2022 is off to a great start on Res!

The hum of voices on campus, parents helping students to move in, residents getting to know each other, free food, decorating rooms, great events, new adventures and friendships forming. This is what orientation period is all about on Res!

Now that the dust has settled on the check-in process and orientation, it’s time for our students to get stuck into their studies, and for us to reflect on some wonderful memories of the last few months.

Throughout February and early March, we welcomed over 1900 students across our four campuses. From Burwood to Waterfront, Waurn Ponds to Warrnambool, there have been a wide range of activities and events to help our new and returning residents settle in. These included scavenger hunts, beach trips, visits to the MCG, lazertag, campus tours, food festivals and Welcome to Country ceremonies just to name a few.

Below we hear from two of our Residential Leaders, who share what the atmosphere on Res has been like over orientation period and how the new and returning residents are settling in.

Zarli Sanders – Waterfront Campus Residential Leader

Even though it has only been a couple of weeks, the community that has bloomed at Waterfront is incredible!! The friendliness and engagement from all of the residents is incredible and we are all getting a real sense of family. So many Ressies aren’t scared in stepping outside of their boundaries and putting themselves out there to meet new people or do events they may have not thought of doing beforehand and personally watching from a Residential Leader’s perspective I absolutely love watching it.

Some of my favourite events that I enjoyed would have to be adventure park, a fun day that everyone can relax and not feel pressured to do anything if they didn’t want to. And I can’t forget the Res Fest – being able to sit on the green at Waurn Ponds and listen to music while eating a large variety of food. Yum.

Jackson Cardona – Warrnambool Campus Residential Leader

The vibe on campus so far has been amazing. Most people are getting around each other and it’s a great feeling to walk into a common room full of people who are having a good time and feel comfortable enough to join in whatever they’re doing.

My favourite parts of O-Week were the times where nobody knew each other but they were still keen to meet everyone so they’d be out and about looking for people to talk to and get out of their comfort zone to do so. I loved all the events and how everyone would put in time and effort to attend, as well as help get everyone else down that they had met in previous events. Overall, I loved how inclusive and welcoming everyone was in the first week and how keen everyone was to be a part of such a small but beautiful community.

To have the residential precinct full of life again in 2022 is a feeling that I cannot explain. After 2021 was met with strict restrictions and lockdowns, it feels great to walk into a common room full of people who are doing random things that they enjoy. Whether they’re playing pool, watching a movie, talking in a group, cooking, or even knitting, it’s great to walk past the common rooms that are full of people getting to know each other and joining in their little random activities.

As our residents settle into their studies, these friendships and connections will only continue to grow. It’s great to see Deakin Res full of energy and optimism for the year ahead!