Denison G¹

¹Student Accommodation Association, Adelaide, Australia

International students are continuing to encounter housing problems in 2023 such as issues with rental bonds, deceptive conduct, lack of tenancy rights, unfair evictions, poor living conditions, harassment, and discrimination in unregulated accommodation facilities. This session will represent a dialogue between a student accommodation provider and the Student Accommodation Association, as an industry body for student accommodation providers in Australia, addressing issues of housing for international students and discussing how student accommodation providers can help create a positive and unique Australian education experience during the post-pandemic recovery. SAA promotes a clear and consistent message regarding quality student accommodation and its difference from accommodation that happens to be occupied by students. The National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) assists students to make an informed accommodation choice about safe and secure accommodation, to avoid being trapped in minefield of deceptive conduct by landlords in Australian housing markets, especially in unregulated share houses.

Biography:

Geoff Denison is President of the Student Accommodation Association (SAA) and Director, Student Accommodation with the University of Adelaide.

He began his career working in international hotels in Australia and Japan before applying his accommodation management skills to operating one of Australia’s first commercial (non-collegiate) student accommodation properties in Sydney.  He later transitioned from managing commercial student accommodation to operating university managed student housing.

Geoff is an advocate for education providers demonstrating a genuine commitment to student wellbeing and pastoral care through access to student accommodation and the value a residential experience in student accommodation adds to the education experience.