Deakin Residential Services

APSAA is thrilled to announce the launch of the Residential Experience Standard (RES), a ground breaking new accreditation developed in partnership with Investor in Students (IIS). This innovative initiative is designed to comprehensively understand, measure, and improve the student experience in accommodation. RES provides a 360º assessment of the student experience's success, leveraging the expertise of IIS, which currently measures the experiences of over 120,000 students across more than 20 member institutions in the UK and Europe. By implementing RES, APSAA aims to bring the same level of rigorous, evidence-based evaluation to the Asia Pacific region. "We are passionate about using data-driven insights to enhance students’ experiences within residences and to celebrate the pivotal role that student accommodation plays in providing a positive university experience," said Jacob Waitere, President of APSAA. "The partnership with IIS allows us to set a new standard in student accommodation, ensuring that every student's voice is heard and their needs are met." RES will serve as a benchmark for excellence in student accommodation, encouraging continuous improvement and fostering environments where students can thrive both academically and personally. A pilot program has been set up with 6 APSAA Institution/Corporate members. APSAA invites expressions of interest from the student accommodation sector to join in this exciting venture in 2025 to elevate the student experience in accommodation. For more information about the Residential Experience Standard (RES) and how to get involved, contact [email protected]. WAU Agency, Deakin Residential Services, Marion Grey, Mannix College affiliated with Monash University, Andrew Swan, University of Sydney, Sarah P., University of Newcastle, Gemma Edgar, Student One, Robert Moyle, UNSW, Anirudha Saha.   #residentialexperiencestandard #apsaa #studentaccommodation

What a stunning day as we embark on day 3 of our study tour of NZ. Such a great experience with colleagues seeing the beauty of this amazing country as well as visiting Brooke Petre at Massey and the team at Victoria University, Wellington. Still so much to see and do! Highlights so far: ⭐️ Best practice conversations around onboarding at VUW ⭐️ learnings from NZ Pastoral care code for those of us facing regulation in Australia ⭐️ Refurbishment of older stock that creates warm and inviting spaces ⭐️ The power of student voice Deakin Residential Services James Hawley Sam Johnstone Chelsea Carter-Scales APSAA - Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association Rachel Overton Tara Baker Jared Dyson Jordan Knight Vinay Varghese Sara Ware Andrea Rohde

It was of great value to attend Deakin Residential Services’ ‘Real Talk’ program last night, featuring the insightful perspectives of writer, lawyer, and activist, Tarang Chawla. Tarang passionately engaged with a group of Burwood residents, shedding light on the pressing national issue of men's violence against women, drawing from the deeply personal tragedy of his sister's death at the hands of her partner. His poignant message resonated profoundly – emphasizing that family violence transcends boundaries, affects communities across Australia, and is perpetrated by individuals of all backgrounds, including those we interact with daily, from classmates to teammates. In his stirring address, Tarang underscored a critical point: the true cost of violence (the loss of loved family members and friends) often goes unnoticed in national discourse (and in official government plans), urging us to confront the uncomfortable truths rather than turning away. Offering solutions, Tarang advocated for a shift towards positive masculinity, championing qualities of strength alongside empathy, kindness, and vulnerability. He emphasized the importance of personal accountability, aligning values with actions, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding. What stood out most was the active engagement from attendees, representing a diverse mix of genders, inquisitively probing into various aspects of combating sexism, promoting healthy relationships, and supporting those in need. Discussions ranged from strategies for challenging sexist remarks, to pop culture recommendations promoting awareness, and approaches to supporting friends in potentially harmful situations. My gratitude to DRS for hosting such an impactful event and inviting Deakin University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion staff (Thea Vakidis, Rhiannon Tanner, Alicea Yu, Thanura Tyler Ediri (he/they) and Alisha Stewart) to attend. Admiration to Tarang and all participants for their commitment to fostering dialogue and driving positive change.

In honour of Respect at Uni Week and Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Deakin University is proud to host the incredible Chloé Hayden! Chloé is an award-winning speaker, actor, bestselling author, and disability rights activist who has built a global community celebrating neurodiversity. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD, Chloé's journey is one of resilience, empowerment, and advocating for a world where everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Don't miss this unforgettable event! Deakin Residential Services

As a part of the Respect at Uni Week campaign for Deakin University, I recently had a chance to participate in the Respect Belong Thrive podcast series with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. This two part series, titled ‘Fostering Belonging in Student Accomodation at Deakin’ examines the different ways in which Deakin Residential Services fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity from a staff perspective, as well as my experiences as a student and residential leader. Student accomodation is a place where people from many different backgrounds and life experiences can come together and thrive while studying, with DRS organising a range of different initiatives and engagement programs to ensure that the transition to student accomodation is as welcoming and safe as possible. If you want to hear more about the ways in which student accomodation can promote a sense of community and inclusivity, please give this series a listen. A special thanks to Indiana Paisley for all her work in organising and putting together the episode, as well as Sam Johnstone for featuring alongside me in the podcast series. Don't forget to get involved in the many different online and on-campus events organised for Respect at Uni Week by the amazing Diversity Equity and Inclusion team! #deakinuniversity #diversityequityinclusion #studentaccomodation

Wow. I wasn't expecting this at all. I've been to Deakin University's main Burwood campus in suburban Melbourne many times. Over the years I've admired how it's developed with excellent new facilities to compliment the university's march up the global rankings. But when I sat down with four current Deakin students at Deakin's on-campus residential colleges, I didn't quite expect it to unfold like it did. And I think you'll find this conversation incredibly valuable! From why they chose Deakin, to their backstories and experiences on campus, we cover wide ground. I feel confident saying that anyone who's planning on studying at Deakin will get find something interesting in this conversation - some of the "secret tips" will genuinely surprise you! A huge thanks to the great gang of students who agreed to chat with me in this convo: Adyant Modi, Vaibhav Kashyap, Mark Thomas Browell and @Caitlyn Wright. What legends. https://lnkd.in/gY_66brC