Stay on Track: Need to make some new friends at Uni?
Friday, 24 March 2023
-
There's heaps of ways you can get involved with other students from sports, to the Guild and volunteering.
It's Stay on Track at ECU, a week when we focus on how to get the most out of your university journey.
What's the best way to make new friends and get into the groove of Uni life?
Research has shown that the average person knows about 600 people and maintains social relationships with about 150 of them, but a change in surroundings can suddenly leave us on our own and removed from everyone we know.
Starting Uni can put you out of your comfort zone and in a space where you need to forge new relationships.
Alongside meeting people from your course and tracking down people you know who study on the same campus, you can also find new friends by volunteering or joining a student club.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, however doing volunteer work can offer you more than just the satisfaction of lending a helping hand to local organisations.
Volunteering is actually a fantastic way to grow and build your employability skills while you are studying.
Sports and Fitness Centre
The university Sport and Fitness Centre is another place that has heaps of team sports and activities.
Located at both Joondalup and Mount Lawley campuses. Services include gym memberships that include group classes, creche, kids holiday program and free ECU student sports programs to suit all ages, interests and abilities.
Student Guild
Student Clubs
The guild is home to a wide array of clubs and societies that you can join. There’s everything from international, sports, anime, academia, culture and more!
Lauren Reed, Guild Events and Marketing Coordinator, shared that they guild is all about making life on campus easier.
“The ECU Student Guild is all about making life easier for students on campus. We want students to be part of a supportive community and enjoy their time at ECU.” Reed said.
Student Assist
The Guild also offers a great service to students who need some extra assistance.
The Guild Advisory Officers (GAOs) are professionally trained staff who form a core component of the Guild – providing advocacy, support and referral services for you.
- guide you through the appeals process when reviewing a result, appealing your academic progression status or other University decision and assist with preparing letters;
- help you resolve grievances and support you with individual complaints;
- support you if you are accused of academic misconduct;
- attend University meetings with you and ECU staff;
- Provide small financial assistance or emergency food if you are in a financial crisis;
- assess your eligibility for their Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Scheme;
- refer you to relevant services if you have legal, housing, financial or other issues;
- refer you to appropriate university support services if you are unsure about where to go.
You can make an appointment to see a Guild Advisory Officer online or visit the Guild Offices on each campus.
ECU Joondalup: JO34.215
ECU Mount Lawley: ML12.126
ECU Bunbury: Online appointments available.