New students are beginning their journey with Southern Cross University this week, with the East Lismore campus buzzing for Orientation Week 2026.

Goodman Plaza was filled with free food, live music, information stalls and plenty of nervous excitement on Tuesday, as new and returning students gathered to get their first taste of university life.

The start of the academic year is a good reminder of the vital role Southern Cross plays in the local economy and community.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Jomeen said the energy on campus reflects a strong year of recruitment.

“You can see we’ve done really well in terms of student recruitment this year,” she said. “It’s a really dynamic vibe behind us. We’ve had a really successful year in terms of over 5,000 commencing students at Southern Cross University.”

Among the highlights is the launch of the new Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) at the Northern Rivers campus, which Professor Jomeen confirmed has already been fully recruited.

“That’s a really exciting opportunity for the region,” she said. “And to deliver courses that really meet the workforce needs of the region.”

The university has also introduced new programs including a Master of Engineering and Master of Management, along with a suite of online graduate certificates. However, the most popular courses at the Lismore campus this term are firmly grounded in healthcare and animal science.

“Our most popular courses here at the Lismore campus are our Masters of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing courses and Vet Medicine… but also our Bachelor of Veterinary Technology,” Professor Jomeen said.

This year alone, the university has welcomed more than 100 students into its new veterinary programs, over 100 international Master of Nursing students and around 150 Bachelor of Nursing students, a significant influx of people who will live, work and study in the region.

The majority of students attending Orientation in Lismore will be studying on campus, bringing a clear flow-on effect for local businesses, rental markets and community life.

“I think the impact that it has for the community is really significant, both in terms of the economy that it brings into the town,” Professor Jomeen said. She pointed to the university’s refurbished student accommodation as a key factor in encouraging students to relocate to Lismore. “We all know affordable accommodation is a challenge for students, and so I think the addition of that new accommodation is really helpful.”

For Georgia, a first-year Veterinary Technology student from Ballina, the decision to study in Lismore was both practical and personal.

Georgia (second from the right) and her friends at Orientation Week.

“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said. “But the ATAR for vet science is really high so this is like the stepping stone to get there.”

Fresh out of high school, Georgia said staying close to home made sense.

“It’s super close to home… I might as well live at home with my parents as long as I can before moving out. It’s really expensive at the moment,” she said.

She also sees the new veterinary pathway as a real opportunity.

“This is the second year of vet tech, but the first year of vet science,” she explained. “We can transfer over into vet science halfway through… but it’s very competitive.”

For students like Georgia, the expansion of veterinary and nursing programs in Lismore means fewer young people need to move to Brisbane or further afield to chase their career goals.

You can hear more about the latest news from Southern Cross University when Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin joins the Talking Lismore podcast tomorrow.