The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) hosted its first industry lunch in Canberra, bringing together a fantastic lineup of speakers to discuss some of the most pressing issues in Australia’s education and student accommodation sector.

Dan Donegan provided insights into the Australian Government’s Action Plan to Respond to Gender-Based Violence and the development of a National Code. Dan assured attendees that consultation with key bodies, including the SAA, will continue. However, hurdles around student/tenant rights, privacy, and definition remain.

Luke Sheehy highlighted a disconnect between government initiatives like "Future Made in Australia" and proposed caps on the international education sector, which would hamper such initiatives.

Geoff Denison shared valuable information about the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), explaining how it helps students make informed accommodation decisions and supports the government’s action plan.

Damian Oliver joined Geoff and Luke on a lively panel where 'caps' were a hot topic of discussion, especially regarding their impact on regional universities and accommodation operators.

This event provided an excellent platform for education providers, government representatives, student accommodation operators, and other stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue on critical issues affecting our sector.

SAA continues to champion NPAS as the right tool to ensure high-quality, safe accommodation options for all students. We are proud to facilitate these conversations and look forward to more collaborative efforts in the future!

We thank StarRez, Inc. and CONSTANT for their ongoing involvement, without their support events like this wouldn't be possible.

What a fantastic evening at Scape Kingsford last night! 

SAA members and associates came together to celebrate the student accommodation sector, discuss matters specific to NSW, gain valuable insights into the latest developments in student accommodation, and connect with other SAA NSW members and their networks.

A big thank you to our event sponsor, Constant Security, for making it possible.

We are thrilled to welcome Louis Clay, Associate Dean (Student Journey) at Trinity College, University of Melbourne, to the SAA National Committee. With his extensive background in student experience and services, Louis is set to make significant contributions to our mission of enhancing student accommodation standards.

“I joined the SAA National Committee as I think it’s important for education providers to play an active role in ensuring a quality accommodation experience for our students in Australia and the broader value proposition that accommodation contributes to Australia as a preferred study destination. I have a background in student recruitment, admissions, academic administration and student experience and have specialised in driving large teams to attract and service high quality students to Australian Institutions. I lead with courage and conviction and pride myself on bringing out the best in my teams and my stakeholders. I am passionate about ensuring a quality student experience and motivate those around me to demonstrate industry best practice, “ said Louis.

As we welcome a new member, we also take a moment to bid farewell to a valued member of the SAA committee, Denise von Wald. Denise dedicated two years of service to the association (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). The Student Accommodation Association extends its deepest gratitude to Denise for her invaluable contributions, the wealth of experience she shared, and her exceptional service. Her commitment and leadership have greatly benefited the association, and she will be greatly missed.

Building on Study Adelaide’s ongoing support for the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), we are pleased to announce that NPAS-accredited properties are now proudly display their accreditation mark on their student accommodation pages.

This initiative aims to encourage students to consider NPAS-accredited accommodation options, ensuring that they have access to properties that meet a minimum set of industry standards.

Thank you to the Study Adelaide team for their unwavering support of the Student Accommodation Association (SAA) and the National Property Accreditation Scheme. Together, we are committed to enhancing the student experience and maintaining the highest standards in student accommodation.

More information

What an incredible turnout at the SAA Industry Lunch in Perth last 24 May 2024!

It was great to hear from Derryn Belford, Dale Page, Bay Yeo and Geoff Denison about the exciting developments in the student accommodation space and their insights on how international education stakeholders are collaborating to offer top-quality student accommodation.

A big thank you to Luke Johnson, Karen Goodall, and Olena Lima for delivering a first-class event and for giving the student accommodation sector in WA the opportunity to come together.

Special thanks to our event sponsor, StudyPerth, Western Australia, for your generous support and to our outgoing Corporate Supporters StarRez, Inc. and CONSTANT.

For more information about the National Property Accreditation Scheme, visit our website: https://npas.org.au/.

The Student Accommodation Association would like to thank everyone who attended our recent industry networking event in Brisbane. Events like these are essential for industry collaboration and sharing insights, especially at a time when student accommodation is a key focus in the international education sector. These events continue to promote the quality of student accommodations across Queensland, ensuring that our offerings meet and exceed students' expectations.

We are especially grateful to Arin Seal and the UniLodge team for hosting the event, and a big thank you to our sponsor, Constant, for their generous support.

SAA was proud to host an insightful student accommodation industry lunch in Wollongong focusing on the evolving landscape of student housing, thanks to the support of Study NSW.

During the lunch, Simon O'Dea, Associate Director (Student Residence) - University of Wollongong, explored the dynamic challenges and innovative solutions for regional campuses amidst changing accommodation demands.

Nate Henderson, Associate Director Policy, and Programs – Department of Enterprise, Industry and Trade (Study NSW), delved into Study NSW's collaborative efforts with the sector and government to ensure quality accommodation for international students in NSW. He emphasised the pivotal role of NPAS in the student accommodation sector.

Geoff Denison, SAA President, provided insights into how NPAS enhances student experiences, supports education and accommodation providers, and boosts Australia's appeal as a study destination.

And finally, Rebecca Bendall, SAA National Committee Member, facilitated a lively panel with Simon, Nate, Geoff and Dale Clark - Group Executive and Vice President of Project Management, Design and Construction - Campus Living Villages - on attracting capital investment for student accommodation in regional NSW.

The event provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities in the student accommodation sector and gave those in regional NSW an opportunity to connect and discuss this critical topic.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the event, and special thanks to our ongoing and committed sponsors CONSTANT and StarRez.

Building on Study NSW’s ongoing support for the Student Accommodation Association and the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), SAA executive members with operating interests in New South Wales have been exclusively invited by Study NSW to exhibit as the quality student accommodation piece as part of NSW’s study destination marketing program in Vietnam in September.

The Showcase will take place from 9 to 14 September 2024 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and includes an education roundtable, an alumni event, and an education expo in each city.

SAA is grateful to Y Suites for expressing interest in supporting this initiative and sending representatives to promote SAA member properties as part of New South Wales quality student accommodation offering.

Thank you to Study NSW for their ongoing support for SAA and the National Property Accreditation Scheme and we look forward to sharing more of these opportunities to work collaboratively with SAA members in the future.

It was with great pleasure that Geoff Denison, President of SAA, accepted an invitation to introduce the Student Accommodation Association, our strategic objectives, and the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) to the board and all members of the CLV Executive Committee.

SAA’s presentation was part of an afternoon program which included representatives of the Property Council of Australia and Cushman & Wakefield, and was not only designed to introduce SAA to the group, but also to bring different student accommodation perspectives to a conversation around higher education, students, PBSA & policy developments.

Thank you to CLV for the opportunity and we trust our contribution added value to your executive membership. We look forward to the possibility of receiving NPAS accreditation applications for properties within your Australian portfolio in the future.

Building further on Study Australia's ongoing support for the Student Accommodation Association and the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), the Student Accommodation Association was invited by International Education (Global Engagement), Austrade, to provide an update on NPAS at an information session for colleagues from the education-related federal departments, state and territory destination agents and internal Austrade staff last month.

SAA's presentation, delivered on behalf of members, provided an update on the association's progress in building the accredited property portfolio and addressed the broad student accommodation sector response to topical issues such as:

• The opportunity Australia has to embed quality student accommodation into the delivery models of education providers across the country to attract quality international students to Australia in the future
• Education provider participation through a broad support for NPAS, which can lead to:
• • Relationships
  • Partnerships
  • Fit for purpose accommodation solutions for students
  • Deployment of capital investment
  • Future supply
• A recent move to make education providers more accountable for on and off campus student experience will motivate providers to engage with student accommodation providers and develop a controlled accommodation message to promote to students in the future.

Thank you to Austrade for the opportunity and we look forward to continuing to work side by side to enhance Australia’s international education offering.