University students on the lookout for accommodation

Southern Cross University students are on the lookout for rental accommodation as the first teaching session for 2014 approaches.

About 6000 students across three campuses – Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour – will be looking for rental accommodation in private homes, units, flats and houses.

Members of the community who have a room to spare or a dwelling to rent are invited to contact the UniLife accommodation officer or register as an accommodation provider and submit their listing online at unistays.scu.edu.au

“It is the peak time for students to be searching for accommodation at the moment,” UniLife accommodation officer, Cat Thomas, said.

“We get new listings every day for our website and more and more students are registering online to find out about accommodation.

“Some things to remember when considering whether to let to students are that students look for rent that includes most bills, that the premises are furnished and that it is situated close to the campus and city amenities. It’s also good to remember that in many cases, students may not have rented premises before so may not have rental references.

“It’s easy for accommodation providers to register on SCU’s UniStays website and most of the listings (more than 90 per cent) are from private providers.

“With a growing campus at the Gold Coast, we are in real need of share accommodation for students within close proximity of the campus, which is situated near the Gold Coast Airport.”

If you have a room or property to rent out to our students please contact the UniLife office on (02) 6620 3220 or register your listing on the UniStays website at unistays.scu.edu.au

Southern Cross University also offers a range of on-campus accommodation options. At both Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses SCU Village provides a range of fully furnished affordable apartments inclusive of utilities, located just walking distance from classes.

The Villages are focused on enhancing the resident experience by providing a supportive community and extensive residential life program within the Village recreation areas and off-campus events. Friendly staff and security are always available to assist residents.

Third-year resident Tom Lynch loves the Village atmosphere.

“SCU Village is where you make friends that you may have for the rest of your life. It provides a wide range of activities, academic and pastoral support and daily interaction with a diverse community, providing opportunities for students to discover and develop skills and experiences they never thought possible,” he said.


Photo: Tom Lynch serves up some food for fellow students.