News & Stories

Home and away

The University's National Rental Affordability Scheme apartments help students feel at home.

As the academic year comes to a close, student stories have emerged highlighting communities and friendships that are being forged at the University’s modern purpose-built National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) accommodation.

Nursing student Bianca Burgess was one of the first tenants at the new Inveresk apartments which opened in February.

“I didn’t want to house share and I knew these were new and close to town.”

Her first living experience away from home, choosing Inveresk made Bianca’s move a seamless transition.

This has honestly been the best experience. I’ve made so many new friends from the accommodation - we all catch up and study together or watch TV.

Nursing student Bianca Burgess is loving her new NRAS accommodation at Inveresk.

“The staff organise fun get-togethers such as barbecues and pizza nights. They’re amazing and without them I don’t think I would have been comfortable moving away from my family in Hobart.”

NRAS is a jointly-funded Commonwealth and state governments program supporting housing providers like the University, to offer affordable rental accommodation at a minimum 20 per cent below market rates.

Other University NRAS sites are at West Park in Burnie and also at Newnham, with a further 430 inner-city apartments scheduled for occupation by the start of first semester 2017.

“We are pursuing a vision in which education is in the very heart of these communities,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen said. 

In the great university cities of the world, the life of the university carries on in and around the landscape of the city.

The interior of the Inveresk NRAS accommodation.

For Bianca, the centrality of the Inveresk apartments has been significant.

“It takes me two minutes to walk to work, four to the supermarket, and seven to the city centre. If I wasn’t living in such a central location I don’t think I would have got my part-time job and I would have travelled home every weekend.”

The story is similar for Ben Dodds, a fourth-year Medicine student living at West Park.

Returning to the region to complete his degree at the Rural Clinical School, an NRAS studio wasn’t a question of ‘why’ rather ‘why not’.

“I could have moved in with my parents but chose to live at West Park.

“It’s a lovely home away from home. I’m supported by a good family of other students. You have your own space to study but can interact with other people at dinners or through social activities such as board games and table tennis.

Medicine student Ben lives at the West Park waterfront NRAS apartments.

It offers waterfront views, is close to the city and a five-minute drive from campus. It also gives students a taste of what living in Burnie is like. I know a lot of fifth years sticking around as interns.

Waterfront views at the Cradle Coast West Park NRAS accommodation.

The 21-year-old helped establish the West Park Student Society, the first for the Cradle Coast campus, and recognised by the TUU as the best new society this year.

“It’s an all-inclusive group aiming to connect students across campus, not just those living in the apartments. It’s about having fun and building on the university experience.”

Bachelor of Applied Science (Marine Environment) student Freja Svendsgaard’s experience echoes that of Bianca and Ben.

This year the 20-year-old relocated to Investigator Hall in Newnham from Latrobe.

“There are always other students around the accommodation, you never feel alone.

If you’re struggling with something it is a supportive environment where people will always help you and in that way, staying on campus in student accommodation is a very positive thing.