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.