Student Accommodation Association (SAA) introduces National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) to benefit all participants in Australian education 

New NPAS initiative aims to identify individual properties operated to industry-led minimum standards for the exclusive use of students

The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) is proud to introduce the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) – an industry-led program owned, governed and administered by the SAA membership. NPAS has been developed to assist national education stakeholders identify, promote and support quality managed student accommodation businesses which operate for the exclusive use of students.

The initiative is designed to provide greater clarity to Australian education stakeholders, as well as prospective students, agents and the community. NPAS aims to identify individual properties that are being operated to a set of industry-led minimum standards for the exclusive use of students with a focus on student safety and wellbeing. 

The National Property Accreditation Scheme benefits all participants in Australian education – students, education stakeholders and government agencies, and student accommodation providers. 

Applicant properties will be assessed under five accreditation categories:

VISIT NPAS WEBSITE

Following the 3rd Annual General Meeting of the Student Accommodation Association held on the 21st of August, the SAA National Committee extends its formal gratitude to James Atkinson, Principal, Flinders Living, Flinders University for his years of dedicated services as a Treasurer. Dr Paul Tosch MAICD will move to the position of Treasurer, and Rebecca Bendall has taken on the role of Secretary.

We would like to welcome a new Committee Member, Craig Carracher, Executive Chair, Scape Group. SAA is pleased to welcome Craig on board and is looking forward to the unique expertise he will bring to the work of the Association to further promote the value of accommodation for the exclusive use of students.

See the full list of Committee Members

We are very pleased to welcome the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Scape as our newest Executive Members!

UTS Housing is a provider of shelter, food and fun for over 1200 UTS students. Aiming to enrich students' life by providing and promoting a positive culturally diverse living environment that is conducive to academic, social and personal growth for students.

Scape Living Student Accommodation has student accommodation hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. Scape believes in quality living through intuitive design and intelligent service, putting students at the heart of everything they do. 

We at SAA are very proud of our growing membership community. To find out more about SAA membership, visit https://studentaccassoc.com.au/Membership

Thank you to our SA based members for supporting StudyAdelaide's new brand awareness campaign to promote Adelaide as an ‘easily accessible’ and welcoming study destination. The campaign presents key information that is relevant for students who are considering South Australia as a study destination.

In accordance with the MOU between StudyAdelaide and the Student Accommodation Association (SAA), SAA South Australian members were exclusively invited to feature the range of quality accommodation available in South Australia for international students.

The campaign can be found here.

The bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic have had a unprecedented impact almost every aspect of Australia’s society and economy. International education is no exception – it was affected by COVID-19 earlier than most other areas and the impact has been profound.

Back in January 2020 the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, announced the formation of the Global Reputation Taskforce (Taskforce), under the leadership of the Council for International Education. The Taskforce was formed to shape Australia’s response in times of reputational damage or significant external risk to the sector, and to accelerate efforts to build a strong cohesive national brand for international education.

The Student Accommodation Association were delighted to be a member of the working group which provided them with an opportunity to share the sector response through the crisis and highlight that student accommodation continues to be an important part of the international education experience.

The sector post COVID-19 recovery will be led by The Council for International Education and Expert Members. The Student Accommodation Association will continue to have access to this group and SAA members are encouraged to raise matters through the association.

The Student Accommodation Association is pleased to advise that plans to roll out the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) this year are continuing.

A risk assessment of the scheme has been successfully completed with only minor adjustments to the NPAS application, accreditation, business and implementation plan recommended from the review. These items are currently being addressed.

SAA looks forward to delivering the National Property Accreditation Scheme and by doing so, enabling students studying in Australia to make an informed accommodation choice.

For more information on the National Property Accreditation Scheme, please visit our website https://studentaccassoc.com.au/National-Property-Accreditation-Scheme

The Student Accommodation Association is pleased to join the Global Reputation Taskforce established last Tuesday by the Federal Minister of Education.

The taskforce has been established to support the international education sector in overcoming any negative perceptions arising from the bushfire crisis. Three meetings are scheduled to be held in February.

SAA members are welcome to raise any issues they would like to feed through to the taskforce by phoning SAA HQ on + 618 7088 4856 or email admin@studentaccassoc.com.au

The Student Accommodation Association is pleased to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the International Education Association of Australia confirming the IEAA’s intention to promote the NPAS stamp of quality to international students.

We would like to thank IEAA for its commitment to collaborating with SAA to define and promote a consistent accommodation message to international students.

For more information on the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) please contact SAA HQ by phone 08 7088 4856 or email admin@studentaccassoc.com.au

In accordance with the recently executed MOU between Study Adelaide and the Student Accommodation Association, five South Australian based SAA members have participated in Study Adelaide pre-departure events in key cities across South East Asia.

Urbanest, UniLodge, St Ann’s College, Lincoln College and The University of Adelaide enjoyed the opportunity to promote the availability of accommodation for the exclusive use of students in Adelaide.

Events have been held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The final event will be held in Penang on Thursday. The pre-departure briefing in Singapore was addressed by The Hon. Steven Marshall.MP, Premier of South Australia.

SAA would like to congratulate Study Adelaide for its ongoing commitment to delivering a quality education experience to international students who choose to study in Adelaide, and for the invitation extended to the Student Accommodation Association to encourage South Australian based members to participate in the roadshow.

The collaboration between Study Adelaide and SAA will continue to ensure international students and their families are provided with the opportunity to make an informed accommodation choice when studying in Adelaide.

For more SAA membership information please call (08) 7 088 4856 or email The Secretary (admin@studentaccassoc.com.au)

The SAA Executive Committee met in Adelaide on Monday.

The board had a very busy and productive day progressing to the next step to implementation of the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), due to be released in early 2020.

Other items of business included further enhancement of the look and functionality of the association’s website and membership management system, and a conference call and detailed review of the draft prescribed student accommodation tenancy agreement.

The board also approved new member applications from Dwell Student Living and Urbis. Welcome aboard!

For more information on the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) please contact SAA HQ by phone 08 7088 4856 or email admin@studentaccassoc.com.au