swap everyday words for academic ones (without sounding pretentious!)

Ways to make your writing sound more objective

Tips for expressing ideas clearly and professionally

Simple tricks to structure your writing better

Perfect for if you’re just getting started on your uni journey, coming back to study after a long time away, or you’re a current student looking to improve your academic writing skills.
SCU Social: Connect, Explore, Thrive

We take student life very seriously at Southern Cross University. Your studies are important but we believe in balance which is why UniLife puts on a whole range of Sports, Surfing, and Skiing activities for you to get involved in! Whether that's battling it out in your favourite sport against other universities or in a local community competition, or learning how to Ski and Surf on our popular Recreational Tours, we have so many fun and exciting things waiting for you. ☀️🏄🏼‍♂️⛷️⛹🏼🏀⚽

Also learn about our SCU Vollies program - the best way to meet new people and be apart of something special!
International Students: Finance, Fees and Support

This session will help you understand your financial responsibilities as an international student. Learn about tuition fees, payment options, and financial support services available to assist you during your studies.
Academic Skills: Source-ology- Navigating the worl

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to introduce you to the world of academic sources. "Source-ology" covers everything from identifying credible academic sources and where to find them, to mastering the art of reading journal articles and properly referencing them. Whether you're writing your first paper or preparing for more advanced research, this workshop will equip you with the skills you need to confidently start navigating academic sources as you start your studies.
Post Grad Study Success at SCU

Join us for the Postgraduate Introductory Workshop, designed to help you start your postgraduate journey with confidence. This session will cover key university resources, study tips, and support services while giving you the chance to connect with fellow postgrad students. Whether you're returning to study or starting fresh, this workshop will set you up for success!
Conduct in Australian context

This session is designed for international students who are enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) course. This session focus on assisting students to get prepared to meet the mandatory placement requirement and the professional conduct in the Australian context.
Student Support: We are here to help!

This workshop provides an overview of the various support services available to students at Southern Cross University. In this session, students will learn about the university's academic and personal support services, such as counselling, disability services, financial assistance, and career development. The goal is to ensure that students have access to the resources they need to succeed in their studies and personal lives while at Southern Cross Uni.
Safety & Security in Australia

Join us for this session to learn about staying safe and secure while studying in Australia. We’ll cover important tips on personal safety, emergency contacts, and how to navigate local laws and regulations to ensure a smooth and secure experience.
First year meet up for online students

This fun and interactive workshop will help you connect with other first-year students in your faculty, explore uni communication platforms, and break down the isolation of remote learning. You’ll leave with practical tips for making friends, finding support, and feeling part of the university community—no matter where you are!
Education Professional Experience Sessions

Prepare for your professional experience with these essential sessions tailored for education students. Discover what to expect during your placement, gain valuable insights from staff and peers, and have all your questions answered.
Health Professional Experience Session

Prepare for your professional experience with these essential sessions tailored for education students. Discover what to expect during your placement, gain valuable insights from staff and peers, and have all your questions answered.
Education essentials workshop

This session is designed for international students who are enrolled in a Education course. It will guide the student through the essential steps to become successful in the course.
International Students: Finding part time work

Come along to this session to discover how to find part-time work while studying. Learn job search tips, understand your visa work rights, and get advice on balancing work with your studies.

Events

All events

LEXSA Frozen Fridays

13 June 2025

SCU Social E-sports Night

13 June 2025

CoastRs Brunch Bar

16 June 2025

CoastRs Free Yoga & Meditation

16 June 2025

LEXSA Toastie Mondays

16 June 2025

Delicious toasties offered by SCU student associations

LEXSA Bouldering Wall - Mondays

16 June 2025

Orientation workshop - Thriving as a Mature age student: Strategies for success

16 June 2025

NMSC brunch bar

17 June 2025

Orientation enquiries

orientation@scu.edu.au 1800 SC HELP / 1800 72 4357. International student enquiries

FAQs

You can apply online through MyEnrolment by clicking on the eForms tab. For more information, visit the Student ID Cards page.

You can watch your session recordings in the FYI Module.

Course Information Sessions can be found under the 'Faculty Information' pages in the side-menu.

Orientation workshops can be found under the 'Orientation workshops' page in the side-menu.

Instructions are provided on the Accept your offer and enrol pages. If you require assistance, you can contact Student Services and they will be happy to answer any questions and help you through the process.

All rooms are listed like this M.G.13, if we break that down it reads like this: M=Block/Building G=Building Level (lower ground, ground, 1, 2 etc) and the last number refers to the door number. For more information, visit the campuses page or the Timetables page.

Students and staff must display a parking permit with a valid expiry date when attending the Lismore or Gold Coast Campuses, you can get your permit during Orientation using the instructions below. Coffs Harbour students do not require a permit but are required to use the designated parking areas.

To be issued a parking permit, please complete the Parking Permit Application Form 2024-2025 and present it to the Student Services Hub with a form of identification. If you have trouble completing the request form, please email propertyservices@scu.edu.au.

Check out Orientation Social Activities for connection opportunities like the New to SCU Facebook group and Student Association events and activities. You can also find out about upcoming events on What's On and check out UniLife for sport, health and wellbeing activities. Each unit on your MySCU (Blackboard) will also have a discussion board where you can interact with your fellow classmates.

SCU has a wide range of support services to support you on your study journey. Check out the "Support services" tab in the side-menu of the FYI Module to see the full range of support. You can also enjoy student membership rates at the Coffs Harbour and Lismore campus Fitness Centres and join health and wellbeing activities by UniLife and the Student Associations.

If you are under the age of 18 years, an international student advisor will contact you before you commence and arrange your orientation to ensure you have the information you need about your academic progress, support services available to you, and ways to keep yourself safe and manage an emergency.

If you are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, this student advisor will meet with you every fortnight until your 18th birthday to assist you to manage your studies and welfare.

Missed your Orientation or feeling lost? Contact the International Student Support team:
Email: ioadviser-gc@scu.edu.au or Phone +61 26620 3876 / Afterhours: 1300 782 676 or text 0477 751 363

See more at your International student support website.

Orientation

What to do for Orientation

Step 01

Step 02

Step 03

Step 04

Welcome, your Orientation starts here!

Orientation Workshop Descriptions

Events

Orientation enquiries

FAQs

Where can I get my Student ID Card?

Where can I watch my Orientation session recording?

How do I get help with enrolling?

How do I read my timetable and find my classroom?

Do I need a parking permit?

How do I connect with other students?

What support is available for health and wellbeing?

I am an International student under the age of 18. What do I do?

I am an International student - who do I contact?