Formed in May 2022, the Student Accommodation Council gives a voice to the critically important purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector which provides homes for over 76,500 students per year, a figure that continues to grow.Â
Providing vibrant and connected housing options for students underpins Australia’s largest service export – international education. Ensuring a strong pipeline of beds also reduces pressure on the broader residential rental market by providing a safe, student-only housing choice.
Our advocacy priorities are to remove the barriers to growth in this alternative residential asset class and grow the sector Australia-wide.
Better investment frameworks will ensure that PBSA in Australia can continue to garner international interest and house the next generation of leaders.
Campaigns & Submissions
View campaigns and submissions related to the PBSA sector.
Myth busting international students’ role in the rental crisis
In this landmark report released by the Student Accommodation Council it has been revealed that international students are not the cause of the housing crisis – making up only four per cent of Australia’s rental market Australia wide.
Submission to the Inquiry into the worsening rental crisis in Australia
The Property Council has consistently called for more homes and a diverse housing mix to meet the existing and emerging housing needs of all Australians.
Submission in response to the Australian Universities Accord – Interim Report
Please find the Student Accommodation Council’s submission into the Review Panels’ Australian Universities Accord – Interim Report (Interim Report).
Upcoming Events
View events related to the PBSA sector.Â
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QLD Breakfast: New schools – designs, costs and financing: the infill challenge
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition CentreSouth Bank, QueenslandTickets on sale -
Queensland lunch: Overcoming our construction challenges
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition CentreSouth Brisbane, QLDTickets on sale -
Breaking new ground: how does it stack?
Frasers, Kings ParkWest Perth, WATickets on sale
Our priorities for Student Accommodation
Supply – Work with governments and the sector to increase the supply of PBSA in Australia, unlocking the rental market and providing safe and professionally managed housing options for students.
Growth – Support the PBSA sector by removing barriers to growth like foreign investor taxes and charges.
Education – Increase awareness about the important economic, social and wellbeing impacts of the sector amongst policy makers, investors, educational institutions and the public.
Unity – Work with the entire education supply chain to strengthen relationships between institutions, accommodation providers and all levels of government.Â
Consistency – Provide consistent regulatory frameworks for PBSA providers across Australia, ensuring an even playing field that encourages investment regardless of jurisdiction.
Media Releases
View the latest media releases related to the PBSA sector.Â
Historic focus on student accommodation welcomed
The Student Accommodation Council has welcomed the government’s historic recognition in the Budget of the critical role purpose-built student accommodation sector (PBSA) plays in providing a first-class experience for international students but warned against forcing universities to compete directly with the private market.
Focus on quality not caps: Student Accommodation CouncilÂ
The Student Accommodation Council has warned that the federal government’s Migration Strategy must genuinely focus on raising the quality of international student visas and closing existing loopholes, not just arbitrarily reducing international student numbers.Â
Tax on international students needs to be ruled out: Student Accommodation Council
The Student Accommodation Council has cautioned against short-term thought-bubbles like a proposed tax on international students, as Australia considers how to overcome a multi-decade housing supply deficit.
Student Accommodation Division Council
Comprising 14 members from across the industry, the Student Accommodation Division Council directs the Division's strategy and activity in line with the National Board's vision.
The role of our Division Council is to best represent the interests of all members across the Student Accommodation sector. Council members are nominated by industry peers and elected for a two year term, with the President also securing a position on the National Board. Division Councils are responsible for driving the Property Council’s agenda specific to the Division, and leveraging the Property Council’s campaigns and initiatives to achieve targeted results. The Division Council meets monthly and the current representatives commenced their tenure in April 2023.Â
Not a member yet?
We welcome membership from organisations who own, build, invest in or manage purpose-built student accommodation.
Awards
For almost 40 years, the Property Council of Australia has hosted the industry’s most prestigious awards. As champions of our industry we celebrate and reward excellence. Winning a Property Council award means truly being at the top of your game.
Innovation & Excellence Awards
The annual Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards are the most prominent property awards in Australia, promoting excellence in design and innovation in the built environment since 1982.
Upcoming Academy courses
Comprising workshops, online learning and industry diploma courses, our Academy provides the resources to enhance the professional lives of our members. It's a professional development platform with something for everyone.
Latest news
View the latest news related to the PBSA sector.Â
International student numbers to be capped at 270,000 next year
The federal government’s proposed reform to cap international student numbers at 270,000 next year has been welcomed by the Student Accommodation Council, which urged states to boost student housing supply.
Property Council Academy webinar addresses student accommodation demand
As the student accommodation sector is put in the spotlight amidst a housing crisis, a new Property Council Academy Webinar gave over 100 participants insights into what this sector has to offer.Â
Cutting international student numbers not a housing silver bullet
With people waiting to inspect rentals lining up around the block, much has been made of the current housing crisis, Student Accommodation Council Executive Director Torie Brown breaks down why international students are not to blame.
Our members
