The Student Accommodation Association is pleased to inform Queensland based members that SAA has been recognised by the Residential Tenancies Authority of Queensland as the informed body representing the interests of the student accommodation sector in that state.

As such SAA has been included in the first stakeholder forum of 2019 to be convened by RTA of 2019, on Thursday 21 March.

Please don’t hesitate to contact SAA should you require more information or wish to suggest an item for the agenda.

On behalf of the Student Accommodation Association membership, the SAA Executive Committee congratulate Rebecca Bendall on her new role with Monash University. 

As Rebecca was previously Urbanest's nominated representative and is currently in transition between one executive membership to another, Rebecca will be required to stand down from her position of Present of SAA, but will continue to remain actively involved in the Association's mission and objectives. 

Geoff Denison, Vice President of SAA, will take on the role of Acting President until Rebecca has settled into her new employment. 

The Student Accommodation Association is pleased to announce that it has formalised its partnership agreement with Study NSW.

The agreement confirms Study NSW’s support for SAA and the association’s mission and strategic objectives.

The Student Accommodation Association, and its members, are now represented on the Study NSW accommodation page as, quality accommodation for the exclusive use of students in NSW.

Please refer to the following link http://www.study.sydney/live/accommodation

This representation will remain in place until the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) is launched.

SAA met with representatives from Tenants Queensland in Brisbane on Thursday 21 February 2019 at TQ’s invitation.

Tenants Queensland is a community legal centre which delivers the Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS), providing free advice to tenants in private, social housing, caravan parks and rooming accommodation. This includes students in private student accommodation providers, of which many providers are members of SAA.

It was agreed that a forum is set up for Tenants Queensland to meet with SAA member operators to discuss concerns on both sides and help establish operator contacts to assist Tenants Queensland to be able to work through issues more efficiently in the future.

On Monday 10 December 2018, Ms Rebecca Bendall, Committee Member, SAA, addressed a group of Western Australian based student accommodation stakeholders, a forum that was organised and hosted by Study Perth. 

The session included a presentation outlining the mission, strategic objectives and recent achievements of the Student Accommodation Association and a brief introduction into the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS). 

We look forward to welcoming our first Western Australian based member shortly! 

South Australia:

On 22 November 2018, SAA hosted an industry Lunch at the Hilton Adelaide including keynote address by The Hon David Ridgway MLC, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Government of South Australia. 

This included discussions relating to the every-changing accommodatino needs of students and the market implications of the additional supply of new purpose built student accommodation in the Adelaide CBD in the coming years.

Queensland:

On 5 December 2018 SAA delivered an introduction to the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) to a gathering of student accommodation stakeholders and SAA members.

The industry lunch included a presentation by Mr. George Fatseas from nettletontribe architects who provided an insight into the design trends for modern purpose built student accommodation projects. 

On the 14th of February 2018, the SASAA Executive Committee unanimously voted to proceed with the registration of the Student Accommodation Association (SAA) after delivering SASAA presentations to student accommodation providers and industry stakeholders, on the invitation of international education agencies in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

A registration of interest conducted after the roadshow generated a potential membership database of 25 education institutions, government agencies and student accommodation companies across the country.

This change will mean that SASAA memberships will transfer to a SAA membership shortly and will run as such until 30 June 2018. SAA membership forms will be issued instead of SASAA membership renewal forms at subscription renewal time.

South Australian members are assured that the local working group, incorporating members from the Northern Territory, will continue to work together and plan industry networking opportunities whilst being connected with a national agenda.

For more information please address your enquiries to Rebecca Bendall, President SASAA, president@sasaa.net.au.