Student Accommodation Journal - June 2023

APSAA CONFERENCE

18-21 September 2023

HILTON BRISBANE

Delivering excellence through innovation

Woodah millen moodoombah ngah gahdahbah goolgoon

DESIGNER Perry Watson Design

DISCLAIMER

This journal is copyright and all rights are reserved. Apart from any use as permitted under the copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to obtain permission to use copyright material reproduced. Every effort has been made to obtain accurate information for this publication. The views expressed in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of APSAA.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Australia:

APSAA acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s continuing connection to lands, waters and communities; and we pay our respect to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Aotearoa | New Zealand: APSAA honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi as Aotearoa | New Zealand’s founding document and recognises the special place of Māori in Aotearoa as mana whenua.

Marion Bayley APSAA President; CEO, Deakin Residential Services

President’s Welcome

Welcome to the June edition of Student Accommodation

This edition we get to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our industry and celebrate the roles that can go unnoticed but that are pivotal to success and positive student outcomes on a daily basis. I thank each of the Individuals who contributed to our feature article but also send my thanks to all of you that are not featured in this edition but who work tirelessly often behind the scenes.

It is hard to believe that it has been just over a month since the 2023 return of GHTI (Global Housing Training Institute) where it was a pleasure to meet and engage with such inspiring professionals from around the globe, the rich content and level of discussion always provides insights we haven’t considered and in the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton , I was extremely fortunate to have ‘been in the room where it happened’, something I will value for years to come.

Planning for our annual conference in Brisbane this September is well underway and the program is shaping

up to be a wonderful mix of educational content, motivational speakers, and high calibre facilitated workshops – if you have not yet registered, get in for the early bird member discount and join your colleagues from around our region at the highlight of the year.

The recently ratified board will be meeting in July to review our progress within the strategic plan and finalise details for the increasing professional development opportunities, locking in dates for 2024 early so that everyone can plan their future development and make the most of our association’s member benefits.

I look forward to seeing you all in the coming months – you just need to make sure you are in the ‘room where it happens’!

Best wishes, Marion

Simone Gallo APSAA Board Member, National Manager, Student Accommodation, Australian Catholic University

From the Editor

As we prepare to release the latest edition of Student Accommodation, we are delighted to present a theme which is close to our hearts – “The many voices of student accommodation”.

The student accommodation industry has come a long way in our region, and we have seen immense growth and transformation over the past decade. While it is easy to focus on the successes and achievements, it is important to recognise the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes, and whose contributions often go unnoticed. Until now...

In this edition of the Journal, we shine a spotlight on the “unsung heroes” of our industry – the maintenance staff who work tirelessly to keep our properties in top condition, the security personnel who keep our residents safe and the administration staff who provide invaluable support to our residents.

We have also featured interviews with industry professionals who have dedicated their careers to supporting and advocating for students, including championing the role of Indigenous people in our industry, our properties, and our communities. We highlight people who work to ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to quality accommodation and care.

As we celebrate the contributions of these unsung heroes, we are reminded of the importance of recognising and valuing the work of every individual in our industry. We hope that this edition of the

Journal inspires you to reflect on the contributions of those around you, and to express your appreciation for the unsung heroes in your workplace who make your businesses thrive. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who have contributed to this edition of the journal, and to our members for their continued support. If you would like to be a contributing writer or would like to hear more about a particular aspect of the industry, please let us know by emailing manager@apsaa.org.au.

Simone Gallo

The student accommodation industry has come a long way in our region, and we have seen immense growth and transformation over the past decade.

PARTNER WITH US

The 2023 APSAA Sponsorship Prospectus is available here. It outlines our Conference Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities. Partner with us to build and strengthen strategic relationships within the industry and to align your brand with the industry’s premier organisation.

Jacob Waitere Chair, Aotearoa Advisory Group; APSAA Vice-President; General Manager, Canterbury, UniLodge

Aotearoa Advisory Group Report

Kia Ora e te iwi!

Just like that we are halfway through the academic year. The big news in this quarter has been the status of University enrolments and the Code of Practice reviews.

2023 Enrolments:

The five North Island Universities all saw a drop in full-time-equivalent domestic students compared to 2022. Universities are attributing this drop in enrolments to high employment and a drop in school-leavers with University Entrance. The drop was trivial at the University of Waikato, but significant at the remaining four institutions. With Victoria University of Wellington hit the hardest.

Two South Island institutions, University of Canterbury, and Lincoln University reported increases domestic enrolments. The University of Otago had a marginal 1.2% increase in enrolments compared to 2022. The University of Canterbury is having its year in the sun, with all halls full, and increased with both domestic and international students.

Universities also reported big increases in foreign enrolments compared with the same time last year, which had been expected due to the removal of Covid-related border restrictions late last year. However, at Victoria and Massey universities, the increase in foreign enrolments was not enough to make up for the decline in domestic students.

He manawa tītī “A person with great endurance”. This whakataukī reminds me of the spirit of our Aotearoa members. While we have had fall in enrolments, adverse weather events in the North Island, change management processes in workplaces and increases in student mental health presentations, it reminds me of the perseverance of our members. When I connect with members across the country, they inform me of often small deeds, that have profound impacts on the lives of our students and support them to become better leaders and students. I wish everyone well for the second half of the year.

Noho ora mai, Jacob Waitere.

Code Of Practice Review:

Universities have had their Code of Practice for the pastoral care of tertiary and international student visits. Dr John Dance from Universities NZ, and Roy Rodriguez from NZQA have been visiting all universities around the country. The visits have been described as a ‘light touch approach’, which means that following a desktop review of documentation provided to the review committee, they conduct a visit on campus. This visit includes viewing of some accommodation offerings, meeting with staff, student leaders and resident focus groups and presentations from universities about initiatives. Following these visits reports and further information will be provided to universities.

Aotearoa Advisory Group membership update:

The 2023 Aotearoa Advisory Group has had some changes in membership. The Aotearoa Advisory Group is charged with providing advice to the APSAA Board on New Zealand matters, coordinating activities in and for NZ APSAA membership and other matters as needed. The 2023 committee members are pictured right:

Jacob Waitere | Chair UniLodge

Tara Baker

The University of Auckland

AUSTRALIA

Deakin Residential Services, Geelong

• Becky Blakeway appointed new General Manager.

King’s College, University of Queensland

• Andrew Eunson is the new Deputy Master.

University of Wollongong

• Jodie Hazell appointed Senior Manager, Student Residences.

AOTEAROA | NEW ZEALAND

Waitaha | Canterbury

• Daniel Thornton appointed Kaitātai | Property Manager Operations – UniLodge Tupuānuku

Melissa Leaupepe

The University of Auckland

Sonia Mazey

Arcady Hall

Abigail Fredrikse

The University of Canterbury

Brooke Petre

Massey University

Max Sims

Te Pukenga

Martin Thomas

– Student Residence

Trust Aotearoa

• Kimberley Fuller promoted to Pou Taurima | Residential Life Manager – UniLodge Tupuānuku

• Ciaran O’Dwyer and Anjela Adamson appointed to Residential Life Assistant –UniLodge Canterbury

• Jasmin Speranta, Eva Smreka, Lynda Franks & Rebecca Radford appointed Kiripaepae | Customer Service Coordinators – UniLodge Canterbury

• Nicholas Pike and Brunno Arrivabene appointed as Maintenance Coordinators –UniLodge Canterbury

• Alan Bolton appointed as Night Manager –UniLodge Sonoda & Hayashi

APSAA acknowledges the sad passing of Rex Dillon Kaitiaki Tari | Bursar of College House our thoughts are with his whānau and colleagues.

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland

• Chris Brett appointed General Manager

– UniLodge Mayoral Drive

• Q Bistamin appointed Property Manager Operations – UniLodge Auckland City

• Cherrie Jongco appointed Customer Service Manager – UniLodge 55 Symonds

• Evan Jones appointed Poutaki Wharenoho

| Resident Manager – UoA Carlaw Park

Student Village

• Greg McLean, Nancy Allen, Clarissa Mafoe, Mandri Amarasekera and Daniel Ly appointed to Kairuruku Wharenoho –UoA Accommodation

• Calum Wicks and Chingiz Wicks appointed to Night Supervisors – UoA Accommodation

• Nick McGuire-Barnes, Harley Werder, Cathryn Little and Emmanuelle Vili – appointed as Kiripaepae | Receptionists

– UoA Accommodation

• Subur Fiedlander & Mariska Welthagen appointed as Kaiwhakahaere | Administrators – UoA Accommodation

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington

• Katherine Pascoe appointed Property Manager Operations – UniLodge Stafford House

• Roy Rodriguez appointed Senior Code Advisor – NZQA

Ōtepoti | Dunedin

• Elizabeth Koni appointed as Master of St Margaret’s College

Lee

APSAA Asia Update

Southeast Asia Heatwave

The recent heatwave in Southeast Asia has been one of the most intense and prolonged in recent years, with temperatures soaring to record highs and affecting millions of people in the region. The heatwave, which typically occurs between March and May, has been exacerbated by climate change, leading to prolonged heatwaves, droughts, and water shortages.

The heatwave has affected several countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In Thailand, temperatures have risen to over 40 degrees Celsius, leading to a significant increase in hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses. In addition, as more people opt to stay indoors with air conditioning

on, the demand for energy has skyrocketed and placing massive strain on the electricity grid, causing blackouts in some areas of Thailand. In Cambodia, the hot season has caused a water shortage, affecting agricultural production and putting pressure on water resources.

The effects of the heatwave have been particularly severe for vulnerable communities, such as the elderly, children, and those living in urban slums. Many people have been forced to work outside in the sweltering heat, leading to a higher risk of heatstroke and other health complications.

The heatwave has also had significant economic consequences, affecting tourism and agricultural production. In Thailand, the heatwave has led to a decline in tourist numbers, with many opting to avoid the heat and poor air quality due to smoke from forest fires and trans-boundary haze. Agricultural production has also been affected, with farmers struggling to cope with the lack of water and high temperatures.

"The effects of the heatwave have been particularly severe for vulnerable communities, such as the elderly, children, and those living in urban slums".

Daniel

APSAA Board Member; Director, The Purple House, Malaysia

Heatwave in Southeast Asia- Credits: preventionweb.net

Heatwave and Haze in Malaysia

In Malaysia, the heatwave has caused temperatures to soar to record highs and combined with the annual haze caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia has led to hazardous air quality levels and respiratory illnesses. The heatwave, which began in March 2022, has caused temperatures to rise to over 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country, leading to a surge in hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses. The situation has been exacerbated by the haze which has blanketed parts of Malaysia with smoke and air pollution.

The haze situation has led to a significant deterioration in air quality, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaching hazardous levels in some areas. The haze has severe environmental and health consequences. It can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and aggravate existing heart and lung conditions. The smoke also contains harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter, which can have long-term health effects.

Delay in SPM Examination Results

The recent delay in the release of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination results by the Malaysian Ministry of Education has had a significant impact on higher education enrolments, particularly for students who are planning to pursue tertiary education immediately after completing their secondary school education. The SPM examination is a crucial assessment for Malaysian students, as it determines their eligibility for higher education and future career prospects. The examination is used by universities and colleges to evaluate the academic achievements of prospective students and to determine their suitability for admission into their programs.

The delay in the release of the SPM examination results, which were initially

The haze also has a significant economic impact on the region, affecting tourism, transportation, and agricultural production.

The Malaysian government has taken measures to address the situation, including closing schools and advising people to stay

indoors during times of high pollution. The government has also been working with its regional neighbors, including Indonesia and Singapore, to address the root causes of the problem and promote sustainable land use and forest conservation.

scheduled to be announced in March 2023, has caused anxiety and uncertainty among students and parents. The delay has led

to a situation where many students have been unable to apply for higher education programs, as they do not know their results or have not received the necessary documents required for their applications. The delay has also impacted students who have received conditional offers from universities and colleges, as they are required to provide their SPM examination results as proof of meeting the academic requirements for admission. The delay in the release of the results has prevented these students from being able to enroll in their chosen programs, as they are unable to provide the necessary documents. The SPM examination results are now expected to be released in June 2023 and many higher education institutions are expecting a large intake of students in July/August 2023.

Haze affecting the Kuala Lumpur city skyline- Credits: The Star News

Malaysian students sitting for the SPM examinationsCredits: Bernama News

APSAA Asia Update continued

Impact On the Student Accommodation Industry

Student accommodation operators will need to keep an eye out for the effects of the heatwave and haze on their resident population and help them to cope with rising temperatures and poor air quality. The following are some suggestions on how to help the students:

Staying indoors: During a heatwave, it is essential to stay indoors as much as possible, especially during the hottest parts of the day. If there is a need to go outside, it is best to do so during the cooler parts of the day, such as early in the morning or in the evening. When indoors, it is best to keep the windows and doors closed to prevent the hot air from entering the living areas.

Use air conditioning or fans: If air conditioning is available, it is recommended to use them to keep the living area cool. If air conditioning is not available, it is best to use fans or portable air conditioning units. However, it is important to make sure that the air filters are cleaned regularly to ensure that they are working effectively.

Stay hydrated: During a heatwave, it is important to drink plenty of water to

stay hydrated. It is best to avoid drinking sugary or alcoholic drinks, as they can dehydrate the body. When going outdoors, it is recommended to bring along a water bottle and drink water regularly.

Wearing appropriate clothing: When it is hot outside, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing that is made from breathable fabrics such as cotton is recommended. This will help to keep the body cool and prevent overheating.

Monitoring air quality: When the air quality is poor due to haze, it is important to monitor the air quality index (AQI) and take precautions to protect physical health. The AQI can be checked using online resources or mobile applications. If the AQI is high, it is best to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Residential building with passive cooling.

Photo: iaacblog.com

Coping with the heat. Credits: thetravelmonster. wordpress.com

Using air purifiers: If an air purifier is available, use it to remove pollutants and improve the air quality in the residence. The use of N95 face masks is recommended when going outdoors to protect from breathing in pollutants.

Monitoring personal health: During a heatwave or haze, it is important to take care of personal health. If symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or difficulty breathing occur, it is best to seek medical attention immediately. Getting enough rest and avoiding strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day is also recommended.

In the long term, student accommodation design will need to consider passive cooling as well as air purification to minimize the effects of heatwaves and poor air quality.

Passive cooling refers to design strategies that use natural methods to keep buildings cool without relying on energy-intensive mechanical systems. The following are some building design strategies that can help reduce heat through passive cooling:

Orientation: The orientation of a building can play a significant role in passive cooling. Buildings should be oriented to take advantage of natural breezes and shade. In hot climates, it is best to avoid east and westfacing facades and instead orient buildings north-south to minimize direct solar exposure.

Shading: Another important strategy for passive cooling is shading. Buildings can be designed with overhangs, awnings, or other shading devices to block direct sunlight from entering the building. Exterior shading devices can also be adjustable to allow for seasonal changes in the sun’s position.

Natural ventilation: Natural ventilation is an effective way to cool buildings without relying on mechanical systems. Design strategies that encourage natural ventilation include operable windows, roof vents, and other openings that allow for the free flow of air through the building.

Insulation: Insulation is important for both heating and cooling, as it helps to keep the building’s temperature stable. Buildings in hot

climates should be insulated to prevent heat gain through the roof, walls, and windows.

Thermal mass: Thermal mass refers to materials that can absorb and store heat, such as concrete, brick, and stone. Buildings can be designed with thermal mass to help regulate temperature by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night when temperatures cool.

Green roofs and walls: green roofs and walls are becoming increasingly popular in building design as a way to reduce heat gain. Vegetation on the roof and walls can absorb heat, provide shade, and cool the surrounding air through evapotranspiration.

Light-colored materials: Light-colored materials, such as white or light-colored roofs, walls, and pavement, reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than darker materials.

It is also worthwhile to explore building design strategies that emphasize air purification that can help improve indoor air quality:

Air filtration systems: One of the most common strategies for improving indoor air quality is the use of air filtration systems. These systems can remove airborne pollutants such as dust, pollen, and other particles from the air, providing a cleaner and

healthier environment for building occupants.

Indoor plants: Indoor plants are a natural and cost-effective way to purify the air. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and some plants are particularly effective at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.

Materials selection: The selection of building materials can also play a significant role in indoor air quality. Building materials that emit harmful chemicals or VOCs should be avoided. Low-emitting materials, such as low-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants, can help improve indoor air quality.

Air purification technology: In addition to air filtration systems, there are a variety of other air purification technologies available that can help improve indoor air quality. These technologies include electrostatic precipitators, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, and photocatalytic oxidation.

Building orientation: Building orientation can also play a role in improving indoor air quality. Buildings should be oriented to take advantage of prevailing winds and avoid sources of pollution, such as busy roads or industrial areas.

Daniel Lee.

Air purifying plants. Photo: goodhousekeeping.com

Sue Fergusson APSAA Board Member, PD Committee Chair, QLD State Operations Manager, Scape

Professional Development Committee Update

Well here we are, autumn leaves are falling, unless you are in QLD like me, and the humidity has just started to make way for cooler evenings. Mid-semester break has been and gone and we are gearing up for end of Semester 1.

Our 2023 ‘Speaker Series’, has launched, with topics aligned to the APSAA values of inclusion, excellence, leadership, and integrity. With 81 registrations for the first series on inclusion and 110 registrations for the second series on excellence, we expect a continued good uptake for series 3 on leadership to be held in August.

Several participants and faculty from around the globe gathered in

Melbourne at end of April for the Global housing Training Institute, a collaboration between APSAA and the Association of College and University Housing officersInternational, to deliver an immersive student accommodation training. A week-long residential training program, the feedback from those who attended has been excellent.

The PD committee are organising face to face networking events in each state and region during the latter half of this year. More details around where and when will be sent to your ‘inbox’ soon.

The CPD program is also receiving an overhaul and the PD committee has been busy working on a proposal to present to the APSAA board.

Registrations have opened for the APSAA conference to be held at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane in September, with some fantastic guest speakers already locked in for that event.

Keep a look out for information on the new APSAA ‘ Bootcamp’ launching in December this year. A must for your events calendar at the end of the year.

In closing, if you have introduced something amazing into your student college, house, village, or residence, then please let us know via email at manager@apsaa.org.au so it can be shared with your colleagues via this journal. Sharing knowledge helps us all connect, perform better, and become stronger as professionals.

APSAA 2023 Speaker Series

The new ‘Speaker Series’ is part of the APSAA Professional Development Program.

Held quarterly, live and online, the series will see subject matter experts deliver thought provoking presentations on the APSAA values: Inclusion, Excellence, Leadership, and Integrity.

New Speaker Series off to a great start

Diversity is a fact Inclusion is an action Belonging is a feeling

APSAA launched the new ‘Speaker Series’ in February 2023 with the guest speaker Kelly Eckers from Multicultural Australia on the topic of Inclusion and Cultural Capability.

The ‘Speaker Series’ is to be held quarterly will feature subject matter experts delivering thought provoking

presentations on the APSAA valuesInclusion, Excellence, Leadership and Integrity, which will form part of the Professional Development Program.

Some of the areas covered in Kelly’s well received presentation included identifying one’s own cultural lens; the reasons we need to move towards

creating brave spaces and going beyond diversity to build inclusive teams and accountable workplaces.

The full presentation is available for Members via APSAA streaming here: https://www.apsaa.org.au/resources/ apsaa-streaming/ in the Student Experience and Wellbeing section.

What are the features of a brave space?

When we embarrass, reject, or shame someone when they are trying to learn conversation gets shuts down. We need to diffuse defensiveness in privileged groups. We won’t move forward unless we engage.

Winters, 2020

New Board for 2023/24 Announced

The composition of the APSAA Board for 2023/24 was announced at the Annual General Meeting held online, Wednesday May 10, 2023.

We would like to thank outgoing director Paterson Boyd for his work on the APSAA Board and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee during the past years.

Congratulations to our new Board members Sonia Mazey and Mark Potgieter.

Re-elected to the Board are Marion Bayley, Simone Gallo, Daniel Lee, and Carolyn Mee.

Continuing their two-year term are Jacob Waitere, Sue Fergusson, Richard Kendall, Rachel Overton, and Kate Stock.

Sonia Mazey, Arcady Hall NZ

Mark Potgieter, University of Wollongong, NSW

Vice President Jacob Waitere, UniLodge NZ, Canterbury, NZ

Simone Gallo, Australian Catholic University, NSW

Richard Kendall, Curtin University, WA

Sue Fergusson, Scape Australia, Qld

President Marion Bayley, Deakin Residential Services, VIC

Rachel Overton, University of Canberra, ACT

Kate Stock, UniLodge Australia, Qld

Daniel Lee, The Purple House, Malaysia

Carolyn Mee, Aquinas College, SA

Recognise the efforts of your unsung heroes

I would like to bring focus to those who serve in the background of our businesses. Their contributions can often be overlooked. In this article, we will explore the importance of acknowledging the contributions of these team members and offer some tips on how to recognise their efforts.

While some roles may be more visible, it is the combined efforts of every team member that drives the success of a team. Ensuring that this is understood within your team/organisation is not only important for morale and motivation, but it also fosters a culture on inclusivity and appreciation.

No two team members are the same and everyone enjoys being recognised in different ways. It falls to you to have a conversation about this to determine which way or combination of ways will motivate them the most but here are some options for you to choose from.

1. Acknowledge their contributions, one on one

This can be as simple as a conversation, phone call or an email (if you work remotely from each other) expressing the good work they have done and how it positively impacts the team or business. If you are their direct supervisor, providing meaningful feedback within their performance review can be helpful especially if you make them shorter more frequent sessions rather than annual tick box exercises. These can be the key to building genuine relationships with your team. In this case also, don’t forget that incremental progress is worth praise as this can lead to bigger wins for the employee and the organisation. Or if you are not their supervisor but a peer, you could hand write a short note and pop it on their desk. These small actions will let them know that they are appreciated.

2. Acknowledge them in public

Publicly acknowledging their efforts and contributions can be incredibly motivating and can help to foster a positive team dynamic. This can be as simple as a shout out in a meeting or celebrating them on your company’s internal communication software or newsletter.

Make a point of asking them to contribute within team discussions, defer to them as the subject matter experts in their field. While their role may not involve making major decisions, their insights and perspectives can be invaluable. Encouraging open communication and listening to their input shows that their contributions are valued and appreciated.

3. Offer incentives or rewards

This can be a monetary bonus or a gift card but not everyone is motivated solely by money. Some staff might like the opportunity to explore some professional development in an area of interest for them. You could also give them the opportunity to work on other projects or initiatives of interest to them. When team members are given the chance to grow and develop, they are more likely to feel valued and appreciated. Or you could award them an afternoon or day off as a reward for a job well done.

4. Celebrate their success

Arrange a team lunch or celebratory event where individual and team wins are highlighted. This is fantastic for those being commended and acts as a carrot for others within the team to be

honoured at the next social event.

The key with all forms of recognition is to be genuine in offering a personalised message which will be meaningful to the team member. Ensuring that you give the reason why the action has been so well received.

The bottom line is recognising the efforts of team members who work in the background of projects, or the business is crucial to building a strong, inclusive and successful organisation. By acknowledging their contributions, highlighting their successes, offering incentives or rewards, providing opportunities we can ensure that these usually unsung heroes are valued and appreciated for the work they do. When this is done well, you not only energise that team member, but you set an example for others of what good looks like.

Simone Gallo.

Staff Profiles - Behind the scenes

Maintenance Manager for UniLodge Southbank. At that time the Southbank building was only just nearing completion, so it provided me the unique opportunity to set-up a building from scratch and be involved with opening a new product. My role has progressed from there to Facilities Manager – Brisbane.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, I’m Matthew, I am the UniLodge Facilities Manager – Brisbane. I oversee all aspects of the maintenance in the UniLodge portfolio in Brisbane. I work with each of Brisbane Property Managers to keep the buildings in good maintenance operation.

In my spare time, I enjoy making furniture for my friends & family, camping and when I can’t do those things, I’m playing taxi for my 2 teenage kids.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I work with a team of 5 handyman that complete the day-to-day maintenance at various Brisbane sites. I also coordinate the programmed maintenance requirements for the UniLodge Buildings. I have regular meetings with suppliers, contractors and trades personnel to encourage good communication between all parties for the day-to-day operations across UniLodge. I am involved in budgeting and tendering for service contracts that are required the UniLodge sites.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

I came to UniLodge in 2017 as a Building

I have a trade certificate in Carpentry & Joinery and worked within the maintenance industry for the past 20 years in various roles. Previous roles include the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Mater Private Hospital, SODEXO & 7Eleven Australia.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

In 2019 Brisbane experienced a rain event that saw over 200mm of rain fall in a period of 1 hour. I received a call in the evening making me aware of this. This flooded our ground floor common area, reception, office area & loading dock. Working with the onsite RA team, we were able to keep all residents safe and keep the building operating as normal as possible.

This required coordination with Electricians, Lift technicians, Plumbers, Restoration professionals and team at UniLodge South Bank. It was very satisfying on the next day seeing reception open and the minimal impact the incident had on the residents.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

I have found communication is key for my role. From discussions with Area General Managers to residents raising issues directly with me or suppliers letting me know of a delay. All parties want a clear understanding of when an issue is going to be fixed or resolved, and understating of what the next step is.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

I enjoy problem solving and learning new things. Being in the maintenance industry there is always an issue to solve or new system to figure out. Student Accommodation is fast paced and provides me with many opportunities to use the skills I have learned over my career.

“I enjoy problem solving and learning new things. Being in the maintenance industry there is always an issue to solve or new system to figure out.”

Matthew Kelly

UniLodge Facilities Manager, Brisbane

Tell us a little about yourself. Originally practising as a commercial litigation lawyer for several years I then decided to have children with the plan of working part-time. It soon became apparent that part-time litigation law and babies didn’t go together and so I explored other career options. I tried a variety of different things including decorating, retailing, charity event coordinating and most recently hospitality with my husband. Certain death was around the corner for either one of us working so closely together in hospitality and so when the advertisement for Registrar and PA to the Rector at Aquinas came up, I jumped at the opportunity.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I am the first contact point for anyone thinking about coming to Aquinas and so am the public face of the College. I do the marketing and liaise closely with many regional SA and interstate schools. I run all the large functions, (and there are many)! I manage the student database and all the College records. I provide extensive support to the Rector. I looked at my PD to answer this question but as we are such a small and cohesive team, I basically ignore my PD and do whatever is needed!

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

Back when COVID was dictating our days, we made the decision to keep all our

students at Aquinas. We did this even if they had COVID and were isolating (AND FOR 14 DAYS back then!). To do this successfully a basic but extremely important necessity needed to be covered: feeding the students in isolation. Our student Leaders couldn’t do this on their own (as some of them were also in isolation) and so our very small staff team consisting of the Dean of Students and Vice-Rector, Carolyn Mee, the Academic Director, Sarah Moller, the Business Manager, Todd Sparrow, the Chaplain, Fr Paul Ghanem and me and in cooperation with our wonderful catering staff, Chefs Deb Barton and Lori Kopsaftis, set about devising and implementing a military-like operation for meals. With rosters, disposable cutlery and crockery, care packages, 1000s of texts, (and the same in metres of alfoil to keep food hot), clever menu design and plenty of good humour all our team came together to push trolleys around the sprawling grounds of Aquinas delivering 3 delicious meals every day to our students. At the height of covid, we had 75 students in isolation at the same time. It was a lot of meals, but everyone was fed and happy.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

The advertisement for the position at Aquinas ticked every box as to my skill set. I am a warm, friendly and welcoming person and so I knew that the environment of student accommodation would be a happy place for me. It was an opportunity to use

my tertiary education, my retailing, event coordination and hospitality skills. Probably also my mothering skills! (I have three adult sons and love being a mother. Aquinas now gives me 180 young adults to mother each year). I have been at Aquinas for almost 4 years.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

Just how amazing the experience is for any students fortunate enough to come to Aquinas. It is truly a life changing experience for them. They receive the best pastoral, academic and physical care and make friends for life. Even though my sons went to university in Adelaide, and we live 10 minutes away from the CBD, had I known about Aquinas when they were at Uni, I would have encouraged them to come to Aquinas as I think they would have gained so much. Universities are now difficult places to make friends and so much is online. University study is now an isolating experience whereas residential student accommodation is the opposite!

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

The fact that no two days are the same! It is definitely not a boring job! I also love the fact that I get to interact daily with so many beautiful young adults. I am also very proud of my college and the impact it has on the lives of these young people. I also work with an amazing team. We are very supportive of each other.

Stephanie Hamra Registrar/PA to the Rector, Aquinas College, Adelaide

“I am a warm, friendly and welcoming person and so I knew that the environment of student accommodation would be a happy place for me.”

Staff Profiles - Behind the scenes

Continued from previous page

Tell us a little about yourself. Hi, my name is Susan Walters.

I am a proud mother of 8 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

My children live in all 4 corners of NZ and visiting them not only allows me to catch up with my babies but also see the beautiful country we live in.

I live a quiet life and share my home with 3 very affectionate pets, Peanut, Snoopy and Bubby. In their company, life is never dull, I pamper, play and provide all the love and affection necessary.

Life can also find me in my garden. Its not huge and doesn’t produce every

Susan

Walters Housekeeper, Massey Halls, Manawatu

kind of fruit and vege, but I am proud of my efforts and duly rewarded for my sacrifice of a sore body after a day’s work.

Beautiful flowers to adorn my home and the odd vege to flavour my kitchen is enough for me.

I live a very simple life. Based upon the principles of human kindness, love, and humility. I share whatever I have with others, am always willing to give a helping hand when asked and will go that extra mile to achieve an outcome for another.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like? As a Housekeeper for Accommodation Services, I take pride in everything I do. The fact that my title reads Housekeeper says I can turn my house into a home, providing each person the respect and nurture expected of a keeper. Endeavouring to make my house safe, comfortable and hygienic is imperative and a daily goal.

My fields of responsibility are: Maintaining and Reporting on the Short Stays Hall and keeping Atawhai Village a Home.

How long have you been in the industry? With 20+ years’ service I have seen many changes and met many lovely people.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

I have watched new Halls being built, people arrive, graduate, and leave. I have laughed at the antics of students surprised by the eel in the shower, marmite on doors and the car wrapped in gladwrap. I’ve even cringed at the food being cooked, but all the time I have often wondered how they are and what are they doing today.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

The things that allows me to sleep sound at night are knowing that I do my best, I make people smile, and every task I complete is done to the highest level of my ability.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

My role as Accommodation Wellbeing Advisor was a newly formed role at UC in 2022. This was quite exciting as it meant I had some flexibility to shape the role to reflect the needs I observed. A key focus of my role is to work with our accommodation partners to ensure resident assistants (Taurima) are suitably trained to meet their obligations under The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, and that they have the resources they need to do this well. A typical day could see me making a hall visit to engage with RAs or connect with hall staff, coordinating a training, working on a new resource, or collaborating with colleagues to explore how a process could be improved. I also spend quite a lot of time attending meetings involving other UC wellbeing focussed teams. This helps me to keep halls informed of developing wellbeing issues, initiatives and opportunities which may be relevant for their residents, and to convey any of their concerns or initiatives back to UC. During the busy application season, I also support my UC accommodation services colleagues by answering enquiries from students and parents about the hall application process.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

While I am new to the tertiary accommodation industry, starting in March 2022, I had studied at UC about fifteen years ago so was familiar with the UC

Loretta Dixon Wellbeing Adviser, Accommodation Services, University of Canterbury

environment. I have been fortunate in my working life to have enjoyed each of my previous roles and when it came time for a new challenge, I took the time to make sure I found another role that would be just as rewarding. When this role came up, I did not hesitate, as it combined a great work environment with a role that utilises and builds on my previous work experiences. My previous roles were with Oranga Tamariki coordinating wraparound supports for vulnerable families, and in a counselling service where I spent a lot of time talking to people seeking support for earthquake anxiety and other trauma; couple and family relationships; mental health or family harm concerns. It feels like my previous roles have given me some understanding of the life experiences and trauma that many of our students may carry with them into the accommodation environment, and thereby adding to the sometimes-complex issues they can face during their stay in halls. The challenge is how we can best support them through these issues and empower them to thrive.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

My entire role is about coordinating and connecting so I have many opportunities to work with other team members, both at UC and in halls of residence. One of the first tasks I gave myself was to create a wellbeing focussed poster for student rooms. The goal was to improve early access to support for first year students by them having easy access to key information. This involved consulting with

several UC health and wellbeing focussed teams, as well as consultation with hall staff and resident advisors to explore what they felt would be most useful. This resulted in a resource that has now been placed in almost 95% of UC Hall of residence bedrooms. One of the most gratifying moments recently was when I was approached by a UC colleague who was working with a homeless and vulnerable young person who had no money or place to stay that night. I was able to connect with a halls manager to make an urgent placement for several days which gave other support services time to help the student access suitable funding and other supports. The student has now been able to settle in long term accommodation.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

My daughter attended a NZ university and stayed for her first year in a hall of residence. She was a strong capable individual so I don’t think, as a parent, it occurred to me how vulnerable she could be while away from home for the first time. Back then I certainly had not anticipated the complex issues facing both students and staff today. While living away from home for the first time has no doubt always been a challenging time for many students, the current cohort of students I think are unique and present us with a unique set of challenges. Many of them have faced multiple issues that have not been experienced by previous first year student groups. For many of this cohort, particularly our local students, their entire schooling has had significant disruptions;

“While living away from home for the first time has no doubt always been a challenging time for many students, the current cohort of students I think are unique and present us with a unique set of challenges.”

Staff Profiles - Behind the scenes

Continued from previous page

Loretta Dixon - continued

Wellbeing Adviser, Accommodation Services, University of Canterbury

Christchurch earthquake, Mosque attack and Covid lockdowns. What would have been a normal experience of socialisation, learning, skill building and growing independence, completed under the safety of parental guidance, in some cases has been interrupted or delayed. This means some of our students are having to navigate this phase of their development without family close at hand. This can create anxiety for both students and parents and means they may require additional supports to navigate the University experience. This gives those of us working to support students in halls, the additional challenge of thinking about how we can do things differently to support their unique needs.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

He Tāngata, He Tāngata, He Tāngata. (The people, the people, the people).

In my role as a connector, I get to work with a wonderful range of people, and I am constantly amazed by their capacity to meet the constant and sometimes unpredictable demands of their work, and the enthusiasm which they bring to it. I am always impressed with the dedication of my accommodation services colleagues when they problem solve what looks like an unsolvable accommodation dilemma for a student, and I get to witness their genuine angst when they

must deliver disappointing news.

When I was in my 30’s with 2 young children, my best friend and I discussed enrolling in university for about 5 years because we regretted not doing it on leaving high school, but we could not decide what we would study, so procrastinated. Before my best friend died at the age of 40, I had promised her I would enrol the following year. One of the best pieces of advice I was given when I enrolled at university was to pick courses that looked interesting to me, and I would come out qualified to do something I enjoy. How true that has turned out to be.

Sarah-Jane McLennan Business Manager, Student Residence Trust Aotearoa, Hamilton NZ.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

I was working for a retail store and was looking for a change of scenery 7.5 years ago.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m a mother, my partner and I have two teenagers, and I have worked for three different education institutions for a total of 16.5 years.  I’m just like anyone else, but love working in student accommodation.  It’s an exciting time in a young person’s life and to be there and help them makes me happy.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

As Business Manager, I cover everything from admin to contracts, finance, budgets, payroll, and helping residents with whatever their queries are.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome ?

We are a small team here so we are constantly collaborating with other colleagues to find the best outcome for our residents. Recently I have been helping my colleague learn her role as she is new to the industry so there is a lot of knowledge for me to pass on to her and to help her to find her feet. This year I stepped in and trained the six Residential Leaders as their manager had been here less than one week – it’s hard to train others in procedures that you are also learning as well!  We worked together in a collaborative manner so everyone could

learn about each other and their roles together in a supportive environment.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

I guess that would be the curve balls that residents like to throw you from time to time, but over the years we have come to expect the unexpected so you just work through the issues methodically as, and when, something comes up. I think that students often think they are the first people to ever experience something and they can often be surprised when you tell them it’s common to feel this way – yeah, that is probably the most surprising thing!

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

My favourite part of my role is that you never know what the day will bring. It is always a challenge, and exciting to see the residents grow over the course of the year.

Tell us a little about yourself

Hi, I’m Djito Rudianto, 55 years old. I am living in Bandar Sunway, Malaysia and I grew up in Indonesia. I’m married with kids and I work as a Senior Technician at Sunway House Residence for a living

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

My role is to assist with maintenance issues, provide technical support to the Facilities & Maintenance team and carry out daily routine maintenance work as well as maintenance appointments to serve our residents.

Djito Rudianto

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

I have been in this industry for around 24 years since 1999. I like working in an environment surrounded with students as it keeps me young! The appreciation I receive from residents after resolving their issues drives me to serve them better. I am appreciated by my managers and the company for my skills in plumbing, welding, tiling, etc. and I feel that I am fully utilising my trade skills.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

I’ve had great experience working with external contractors and outsourced companies on several projects around the Residences. During these projects, we shared knowledge and learnt

skills from each other. The ability to work in a team is key for successful outcomes for each and every project.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

Opportunities for continuous learning of new skills and the ever-evolving maintenance trade is what surprises about me about this role. It feeds of my natural curiosity and makes me go further to become a better skilled technician.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

1. The appreciation shown by our students and our management team.

2. My friendly & helpful work colleagues

3. Receiving new types of maintenance challenges, as it triggers my curiosity to study new things and how to solve problems.

Tell us a little about yourself

Hi! My name is Edel and I come from the sunny island of Mauritius. I have been lucky to call Melbourne home for the past 7 years now. I have a passion for travelling and learning new languages and cultures which led me to completing a bachelor in international relations. When

not working, I enjoy practicing pilates, drawing and entertaining my cat Ziggy.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I am a revenue and reservations officer at Deakin Residential Services, Burwood Campus. My role mainly involves administrative tasks such as processing applications, reservations as well as finance administration. I always start the day with a good cup of coffee (who does not?) while checking my task list. On a daily basis, you will usually find me processing invoices, sending out accommodation offers, as well as responding to student

queries. I love ticking my list as I go through the day and a good day at work is one where my list has been ticked off.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

During my university years, I have been extensively involved in student organisations helping international students to settle in Melbourne. After graduating, I felt that my skillset would be most valuable in a student environment and led me to working for a purpose-built student accommodation. After 3 years in the industry, I realised that my strengths

Senior Technician, Sunway House Residence, Selangor, Malaysia

Edel Wan

Revenue and Reservations Officer, Deakin Residential Services, Melbourne.

Staff Profiles - Behind the scenes

Continued from previous page

Edel Wan - continued

Revenue and Reservations Officer, Deakin Residential Services, Melbourne.

lied in administration for which I took the opportunity to work in reservations and revenue for Deakin Residential Services. I have now been working in my “new” role for a bit less than a year.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

Check in day! With major turnovers, check-in days can be overwhelming

and requires a huge team effort to be successful. My first big check-in day was last February, and it was amazing to see how everyone’s work converged to make the day not only a success for students but also fun for all visitors and staffs.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

Despite being in administration, I was surprised by the extent to which my role can

be multifaceted, and no two days are the same. This provides a great environment for learning new skills and challenging myself.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

I love the finance administration part of my role as it allows me to exercise my keen eye for detail, keeping track of records, picking up discrepancies and ticking my list off.

Tell us a little about yourself

I originally started in the Navy, joining at 16 years of age at the apprentice training camp at Blacktown and stayed in the Navy for 9 years. I joined the Navy as a Stoker (Working in the boiler and engine room on steam ships). These years not only gave me a wide engineering knowledge but also made me appreciate the benefits of travel and hanging around shady bars.

Following these years I married and had two wonderful daughters, spent time working in the air conditioning trade and eventually ended up working for a real estate company and engineering firm before finally joining ACU.

Dean Smith

Still got the motorbike and as my wife says – “it’s the last link with my youth”.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I am the State FM for NSW and my day normally involves visiting the campuses and the student accommodation, making sure the campus looks presentable; chasing contractors to agree to do work; getting them to turn up to complete the work, then chasing them to invoice so I can pay for the work. Plus making the campus fully compliant and safe –From the penthouse to the outhouse.

At our Camperdown building there was a real need to support the Student Accommodation team with the building maintenance. The building is an old heritage property with many interesting maintenance and repair requirements. These have mainly involved water either leaking from the roof or the hot water system. It was interesting work to find out some of the issues of the building and working with different

Dana & Deb

contractors to get these issues fixed.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

I have been with ACU for over 7 years and have come with a long history in Facilities Management.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

The last interesting thing happened when there was no hot water on Christmas day and I needed to reset the systems so the occupants could have a hot shower. The occupants at Camperdown were very happy to have hot water restored.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

The team did find 26 possums in a roof space at one time. Now that was surprising.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

The variety and I get to meet people from all facets of the university.

Student Living Cleaning Team Members, University of Newcastle

Maria is Spotless’ Accommodation Cleaning Manager and told us that what she loves most about her role is the opportunity to teach and guide her team and to watch them grow. Every day Maria’s team of 25 dedicated cleaners make their way through the nine residences ensuring the best possible cleaning and hygiene standards are offered to residents.

Maria is extremely proud of the service her team provides and is so thankful to them for their willingness to constantly

go above and beyond in the pursuit of excellence, and for their huge contribution to the overall resident experience.

We sat down with two of Maria’s longest serving team members, Dana and Deb, and asked them about their role and what it means to them.

Tell us a bit about yourselves?

Dana: I started in Student Living in 1997, servicing Barahineban (student accommodation residence) and

State Facilities Manager, Australian Catholic University, Sydney.

It’s no secret that it takes a special type of person to willingly clean up after young people, and the cleaning team in the University of Newcastle’s Student Living precinct is no exception.

Staff Profiles - Behind the scenes

Continued from previous page

Dana & Deb - continued

Student Living Cleaning Team Members, University of Newcastle

have been there ever since! Over 17 years working in the same place!

Deb: I’ve worked at the Uni for over 30 years, most of which has been in Student Living, looking after International House (student accommodation residence).

What does a day in your working life look like?

Dana: We come together for a meeting with Maria at 8am and then collect our keys, trolleys and equipment and head to common rooms first.

Deb: After 9am we go into the apartments and see what awaits us!

What is it like working with student residents?

Dana: it’s wonderful. I started working in Barahineban around the same time I became an empty nester so I adopted all the students! Working with the students every day keeps me open minded and reminds me that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, everyone has the same problems and worries.

Deb: I like working with students and contributing to their experience of living on campus. I like making sure they have a nice environment to live in and having conversations with them.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

Dan Vella

Dana: Getting to know the students and having a set routine so I know what I’m doing every day.

Deb: I just like coming to work every day! And to see things change over the years has been great too – always something or someone new.

If you weren’t cleaning up after student residents, what would you be doing?

Dana: I don’t know! I’ve been here so long it’s my home away from home too! When I’m not at work I like playing solitaire or reading a book.

Deb: In my spare time I love cooking (especially caramel slice!) and going to the movies or the beach.

St John’s College, Property and Services Team Member

We spend our days ensuring that student facilities are kept in good working order.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

the other team members to keep the place running smoothly and make sure the students are well looked after.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

Tell us a little about yourself

I started my career in the Australian Army. When I left, I did a carpentry apprenticeship and spent the next 15 years working in construction. I have been working at St John’s for the past 6 years.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I work in the Property and Services team at St John’s, led by our Manager Lawrence Earl and alongside team member and my good friend Louie Dobson who has worked at the College 20 years next year.

Prior to commencing my role at St John’s I did some contractual construction work at the college through my previous employer. I really enjoyed the culture, community and the way the College provides for the students, so came on board fulltime as part of the team here in 2017.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

As a maintenance team member, it’s great that I get to have interactions with all members of staff and students.

In a relatively small organisation like a college we’re always working with

The impact the students have on youseeing them grow from first year to third year and witnessing their achievements and accomplishments is something special. We’ve seen some great students come through across the years, and I really enjoy getting to know them.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

Being able to chat with the students, learning where they are from and discovering what brought them to St Johns College. It is wonderful to see the camaraderie they all have with each other, it’s a special place.

Tell us a little about yourself

I was born and raised in Canberra and have lived here my whole life I am married with three children, one daughter and two sons. My interests are football I’m a mad Canberra Raiders fan. I also enjoy watching my son’s footy and helping the team out as a touch judge, I love tinkering around with things and spending time at home with my family.

What is your role, and what does a day in your working life look like?

I am the Facilities Manager for part of the University of Canberra’s accommodation located on site, my average day starts with site and building walks and checking plant and equipment is working as it should be. I check in with my team and ensure they are set up for the day and don’t need anything and I make sure they aren’t overloaded with jobs.

I also respond to resident maintenance requests and ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner. I liaise with contractors regularly and I ensure all their documentation and paperwork are up to date. I am the WH&S Officer so I am always on the lookout for dangerous situations which I can make right to prevent any injuries.

A big part of my role is also the coordination of external contractors and liaising with the Owners regarding their assets to ensure preventative maintenance is on track.

Morgan Donnelly Facilities Manager, University of Canberra.

What brought you to work in student accommodation and how long have you been in the industry?

I previously worked in Aged Care, and I saw a job come up at Student Accommodation which caught my eye. I applied and was offered a job as a Property Service Coordinator and following that I moved into a Maintenance Supervisor role, and I have just been promoted to the Facilities Manager role.

I like the variety of tasks, being able to do something different every day. I love working with people and often have a chat with residents when I am working within their spaces. I have been in Student Accommodation for around 8 years now and I still love what I do.

Tell us about a time when you worked with team members in other roles for a successful outcome?

Our maintenance team loves cooking BBQs for the residents, I jump on the front desk to help our residents and my colleagues or I will answer phones from time to time. It means that I can learn more and we can provide excellent customer service to our residents. I love the diversity of our teams and expanding my knowledge where I can.

Our Maintenance Team have won an Innovation Award and I have just recently been advised that I am a finalist for the Property Employee of the Quarter with the winner being announced later this year.

When we are doing room inspections, we all ‘down tools’ and help our

admin team out so that we can get through each apartment within the timelines we advertise to residents.

What is something unexpected or surprising about your role?

I find the amount of residents who are suffering with mental health issues is so widespread. I try to help people if I find them in not such a great place by referring them to our Residential Life team so they can hopefully get the help they need. I carry around information with me so that I can provide residents with contacts within the University, so if they need some help they can reach out if they want to. I think that we are more open to talking about mental health issues and I find this can be an advantage because it is much easier to start a conversation with someone who may not be travelling so well - because our society is more open to talking and reaching out.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

My favourite thing would have to be the variety of tasks and being able to learn new skills, many of these helps me in my own life. I’ve learnt things in my role which I can then apply to my home life which is why I like to tinker with things and show my family things I’ve learnt at work.

Watching trades people keeps me intrigued as I can usually pick up hints and tips for fixing things before I need to get a tradie in (obviously not specialised things such as electrical work). My knowledge grows every day when I am at work.

“Our maintenance team loves cooking BBQs for the residents, I jump on the front desk to help our residents and my colleagues or I will answer phones from time to time.”

2023 APSAA Conference

18 – 21 September 2023 | Hilton Brisbane

Hi all, I am looking forward to seeing you all at the conference in Brisbane. We are moving back towards having a bigger conference with an even more dynamic and diverse range of presenters. Having lived in Brisbane in 2021 and 2022, I can say that September is a great time to visit the city and enjoy Queensland while it’s lovely and warm and not scorching hot! You’ll see in the program some very impressive speakers are coming and we also have a cool band for the gala dinner. In the coming weeks we’ll also be reviewing nominations for the annual APSAA Awards, there is still time to nominate and I encourage you to do so! Cheers and see you in Brisbane!

Areti (Ari) Metuamate Chair

The 2023 APSAA Conference will deliver valuable insights, perspectives on trends, challenges and opportunities within the student accommodation industry. It will provide you with a platform for networking and exchanging practical ideas and solutions with a guarantee of making new friends.

With the theme of Delivering excellence through innovation, you can expect to leave with new ideas, learnings, and connections.

This is a must attend event – mark your calendars and join us for an exciting, engaging and rewarding experience. Don’t forget to take advantage of our earlybird prices which are available until 04 August. We look forward to seeing you there!

Conference Program

The program will deliver content in three streams with a mix of workshops, interactive sessions and professional learning.

• Student experience and wellbeing

• Management, operations and finance

• Facilities and development

Sunday 17 September

Monday 18 September

Tuesday 19 September

Wednesday 20 September

Thursday 21 September

Half-Day Study Tour

Half-Day Study Tour

Welcome Reception (evening)

Conference – Day 1

Conference – Day 2

Gala Awards Dinner

Conference – Day 3 (close at 3pm)

APSAA Conference Committee, Vice Master and College Dean Ormond College, Melbourne.

Woodah millen moodoombah ngah gahdahbah goolgoon

Conference Pricing

Full Conference Registration – Earlybird: Member - $1,375

Non-Member - $1,925

Full Conference Registration – Standard: Member - $1,650

Non-Member - $1,925

Earlybird closes 4 August. One day registrations also available. Please remember that Institution and Corporate Members are entitled to receive one complimentary registration to the Conference.

Study Tours

Once again, we will be offering pre-conference study tours on Sunday afternoon and Monday which will provide insights into what other operators are doing. Join us for one or both days to meet other delegates and view Brisbane student accommodation facilities. Transport and meals during the tour will be provided. Please add this option when in your online registration.

Accommodation

The conference venue, Hilton Brisbane, is located in the central business district and connected to Queen Street Mall, home to shopping, dining and entertainment. With the Brisbane River just blocks away and South Bank Parklands close by, it offers a perfect location to explore this vibrant city. A discounted rate is available for APSAA attendees – please check our website (www.apsaa.org.au) for more information.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The APSAA Conference provides an opportunity to partner with us to showcase your brand and strengthen relationships within the student accommodation industry. If you are interested in attending as a sponsor to present your latest innovations and services, please contact the team to discuss further.

APSAA CONFERENCE

Keynote Speakers

Todd is a descendant of the Kalarie peoples of the Wiradjuri nation and is the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities - the second person to fill this groundbreaking position. In this role, Todd works closely with Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ communities to provide crucial advice to the Victorian Government on the development of policies, services and programs that are inclusive and meet the needs of our diverse communities. Todd is also an accomplished diversity & inclusion consultant and public intellectual with extensive research experience working with both First Nations and LGBTIQ+ communities. Todd has expertise in reforming social policy and cultural safety frameworks in public and private sectors across Australia and is recognised as a strategic thought leader, with a commitment to improving outcomes and opportunities for all Australians.

Alexia is the founder and CEO of GirlBoss NZ - a 13,500 strong army of young women who are determined to achieve gender equality in their lifetimes. Dismayed by the under representation of women in leadership roles Alexia founded GirlBoss when she was just 16. Encouraging young women to embrace STEM, leadership and entrepreneurship, GirlBoss is now New Zealand’s largest organisation for young women. She was named the most influential young leader under the age of 25 at the Westpac Women of Influence awards and recently returned from Buckingham Palace where she received the Queen’s Young Leader medal for services to the Commonwealth. She is the youngest Commonwealth citizen to ever receive this honour.

Alexia proves that you are never too young (or too short) to be an agitator for change.

Lucinda is an award-winning urban designer, a cofounder of world-leading social analytics company Neighbourlytics, and a globally recognised expert in smart cities and social change. Named as one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women by the Australian Financial Review, Lucinda is a technology leader who offers inspiration and practical advice on the future of living, the future of work and how technology can be a force for good in turbulent times. Lucinda is an ‘urban futurist’ who has spent the past decade pioneering innovative solutions for improving cities and neighbourhoods, now adopted globally. She helped create the UN Sustainable Development Goals for cities (Goal 11), has delivered more than 100 neighbourhood improvement projects across Australia through her social enterprise CoDesign Studio and is now spearheading world leading technology for measuring neighbourhood lifestyle and wellbeing using digital data, as Founding Director of Neighbourlytics.

Sam Bloom is a 2 x World Para Surfing Champion, bestselling author, and inspiration behind the Australian box-office hit Penguin Bloom. In 2013, while holidaying in Thailand with her family, Sam unknowingly leant on a rotten balcony railing, falling through it and plunging six metres onto the concrete below. Sam’s injuries were horrific, and not only was Sam physically broken and facing the daunting reality of never walking again, but her soul and spirit were crushed. She was not the active, adventurous mother she once was and was convinced if she could not have her old life back, her new one was not worth living. A serendipitous encounter with a frail and injured magpie chick, was to transform her attitude, change the course of her recovery, and save her family. Sam’s is a story for the times, with profound messages for us all - of the power of love and family, and of our innate ability to find determination and courage in the face of adversity.

Todd Fernando

Alexia Christina Hilbertidou

Lucinda Hartley

Sam Bloom

Woodah millen moodoombah ngah gahdahbah goolgoon

SYDNEY2023 BOOT CAMP

APSAA Bootcamp is new in 2023

APSAA’s brand new Bootcamp is an excellent opportunity for new professionals in student accommodation (less than 1-2 years’ experience), to gain a broader understanding of the industry. Facilitated by industry professionals with a wealth of experience in both PBSA and university housing, participants will meet and interact with other

colleagues, and gain exposure to and an understanding of APSAA industry guidelines.

To be held 4 & 5 December, 2023 at the Australian Catholic University’s Miguel Cordero Residence in Sydney, APSAA bootcamp consists of formal training, group activities and informal networking opportunities.

Bootcamp begins on Monday 4 December with a lunch and sessions on Operations and Student Experience. Tuesday 5th December will feature sessions on Facilities, Finance, Risk & Incident Management and Human Resources. This is in addition to a guest speaker and Q&A plus feedback opportunities.

JODIE HAZELL Senior Manager, Student Residence, University of Wollongong

A GHTI Graduate, Jodie is responsible for developing and implementing streamlined, efficient and consistent approaches to DRS operations across all locations. In addition, Jodie manages the operational support team, which has responsibility for key software systems, risk management, compliance and reporting obligations, and develops operating procedures that support operational teams.

With a Masters in Applied Management (Tourism) and over 20 years working in the accommodation sector both in hospitality and tertiary education sectors, she has extensive operational, revenue management and administrative experience.

RACHEL OVERTON

Associate Director Student Accommodation, University of Canberra

Rachel is a GHTI Graduate and a current APSAA Board member. At the University of Canberra (UC) Rachel is responsible for the contractual management, safety, security and pastoral care of residents living in student accommodation. Prior to working at UC, Rachel worked in education internationally for over 20 years, most recently as Director of Student Services, Lincoln College Group UK.

Rachel has extensive experience and training in pastoral care and has represented education on government panels for safeguarding, equality and diversity, mental health, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and prevent. Rachel is passionate about education and student support and believes that every person entering accommodation has a right to a happy, safe and fun experience whilst living away from home.

James is responsible for the leadership, management, and delivery of an integrated on and off campus accommodation service to students at Deakin’s Burwood campus including the daily operation of the residential complex along with marketing, recruitment, business, facility management, service and student support functions. James has worked in the student accommodation sector for over 10 years across both the UK and Australia.

JAMES HAWLEY General Manager, Deakin Residential Services

The facilitators will be:

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY | SYDNEY

Assistance Animals in Residence – a policy development case study

Who doesn’t love a good policy? Quite a few people probably, but for many of us they are a vital tool for pro-active governance.

While it may be tempting to create policies for every possible eventuation in student accommodation, it’s important to recognise that they are best placed where a strong need arises, and our work practices need to adjust to accommodate appropriately. In these cases, collaborative work behind the scenes to create robust policies can be of huge benefit to students and staff alike.

One example of this is Deakin Residential Services’ (DRS) Assistance Animal policy, which has helped to solve the complex challenge of balancing the organisation’s commitment to inclusion and reasonable adjustments as well as adherence to anti-discrimination legislation, alongside the responsibility to the broader residential community amidst a rise in requests for assistance animals.

DRS is governed by Deakin University policies except where the need arises to create specific policies relating to student

residences, where a similar policy doesn’t exist at a University level, or where the corresponding University policy isn’t fit for purpose. To address the growing number of requests, DRS staff decided to create an Assistance Animal policy in 2019.

Most of these requests were entirely reasonable, including requests to have trained assistance dogs accompany students living in residences, allowing students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend university to do so. On the other hand, some requests were coming through for animals

such as cats and fish, or other untrained emotional support animals, which was creating challenging moral and legal terrain for staff to navigate on a case-by-case basis.

While DRS recognises the well-documented connection of having pets to improvement in wellbeing, as with many other student accommodation providers, pets are not allowed in our residences. Instead, we find other ways to provide this animal engagement to students, such as therapy dog sessions around exam periods, or visits from petting zoos and similar animal encounters. These events are highly popular, and we also extend these opportunities to staff as well where possible.

In creating the new policy, it was important in this case not to ‘go it alone’ but instead to enlist the assistance and expertise of colleagues across the University. This included representatives from the Disability, Equity & Inclusion team, the Disability Resource Centre and the Office of the General Counsel. DRS collaborated with this group to create a policy that was fit for purpose, adhered to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), and would balance accessibility with fairness to other students.

Once a draft had been created, the Senior Legal Counsel representative within the group recommended external legal advice be sought from a firm specialising in disability legal services, to provide objective legal opinion on this important document.

The resulting policy is one which specifically defines the difference between trained assistance animals and other untrained emotional support animals, the process that will be followed to determine suitability of accommodation for students with assistance animals, and the circumstances whereby assistance animals can safely be integrated into the residential community. Importantly, due to the collaborative nature of the development process, it’s a policy that satisfies the needs of various stakeholders

About the author: Sam Johnstone

Sam Johnstone, APSAA Communications & Engagement Committee Vice Chair / Manager, Experience and Engagement, Deakin Residential Services

With a background in engagement and student experience roles across Deakin and the wider Higher Education sector, Sam is passionate about supporting students and helping them to thrive.

across the University, as well as those of DRS.

As DRS CEO Marion Bayley says, “Our Assistance Animal policy has been invaluable for DRS, helping us to balance the needs of individual students with the wider community, ensuring the wellbeing of the animals themselves and giving us a tool to manage complex situations with confidence, fairness and within legislation requirements.”

One example of the success of this policy has been a residential student who lived with us for four years from 2019 alongside her trained assistance animal, a dog which very much became part of the residential community in that time. This student lives with disabilities and without their assistance animal, may not have been able to live on residence and achieve the success at university that they did. They were highly engaged, attending many events over the years, and taking part in other key initiatives within the community.

When asked about advice to other student accommodation providers considering creating an Assistance Animal policy, Laura Burge (Senior Manager, Respect and Gender Equity, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, formerly with Deakin Residential Services), recommended:

• Do your research – explore what others are doing in this space, consider individual needs and community interests.

• Meet the requirements at a minimum and where possible strive for best practice.

• Communicate policies and procedures clearly as part of application process or promotional materials.

• Regularly review practice – legislation and good practice changes.

• Ensure staff within the broader university are aware of your approach in the residences.

Whether it be for Assistance Animals or other facets of Student Accommodation, it’s clear that policies are an important tool for sound governance, collaboration and clarity. While they’re not needed for every possible eventuality, the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to develop and maintain appropriate policies can be of great service to your organisation.

For those interested, the policy in full can be viewed here:

Student accommodation communities, Reconciliation and the Voice

Dr Jessa Rogers (QUT) & Dr Areti Metuamate (Ormond College, University of Melbourne)

Later this year, all Australians over the age of 18 will be asked whether they support enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Australian Constitution.  The Voice is one of the three core parts of the Uluru Statement from the Heart (https:// ulurustatement.org/the-statement/view-thestatement/), along with Treaty and Truth.

As we head toward referendum, it’s the right time for all voting Australians, to inform themselves of about what the Voice is proposing, to make a decision that is right for them.

Like all peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not a homogenous group. In addition to two distinct cultural collectives, there are hundreds of Indigenous peoples, Countries and nations across Australia, each with diverse peoples and perspectives within them.

The upcoming Referendum is an important and historic national occasion in Australia. An enshrined Voice is hoped to have significant impact on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples toward self-determination in their own land. For non-Indigenous people, the Voice will also have an impact, primarily by way of changes to how Indigenous policy and legislation is developed federally in Australia.

Wherever you stand on the referendum issue – ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ – it is important that APSAA members consider the position of

First Nations students in your residences/ colleges/halls. We were asked to offer some advice to student accommodation staff about how to support First Nations students and staff in the lead up to the Referendum. Here are some key points:

• Understand the Referendum question and the key arguments for and against

This is really important because students will often look to staff and student leaders within their student accommodation community for guidance and advice.

While nobody expects you to understand all the intricacies, it pays to have a good look at what the arguments are and where you might be able to refer a student who wants to know a bit more about the Referendum and the Voice.

• Don’t assume every Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student supports the Voice There are many views on the Voice amongst First Nations communities. This will be the same for First Nations

Image: Dr Rogers (centre) with Dr Metuamate (on her left) after speaking on the Indigenous Residential Experiences panel at the 2022 APSAA Conference (Sydney).

students in your student accommodation community. Some First Nations people may not feel comfortable sharing their position on the Voice. Others may have very passionate views and feel hurt by discussions with people who do not understand their point of view. Because the Voice affects Indigenous people the most, but is being voted on by all Australian people, it is a sensitive topic for many people.

• Find ways to facilitate safe discussion and debate in your community

Given the diversity of views, and the important role student accommodation communities play in supporting students while they are studying at university, it would be great for you to consider ways to facilitate and promote discussion in a way that is safe and constructive for all. Perhaps promote a local or university held event about the Voice, or host a panel with people with a range of views represented. It’s always best not to invite extreme views to join these panels.

• Don’t expect First Nations students to take the lead on activities or events on the Referendum (or Reconciliation in general)

This happens lots and is often really uncomfortable for First Nations students. Not only should all Australians be part of this journey, you should never assume First Nations students are all well informed about the Referendum, or Reconciliation, or that they are particularly interested in taking a lead in this space. We often talk about this with our own kids and while they are proud to be Indigenous, they don’t always want to be out there taking the lead and neither should they have to feel that way. That being said, it is always a good thing to ask First Nations students whether they want to be involved, and to what extent, at the outset. There’s nothing more awkward for a First Nations student than being in a student accommodation community where all sorts of stuff is happening in the Reconciliation space and yet they’ve never been invited to play a part in it!

Connecting our residents to Country through visual storytelling

Akey strategic priority for the University of Newcastle is our commitment to Indigenous higher education, innovation and engagement and we are proud to be a sector leader in terms of Indigenous student enrolments and the employment of Indigenous staff.  The University is committed to building on this strength and extending our collaboration and partnerships with Indigenous peoples of our regions and beyond.

The University’s Wollotuka Institute provides an inclusive, culturally safe environment where students can go for support, advice, collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Wollotuka is committed to the advancement and leadership of Indigenous education at a local, national and global level. The team

supports Indigenous students with all their academic, cultural and emotional wellbeing needs to ensure success during their time at the University of Newcastle.

In conjunction with The Wollotuka Institute, in 2022 University of Newcastle’s Student Living residents created an artwork titled ‘Our home’ which is now proudly displayed outside the Student Living office on Callaghan Campus – located on Awabakal Country.

The artwork speaks to the unique experience that is living on Awabakal Country at Callaghan campus. Through the creation of their individual artworks, residents learned about collaborative artmaking and gained hands-on experience painting and drawing, guided by Wollotuka tutors who shared

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About the author: Jess Rokobaro

Jess Rokobaro is the Business Support Manager, Student Living, Academic Division at the University of Newcastle, a position she has held for over two years. She is responsible for managing the delivery of the financial, admissions and systems business functions in Student Living as well as managing the Customer Service and Engagement functional areas.

Connecting our residents to Country through visual storytelling

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knowledge about what it means to connect to Country. The activity provided residents the opportunity to make their mark with an individual artwork piece that expressed their creativity and showcased what it meant to them to call Callaghan’s bushland campus home. Each piece of art was then assembled into a single collaborative artwork to describe our place, our culture and our country.

Another example of connection through visual storytelling is ‘Yapa’, created by University of Newcastle alum Jasmine Craciun, a proud Barkindji and Malyangapa woman.  In 2020, Jasmine created ‘Yapa’, for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Research Framework, and the original artwork now hangs in the University’s Great Hall. When interviewed about the creation of her artwork, Jasmine spoke about how Aboriginal people have always used art as a means to hold their history and tell their stories.  Through her work, she is continuing this legacy in a new context.

Jasmine’s ‘Yapa’ represents the University’s Ourimbah and Newcastle campuses and depicts students in all stages of their university journey and how they come together to learn, grow and share knowledge with each other.  Another significant aspect of the artwork is how it depicts the ways in which educating others about Aboriginal history and culture has developed over time and the importance of continuing to come together to share knowledge.

Inspired by this powerful artwork, details from ‘Yapa’ have been incorporated into an Acknowledgement of Country that hangs in the entryway to all Student Living residences.

While we are proud of our progress to date, the Student Living team is committed to furthering our cultural capability and commitment to the advancement of Indigenous staff and residents, guided by our University’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Acknowledging that there is more work to be done, we will continue to partner with Wollotuka and truly listen to our First Nations residents to ensure we are creating a welcoming home that celebrates the richness of culture and Country.

Artwork created by University of Newcastle’s Student Living residents in conjunction with the University’s Wollotuka Institute.

UC Chancellor, Tom Calma named 2023 Senior Australian of the Year

Article by Emma Larouche reproduced with the kind permission of the University of Canberra

APSAA and the University of Canberra extends its congratulations to Chancellor Professor Tom Calma AO, who has been named Senior Australian of the Year 2023.

Professor Calma acknowledged the strong field of nominees in his category and the collegiality among his peers.

“It is humbling to be among so many other finalists who do great work in their community, that is often not known or appreciated by the broader community as it is by those who have nominated them,” he said.

“We do not do what we do for accolades, but often because we see a need that is not being met and we know that with

a little coordination and a lot of effort we can make a difference, and that our collective efforts have impact.”

An Aboriginal Elder of the Kungarakan (Koong ara kan) people and member of the Iwaidja (Ee wad ja) people whose traditional lands are south west of Darwin and on the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia respectively, Professor Calma was voted the ACT Senior Australian of the Year 2023 in November 2022.

“The ACT award is an honour that I share with all those who have supported and guided me. My major ACT role is Chancellor of UC, while most of my other work is at a national level,” he said. Professor Calma was appointed Chancellor of UC in 2014.

Professor Calma was a driving force behind the University’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2021 – 2024, which includes aims to enhance education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and incorporate the culture into curriculum.

Some of his key national advocacy roles include chairing the Closing the Gap Steering Committee where he remains an active member; co-chair of Reconciliation Australia; being instrumental in establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; working on the development of the inaugural National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy; and the promotion of Justice Reinvestment.

In 2022, he became the first Aboriginal Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science – elected for his efforts in championing the health, education, and justice of Indigenous peoples. Tom believes education is the key to advancing Indigenous peoples and says his father remains the inspiration behind his life’s work.

“I am strongly committed to elevating the status and life outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, irrespective of where they live or their life situation,” Professor Calma said.

His recognition as Senior Australian of the Year marks an incredibly busy year ahead for the University’s Chancellor, who says he is passionate about playing a role in developing an effective Voice to Parliament – a proposed body chosen by First Nations people that would provide independent advice to Parliament and Government and represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“It is important for all voting age Australians, especially on our campus, to understand our parliamentary system and our Constitution, ahead of a referendum on whether to update the Constitution to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament,” he said.

“We need to create an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples can actively work with politicians and bureaucrats to co-design policies, programs and legislation with the best potential to have a positive impact, and be effective and culturally sound.”

Aquinas College, North Adelaide

Last month a new Council member joined the Aquinas College Council. She is a woman in her late 40’s who was a student at Aquinas in the early 1990’s. When she arrived for her first council meeting, she said “I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here. Walking through those gates, it felt like coming home.”

Aquinas College, North Adelaide, is a vibrant community of 180 young adults who attend the city’s tertiary institutions. Established in 1950, it is

Adelaide’s only Catholic university residential college. Its students come predominantly from rural and regional areas across South Australia, western districts of Victoria and New South Wales, and other parts of the country.

Aquinas understands its fundamental purpose is to inspire, guide and support young people to discover life in all its fullness. It realises this mission within Catholic spiritual, intellectual, social justice and liturgical traditions and priorities.

The College integrates its academic, pastoral, social and spiritual programs to maximise each Aquinian’s opportunity to become academically successful and professionally connected, personally integrated and emotionally resilient and critically aware and socially responsible, so that they can continue in their lives with purpose and foundation, to be people who are known for their readiness to discern, to achieve, to serve and to love.

Montefiore House, which the Aquinas administration building. The house was formerly the home of Sir Samuel Way from 1873 – 1916 (he served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia from 18 March 1876 until 8 January 1916).

Carolyn Mee APSAA Board Member, Vice Chair APSAA Professional Development Committee, College Dean & Vice Rector, Aquinas College.

The College is known especially for:

• the sense of family among its students, and how easily new students feel at home

• and have a sense of belonging.

• the academic climate of the College, the support it offers students in their courses, and the success they have in them.

• its nurturing of holistic wellbeing and how well staff understand the stage-of-life of

• young adults.

• an inviting culture that blends purpose and fun, scholarship and social activity,

• individual achievement and a spirit of service to others.

The college has a strong focus on academic achievement and aims to be known as somewhere where students succeed in their studies and are proactively assisted in their career aspirations. One of the most attractive features of the College is its robust academic culture, both in depth and breadth. The academic programme of the College includes:

• One-on-one advice available for all students from the Academic Director (study advice; assistance with changing course; career advice).

• The Lucey Centre open 24/7 for individual and group study, tutorials, and printing.

• Free weekly tutorials with an employed Tutor assigned for each first-year student, and for others who wish it.

• Silent, supervised study options, intensified to three 2-hour blocks per day during Focus Weeks and during Swotvac/exams.

• Seminars on tertiary learning, notetaking, essay writing, exam-preparation.

• Library service – with free loans

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Aquinas understands its fundamental purpose is to inspire, guide and support young people to discover life in all its fullness.

College Canine Companion, Murphy, who lives on campus and hangs out with students (especially at mealtimes!)

Aquinas College, North Adelaide

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of course textbooks (and other resources e.g. geological specimens; medical/nursing aides).

• Kennedy Studio open 24/7 to students of art, architecture, engineering, design.

• Academic Panel for each student, twice per year.

• Faculty Nights.

• Academic Accountability programme (mandatory for any student who has not passed a course in a particular semester.

• Senior Mentoring Programme.

• Practical support for student during their professional placement periods.

• A range of incentivisation initiatives through the year to enhance, recognise and reward student engagement.

The staff of the college are dedicated to ensuring the success of its students in all facets of their lives. Despite a relatively small team, they are a cohesive group who work hard and readily assist colleagues and students with anything that pops up. Ten senior students are also employed annually as House Coordinators (HCs). It is their role to manage and maintain the life of a particular house group, each of which has an average of 18 students to care for. The HCs work

Students at Aquinas

directly under the guidance of the College Dean and together they manage the pastoral care and wellbeing of all students, within the College’s ‘Student Wellbeing Framework’. Aquinas nurtures the holistic growth of its students, through strategies that include:

• Sessions and training in personal care and development, mental health, physical

and sexual health, first aid, and a range of relevant social and personal issues.

• A range of policies and procedures concerning areas such as respectful relationships, healthy living, social justice, inclusion, harassment, sexual assault, alcohol and drug use.

• Regular and frequent activities – at house and college levels – to build community and enhance mutual support (e.g. Formal Dinners twice per week; full Collegiate Dinners four times per year; fortnightly ‘House Hangs’; inter-house social events, games and activities; Student Club social events; inter-college sports (11 different sports played during the year against other local colleges).

To be an Aquinian is to join a family for life.

Aquinas newly painted mural “The Wolf.”

• Regular Sunday Mass and other prayer and liturgy opportunities.

• Outreach and social justice.

• Chapel – open 24/7.

• Leadership training and mentoring.

• Staff available for one-on-one support, and established links with professional services (medical, psychological).

• Extensive sporting options; Gym, Pilates and dance studio all open 24/7 and a multipurpose sports court (under lights) available for student use from 8am -10pm daily.

• Music rehearsal rooms.

Aquinas College provides the opportunity for young people to develop their talents to their full capacity, to form critical minds and compassionate hearts, and to become effective leaders mature in faith and committed to justice in this world. The college is set on a beautiful campus, overlooking the Adelaide Oval, and offers tertiary students all the value-add of being a member of a residential university college – academic success, pastoral support, connections, safety and extensive social, cultural and sporting opportunities. To be an Aquinian is to join a family for life.

Aquinas entire student body on move in day 2023, participating in a “Welcome to Country” and smoking ceremony.

GLOBAL HOUSING TRAINING INSTITUTE

16-20 April 2023

Quest Docklands

Melbourne, Australia

GHTI Returns Triumphant

2023 saw the return of the Global Housing Training Institute (GHTI). This intensive residential progamme is the only one of its kind in our region and is a collaboration between APSAA and ACUHO-I. Held in Melbourne at the Quest Docklands, GHTI was a 5-day programme with participants across three countries, and faculty from four different countries.

The 2023 GHTI curriculum was designed for those who are new midlevel professionals, who are now aspiring to enter senior level roles. They are placed into learning groups with a Faculty member to guide discussion and their learning.

The Faculty:

Co-Chairs for 2023 were Jacob Waitere (UniLodge) and Pamela Schreiber (University of Washington), and supported by Cam Bestwick (University of Melbourne), Ian Jones (University of Sheffield), Shannon Staten (Florida State University) and Marion Bayley (Deakin Residential Services). The Faculty worked together for around 6 months to develop the curriculum and content for the programme.

The Participants:

Our 2023 participants were:

Bradley Kydd Central Queensland University

Sabine Lambert Central Queensland University

Renee Murray Curtin University

Sam Johnstone Deakin Residential Services

Mimi Ahmad National University of Singapore

May Koh National University of Singapore

Vijaya Lakshiymi Palan National University of Singapore

Adeline Quek National University of Singapore

Qi Kwek National University of Singapore

Puvaneswary Margadiran National University of Singapore

Shanthi Rajaram National University of Singapore

Lisa Hyland Scape La Trobe

Michael Schwarz Scape Redfern

Stephanie Harris University of Auckland

Katherine Firth University of Melbourne

Rebecca Hall University of Newcastle

Mark Potgieter University of Wollongong

Sarah Portelli UniLodge

Check out some of the feedback from our Faculty:

Q. What will you be taking back to your institution / company?

“Many ideas AND a reminder that there are many ways to achieve our goals.”

“Feeling of renewal. Positivity. Impetus to implement improvements.”

Q. Would you recommend GHTI to other industry professionals and why?

“Absolutely! Great way to network and learn from each other. Good skill development and is thought provoking.”

“Yes. Great way to supercharge your career to the next level.”

“Yes. Great opportunity to build knowledge base & network.”

Faculty member Pam Schreiber presenting at GHTI.

Cam Bestwick (Faculty) with Mimi Ahmad, Michael Schwarz, Qi Qi Kwek , Bradley Kydd.

Vijaya Lakshiymi Palan, Sarah Portelli, Pam Schreiber (Faculty), Rebecca Hall, Sabine Lambert, absent Shanthi Rajaram.

Mark Potgieter, Ian Jones (Faculty), Renee Murray, Stephanie Harris, Puvaneswary Margadiran, Adeline Quek.

Katherine Firth, Shannon Staten (Faculty), Lisa Hyland, Sam Johnstone.

UniLodge Melbourne CBD

UniLodge Melbourne CBD

GHTI Faculty 2023 – Cam Bestwick, Ian Jones, Shannon Staten, Marion Bayley, Jacob Waitere, Pam Schreiber.

GHTI Returns Triumphant

More feedback from our Faculty:

“Absolutely! Opportunities to meet other like-minded professionals from all different facets of student accommodations gives you a lot to think about but also practical things that can work in your team or organisation.”

“100%! The content was perfect for my role & relevant to the industry and I got as much from the participants and interactions as from the content and faculty.”

The programme:

The programme for 2023 included a range of topics. Starting Sunday with a keynote presentation from Laura Burge (Deakin University) on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, this framed the start to the week. Participants were then treated on Monday to a session on Strategic planning and policy development, as well as reviewing residential experience offerings. This was followed by site visits where we saw Ormond College, Scape Franklin St Melbourne, UniLodge Melbourne CBD and UniLodge Melbourne Central.

Tuesday started off with Budgets and Financial management and Crisis/Risk management followed by sessions on Occupancy management and operational services. Learning groups then finished the day doing group reflection and mentoring from their Faculty.

Wednesday was the last full day of GHTI and started with an in-depth session into Housing Master Planning, followed by Human Resource strategy and planning. The day finished off with a session on organisational continuous improvement and the closing dinner where certificates were given to participants and faculty.

Thursday morning was spent applying all the learning from GHTI. Participants were given a list of current issues in student accommodation and tasked with applying their learning to find ways of addressing these issues. This was then topped off with a Faculty Q&A panel as well as one final review and reflection.

“Yes – clear and well presented. A great opportunity to expand your network.”

“Yes. Great to be in a space with like-minded individuals all with similar passions & purpose where we can connect, share and problem solve together.”

“Absolutely! The connections made, the informative and career changing content will help any industry member from mid to senior management.”

Q. Would you recommend GHTI to other industry professionals and why?

Ormond College

What did our class of 2023 have to say?

Q. What was the biggest benefit of being a part of GHTI?

“Networking and connections made which you can reach out to for time to come. The takeaway learnings that can be implemented into what we do on a daily basis. Learning about similar challenges we all face.”

“Connections from around the world – a community of practice to lean on, knowledge share and reflect with.”

“Connecting & building relationships within the industry that have not only given me insights, confidence & inspiration this week but can be drawn upon in the future.”

“KNOWLEDGE of student accommodation, best practices across different countries, the group discussions, reflection & learnings from others.”

“Networking, insights from faculty & peers, learning language and synergies of areas in industry outside of my immediate remit.”

Certificate presentation: Michael Schwatz with Jacob Waitere & Cam Bestwick

Certificate presentation: Rebecca Hall with Jacob Waitere & Pam Schreiber.

Certificate presentation: Adeline Quek with Jacob Waitere & Ian Jones

Ormond College