The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Kent Anderson to the SAA National Committee.

Professor Anderson brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to the Committee, with a distinguished career spanning academia, law, government, and international education. An international lawyer with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, Kent has held senior executive positions at four Australian universities, most recently serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Newcastle.

Kent has an eclectic background, having been an academic in Australia, the USA, and Japan; a marketing manager with a US regional airline in Alaska; a commercial lawyer in Hawaii; and senior adviser for higher education to two Australian Ministers of Education. Kent served on a number of boards including National Library of Australia, Ministerial Council for International Education, Higher Education Standards Panel, New Colombo Plan, Canberra Grammar School, Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education and President of the Asian Studies Association of Australia.

Kent’s extensive experience and deep understanding of both domestic and international education landscapes will be invaluable as the SAA continues to advance its mission of supporting quality student accommodation across Australia.

We are delighted to welcome Professor Kent Anderson to the SAA National Committee and look forward to his contributions in shaping the future of student accommodation and supporting sector-wide excellence.

We’re proud to welcome two more outstanding properties into the National Property Accreditation Scheme (#NPAS), both located in the heart of Melbourne and purpose-built to support student success.

Achieving NPAS accreditation at UniLodge Melbourne CBD & UniLodge Melbourne Central reflects UniLodge's ongoing commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and high-quality living environment for our students.

Bradley Brown, Regional General Manager (Victoria) for UniLodge, shares: “We know how important peace of mind is for students and their families, especially those moving away from home for the first time. This accreditation is a proud milestone that reinforces our promise to deliver accommodation and a welcoming, inclusive community where students can thrive.”

Well done to the UniLodge team for your ongoing commitment to excellence and student wellbeing. Welcome to the NPAS-accredited community!

We’re delighted to welcome Awehome as a new Non-Executive Member of the Student Accommodation Association (SAA)!

Awehome is an AI-powered online booking platform dedicated to serving international students, with a global network of over 8,000 trusted providers and more than 300,000 students supported to date. Their mission? To deliver a smarter, more streamlined, and truly global student housing experience.

As John He, Co-Founder & Sales Director, shared: “Joining SAA allows us to connect with forward-thinking partners in the student accommodation industry and contribute to a more innovative, student-focused housing experience in Australia. As a global AI-powered booking platform, Awehome is excited to share our technology and support the standardisation and digital transformation of student housing in collaboration with the SAA community.”

We’re excited to have you with us, John and the Awehome team!

It was fantastic to catch up with so many familiar faces and meet some new ones at the SAA WA Industry Networking Event on Tuesday, 3 June 2025.

The event was a great opportunity to connect with peers from across the student accommodation sector, exchange insights, and welcome emerging leaders into the conversation.

A big thank you to Marianne Smith and Cynthia Mah from UniLodge for generously hosting us at the stunning Twin Dolphin Hall at Curtin University and to CONSTANT for continued support as our event sponsor!

Thanks again to everyone who joined us — and if you missed it this time, we look forward to seeing you at the next SAA event!

We’re excited to announce that Scape is now officially NPAS-accredited across a stunning line-up of student living spaces in Melbourne.

“By undertaking the NPAS accreditation, Scape reaffirms its commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for the students who call our buildings home. This accreditation not only drives us to continuously improve the student living experience but also reinforces our position as a trusted leader in the student accommodation sector,” said Tim Glass, State Manager, Victoria.

From the rooftop cinemas and communal BBQs at Scape Carlton and Berkeley, to the all-inclusive dining experience at Scape Victoria Street, Scape properties are redefining what it means to live, study, and thrive as a student.

Whether it’s the unbeatable CBD location of Scape Melbourne Central, the morning breakfasts at Scape Lincoln College, or the buzzing social hubs at Scape Uni Square, each property brings something unique to the table, all while meeting the National Property Accreditation Scheme’s high standards.

Congratulations to the Scape team for setting a benchmark in student accommodation that goes beyond just a place to stay. It’s about community, convenience, and a commitment to student wellbeing.

Learn more about NPAS Accreditation at https://npas.org.au/

The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) was pleased to host the inaugural national meeting of student accommodation associations in Sydney on 5 May 2025.

The full day program brought together members of the executive teams from University Colleges Australia (UCA), APSAA - Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association and the Student Accommodation Association (SAA).

As representatives of the associations that support and represent all varieties of student accommodation and college offerings to both domestic and international students, it was fantastic to learn from each other about our shared opportunities and challenges.

We came to agreement that while our associations have different, but clear and defined purposes, we are driven by a shared mission to assist our members to continuously enhance the residential experience, keep our student communities safe and maintain a strong focus on resident wellbeing.

The Student Accommodation Association believes there is significant value in working together to amplify the sector's voice during this pivotal time, and we look forward to continuing to work on behalf of our members with our colleagues from UCA and APSAA.

The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) was pleased to bring members together in Sydney last Tuesday, 6 May, for a dedicated day of industry engagement.

We kicked off with our first NPAS Accreditation Information Session, led by Ron De Haan GAICD. Attendees gained a practical overview of the NPAS application and renewal process, with valuable insights from our NPAS assessor and representatives from accredited properties. It was a great opportunity for providers considering accreditation to learn from those who’ve successfully completed the process.

The session was followed by SAA’s second industry lunch in this membership term to support Study NSW's efforts to take student accommodation best practice to metropolitan Sydney.

Iori Forsyth spoke about the importance of quality housing to NSW’s international education sector and, more specifically, Study NSW’s commitment to supporting the sector to promote quality student accommodation to international students in the state.

Clinton Ostwald shared recent benchmarking data on bed supply, room mix, and pricing across the sector, and

Gregory Vaughton introduced Dwell's new student accommodation project coming soon to Macquarie Park.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and special thanks to our supporters CONSTANT, StarRez, Inc., SiLANT, Study NSW, and the team at SAA HQ Karen Goodall, and Geoff Denison.

Looking forward to more opportunities to connect and share knowledge across the sector!

We’re delighted to announce that CLV Student Village, University of Melbourne Campus has officially achieved NPAS accreditation!

Located on campus at the University of Melbourne, Student Village, the University of Melbourne Campus (SVM) is a contemporary student accommodation property that houses 648 students across a variety of studio and four-bedroom apartments. The site offers spacious rooms and a wide range of modern facilities and study spaces. SVM has 24/7 staff and onsite support for residents as well as an extensive Residential Life Program to support residents through their academic journey.

“At CLV, we’re committed to setting the benchmark for quality and care in student living. NPAS accreditation provides a clear and independent mark of excellence, reassuring students and families that SVM delivers the highest standards in safety, service, and support.” - said Siobhan Russell, Village Director.

CLV now proudly joins the growing national portfolio of 27 NPAS-accredited properties, a network committed to lifting the standard of student accommodation across Australia. 

What a great afternoon in Adelaide with the Student Accommodation Association (SAA) community, hosted at the recently NPAS-accredited Yugo Adelaide City.

It was a great opportunity to connect with industry peers and hear from Dr Michael Mu and Dr Hannah Soong from the University of South Australia, who shared key insights from their research into the experiences of international students in South Australia. Their findings highlighted the important role quality student accommodation plays in supporting student wellbeing, resilience, and community connection.

We also appreciated the introduction to AllCrew from Guy Thompson – an initiative with plenty of potential to support those working in the sector.

Thanks again to CONSTANT and the Yugo team for hosting us in such an impressive space and for your ongoing support of the sector.

Not yet an SAA member or sponsor? Now’s a great time to get involved and stay connected with the national student accommodation community. Click here to learn more about upcoming opportunities in our sector.

The Global Agent Famil 2025, hosted by StudyAdelaide, provided a fantastic opportunity for SAA members operating in South Australia to showcase their accommodation offerings to key offshore education agents. As part of this event, SAA members participated in the Access Adelaide Exhibition & Gala Dinner, engaging directly with agents who play a crucial role in international student placements.

It was great to see Dwell, Student Rooms, Yugo, YSuites, and the University of Adelaide Village actively participating in the event, reinforcing the strong collaboration between the student accommodation sector and the international education ecosystem. The exhibition allowed providers to connect one-on-one with agents, while the Gala Dinner created a relaxed setting to further strengthen relationships and discuss South Australia’s impressive student accommodation offering.

This collaboration reflects the growing recognition of SAA members and NPAS accredited properties as key contributors to the international student experience. The event also reinforced the strong partnership between SAA and StudyAdelaide, highlighting the shared commitment to supporting international students through safe, accredited, student accommodation.

SAA looks forward to continuing this partnership and supporting our members in future initiatives that drive meaningful connections with the global education community.