“Don’t let anxiety about perfection get in the way of progress.”

A powerful message from Michele Clark, Assistant Secretary, Higher Education Gender-Based Violence Regulator, Australian Government Department of Education, our lead keynote speaker at Student Accommodation Association Industry Lunch, “From Code to Practice”, at Crowne Plaza Melbourne on Thursday, 8 October.

Michele brought the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence into the everyday reality of student accommodation: what happens when a resident seeks help and how teams provide consistent, compassionate support. She emphasised clear responsibilities, supported staff and coordinated responses between accommodation and higher education providers.

Key messages included:

🔹 “We regulate to minimise harm and improve outcomes.”
Meaningful implementation requires cultural and behavioural change, backed by accountable leadership, clear actions and resources.

🔹 “It’s about protecting students’ right to feel safe in their home and to pursue education without fear or disruption.”
Student accommodation is home. Listening to residents and staff and continually strengthening prevention and response practices are central to this work.

🔹 “While the national code provides the framework, your sector has the unique opportunity to shape the implementation of this reform and create lasting change.”
An encouraging recognition of our sector’s expertise and role in translating the Code into practical outcomes for residents.

In July, representatives from SAA, the Student Accommodation Council and APSAA (Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association) gathered in Sydney to discuss the future of the student accommodation sector.

The meeting brought together three of the sector's leading bodies for a constructive conversation about where the industry is headed and how the organisations can work more closely together to get there.

A shared commitment to collaboration

Student accommodation touches on a broad range of issues, from accommodation supply and affordability to student welfare, planning policy and investment. No single organisation can address all of these challenges alone. That's part of why this meeting mattered: it was an opportunity for SAA, the Student Accommodation Council and APSAA to compare notes, identify common ground and consider where their combined efforts could achieve more than each body working independently.

Discussions focused on a few key areas:

• Greater collaboration between the associations, so that members and stakeholders benefit from more joined-up thinking rather than parallel, disconnected efforts
• Stronger sector alignment, ensuring that the priorities and positions of each organisation are consistent and mutually reinforcing where possible
• Collective advocacy, so that the sector speaks with a clearer, more unified voice on the issues that matter most to government, industry and the broader community

Why this matters

The student accommodation sector operates across a complex web of stakeholders, including government at all levels, universities, investors, developers and, most importantly, students themselves. When representative bodies collaborate rather than compete for attention, the sector is better placed to advocate for policy settings that support growth, improve student outcomes and address the housing pressures facing students across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The tone of the meeting was described as encouraging, with all parties expressing genuine enthusiasm for continuing the dialogue and translating shared goals into concrete action.

Looking ahead

This meeting is intended to be the start of an ongoing conversation rather than a one-off event. SAA, the Student Accommodation Council and APSAA have agreed to continue working together, with future discussions expected to build on the foundations laid in July. The ultimate goal is a thriving student accommodation sector that works for everyone involved, students who need safe, affordable and well-managed accommodation, providers who need a supportive policy and investment environment, and the wider community that benefits from a well-functioning higher education sector.

We'll keep members updated as these conversations progress and as new initiatives take shape.

Student Accommodation Association is pleased to congratulate UniLodge on the successful renewal of NPAS-accreditation across three of its properties:

🏠 UniLodge JCU Burralga Yumba, QLD
🏠 UniLodge Twin Dolphin Hall, WA
🏠 UniLodge Lincoln House, VIC

These renewals reflect UniLodge's continued commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, quality and student wellbeing across its portfolio, and are a strong signal of the consistency and care that goes into managing student accommodation at scale.

NPAS is the recognised quality assurance framework for the student accommodation sector in Australia. Properties awarded accreditation demonstrate excellence in governance, management, resident support and operational safety. Renewing accreditation confirms that each of these properties continues to meet rigorous industry-led standards for amenity, facility, security, customer service and management processes, giving students and their families ongoing confidence in their accommodation choice.

To see the full list of NPAS-accredited properties, visit https://npas.org.au/accredited-properties/.

We're delighted to welcome Trinity City as a new Non-Executive Member of the Student Accommodation Association!

Trinity City is the development team behind 88 North Terrace, Adelaide’s landmark 31-storey, 970-bed premium purpose-built student accommodation tower currently under construction on North Terrace. Located directly adjacent to Adelaide University’s City West campus and the growing BioMed precinct, the project will deliver high-quality student housing in one of the city’s most strategic locations when it opens in mid-2028. The development is being delivered in with UniLodge as the operator and includes the careful heritage restoration of the historic Trinity Church precinct.

Simon Toovey, Director of Trinity City, shared why the membership is important:

“88 North Terrace represents a significant long-term commitment to elevating the student living experience in Adelaide. As the city continues to grow as a destination for domestic and international students, we believe high-quality, well-located purpose-built student accommodation plays a critical role in supporting both academic success and community wellbeing. We look forward to engaging with the SAA network, sharing insights from the delivery of this landmark project, and contributing to the ongoing improvement of standards across the Australian PBSA sector.”

To learn more, visit www.88northterrace.com.au.

For international students, student accommodation is no longer simply the place where students sleep.

It is where students build their first friendships in Australia, where they find support when things go wrong, and where they experience safety, community and connection. Increasingly, it is also becoming one of the factors shaping Australia’s reputation as a study destination.

A new article from The Koala News looks at why accommodation has become the front door to international education, and what that means for providers, universities and government working to lift standards through frameworks like the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS).

Read the full article: https://thekoalanews.com/student-accommodation-association-why-accommodation-has-become-the-front-door-to-international-education/

We’re proud to introduce the Student Accommodation Association National Committee for 2026/27, as we continue to bring together leaders from across the sector who share a passionate commitment to raising quality standards and supporting an exceptional student experience.

🔹 President – Geoff Denison, Adelaide University (SA)
🔹 Vice President – Professor Kent Anderson, Co-opted (ACT)
🔹 Treasurer – Eloise Gilbert, UniLodge (QLD)
🔹 Secretary – Tim Klitscher, Yugo (QLD)
🔹 Committee Member – Alex Elibank Murray, University of the Sunshine Coast (QLD)
🔹 Committee Member – Craig Carracher AM, Scape (NSW)
🔹 Committee Member – Rebecca Bendall (IEAA-F), Co-opted (SA)
🔹 Committee Member – Ron De Haan GAICD, Co-opted (NSW)

After nine remarkable years of outstanding service, Matt Row has stepped down as Vice President, and we extend our sincere thanks for his significant contribution to SAA.

As a founding member of the National Committee, Matt has given an enormous amount of time and energy to establishing SAA and supporting the successful implementation of the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS). His leadership and commitment have been central to the Association’s success. Thank you, Matt!

As we move into 2026/27, our focus remains firmly on enhancing the member experience and building on the progress already being made across the sector. We thank all National Committee members for their ongoing commitment and look forward to what we can achieve together in the year ahead.

If you are interested in submitting an Expression of Interest to join the SAA National Committee in the future, please contact us for more information or to discuss what is involved: secretary@studentaccassoc.com.au.

SAA President Geoff Denison joined the Ōtautahi (Christchurch) Student Accommodation Forum at University of Canterbury in New Zealand, taking part alongside stakeholders from across the city's education, government and private sectors to discuss the future of student accommodation.

Geoff spoke about regional collaboration, drawing on his experience as a founding SAA National Committee member and his work guiding the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) from concept to a portfolio of more than 25,000 accredited beds nationally.

The Forum attendees described Geoff's session as interesting and thought-provoking. While the solutions taking shape in New Zealand will differ from those in Australia, the underlying drivers and student needs are the same, and that shared ground made for a useful discussion.

Christchurch's growing interest in minimum standards for student accommodation points to a shift happening across the region, and supports the value of the work NPAS has already done in Australia.

NPAS remains specific to the Australian market, where it supports Australia's reputation as a destination for quality international education. As interest in minimum standards grows across the Tasman, it's a good time for Australian education providers to get behind NPAS. Here's how:

✅ Promote the accredited national portfolio to prospective students
✅ Include it in pre-departure material
✅ Feature it on websites and across digital marketing

Education providers wanting help promoting accredited accommodation can contact SAA HQ on admin@studentaccassoc.com.au.

Student Accommodation Association is pleased to welcome Eloise Gilbert to the SAA National Committee, where she takes on the role of Treasurer.

Eloise has worked with UniLodge for over 14 years, progressing from Front Office Reception roles to Regional General Manager. During this time, she has worked across multiple states, teams and student accommodation operations, gaining broad experience across the sector.

Eloise enjoys working collaboratively with all stakeholders, and is focused on supporting and innovating with teams, delivering positive resident and client experiences, and maintaining strong strategic outcomes.

We also take a moment to bid farewell to our valued member of the SAA National Committee, Matt Row, for his long-standing dedication to the association. The SAA extends its sincere appreciation for Matt's outstanding contributions.

We are delighted to welcome Eloise to the SAA National Committee and look forward to her leadership and insights in advancing the student accommodation industry across Australia.

The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) was proud to welcome Study NSW as the Event Sponsor of our recent industry lunch in New South Wales (NSW). The event brought together contributors across the student accommodation sector to discuss what quality really means for international students choosing NSW as their home away from home.

Study NSW's support reflects a shared goal between government and industry: making sure every student who arrives in NSW knows they're getting a quality product.

Standards That Build Trust

As Nate Henderson, Associate Director representing Study NSW, explained at the lunch, SAA's role goes beyond setting benchmarks. It's about giving students confidence before they've even landed. "The standards that SAA delivers really make sure that we can make the postcard for students, that when they arrive, they know that what they're going to get is a quality product," he said. That confidence matters because of who these students are. "We know that these are quality students coming to NSW. We know that they want to study, they want to contribute."

A Sector-Led Initiative, Backed by Government

Study NSW was an early supporter of the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS), an initiative born from within the sector itself. "SAA and the NPAS were started by the sector," Henderson noted. "Our role in government is to help showcase that great work, to help promote it and to help expand the great work that they're already doing."

For Study NSW, the relationship is one of facilitation rather than direction. "We're able to promote it. We're able to tell people, students, prospective students about it, work with education providers on showcasing why standards matter."

A Sanctuary Away From Home

Henderson also touched on what's at stake for students personally. Arriving in a foreign country without knowing what to expect can be daunting, and accommodation plays a bigger role than just a place to sleep. "Our home is our sanctuary, and we really want to make sure that they have a sanctuary when they're here. They can therefore be better at their studies, better at their employment and have a better overall experience." Henderson said.

Promoting NSW as the Destination of Choice

NPAS gives Study NSW the confidence to promote NSW accommodation options on the world stage, knowing accredited properties meet a consistent quality bar. Henderson noted: "This is the state that has it all. No other state in Australia has so many opportunities for international students to study different courses, to live in different places and to have jobs in a variety of sectors."

Looking Ahead

SAA thanks Study NSW for its continued partnership and for sponsoring this NSW industry lunch. As Henderson said, the goal is bigger than any single sector. "We continue to work with SAA and other key players in the sector to make sure that we continue to showcase NSW as the best place to not just work and study, but also to live."

Interested in NPAS accreditation? Visit www.npas.org.au

Learn more about SAA membership: www.studentaccassoc.com.au/membership