Among them were the first physiotherapy students to graduate from the Orange campus.

The graduates finished their course work about a year ago and many have already started working in their  profession. 

Bachelor of Physiotherapy graduate Daniel Luther said he had been working in Newcastle and he hoped to move around during the course of his career.

“I’m looking to work there for a second year, but I’m hoping to gain experience in different areas of focus so I can decide which area to finish in and make a career out of,” he said.

“From what I can tell, everyone’s loving it.”

Originally from Oberon, Mr Luther said the course enabled him to remain closer to home while he studied.

“It’s a short drive to get here compared to a new city, which is a different environment to what I’m used to,” he said.

Lecturer Kath Skinner said the group had done the university proud.

“They were a lovely cohort,” she said.

Ms Skinner said the decision was taken to create a second physiotherapy campus in Orange rather than expand the existing campus in Albury.

“It means it’s a nice small group they go through with and we’ll definitely be filling [vacant job] positions more easily,” she said.

CSU vice-chancellor Andrew Vann congratulated the graduates who received their degrees on Monday.

“It was mostly from the faculty of science, but some from all the faculties,” he said.

“It’s just lovely, it’s a real joy. It’s great to see the students coming across the stage, it’s great to get the opportunity to talk to them, and it’s great to see the joy and pride on the faces of the parents and families.”

Professor Vann said the university chased certain degrees where there was a skill need. 

“Dentistry is the perfect example of that, with the second cohort of dentist graduates coming through,” he said.

“I understand 70 per cent of our first cohort of graduates went into regional practice, which is really what we’re trying to achieve.”

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au