Student Residences Management Journal Volume 12 No. 1

THE AUSTRALASIAN

SRMJ

2017 AACUHO StarRe

2017 AACUHO StarRez Conference

PP324494/0062

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart • 8-11 May 2017

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

APRIL 2017

Volume 12 No. 1

THE AUSTRALASIAN

SRMJ

AACUHO FEATURED

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal is published by Adbourne Publishing in conjunction with AACUHO, the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers Inc. PO Box 7345, Beaumaris, Vic, 3193 Ph: 03 9586 6055 E: office@aacuho.edu.au

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AACUHO President’s message

42 FedUni Living receives

prestigious Australian University Teaching Award

Conference keynote speakers 2 017 AACUHO Awards for Excellence ational alcohol harm N minimisation project uilding a B restorative university Leadership in focus

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Internal assessment

48 Second Collegiate Way

International Conference

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Adbourne Publishing and The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal reserve the right to refuse any advertisement without stating the reason. No responsibility is accepted for incorrect information contained in advertisements or editorial. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or otherwise alter articles for publication.

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President’s message W

elcome to the first edition of the Student Residences Management Journal for 2017!

I’m writing this President’s message on the eve of a much needed Easter long weekend, and very much in the shadow of our upcoming 2017 AACUHO StarRez Conference in Hobart 8-11th May. Indeed in less than a month from the time of writing this fantastic event will have come and gone, marking the end of another huge year of achievement for AACUHO and all our members.

This year’s conference has the potential to be our biggest yet, with record numbers of delegates registered under early bird pricing, and if you’re reading this prior to the 8th of May, it’s not too late to secure your spot! With the theme of “Communicate, Collaborate, Celebrate” this year’s conference will build on the tremendous success of 2016 in Sydney, and dare I say our 26th conference promises to be even better than last year’s anniversary extravaganza.

The conference features a range of formal and informal networking opportunities, culminating in two sensational social events. The 2017 AACUHO StarRez Gala Awards Dinner, to be held on Tuesday 9th May, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor will be a night to recognise the stars of the industry! With the theme of ‘A Starry Night’ we encourage you to incorporate this into your attire for this glamorous evening. Then, on Thursday 11th May join us for a celebratory conference closing dinner, sponsored by BigAir, Guidebook and Nettleton Tribe. This celebration dinner is being held at Wrest Point Casino, with guests being transported the short distance by luxury ferry. Embrace the ‘Casino Royale’ theme of the evening, which promises great food, wonderful music and dancing, as well as lots of fun. I’ll have to dust off my tuxedo!

AACUHO FEATURED

• Allana Corbin: Allana recovered physically and mentally from a fatal plane crash, to become the first woman to circumnavigate the mainland of Australia solo in a helicopter. Her story of adventure, danger, tragedy and love is truly inspirational.

The pre-conference study tour is also back this year, with over 20 delegates signed up for a new short, sharp, four day format and a terrific program taking in numerous institutions across two days in Melbourne, before crossing Bass Strait and continuing on through the impressive facilities of UTas and wonderful scenery of Tasmania. Arriving in Hobart in time to join the half day study tour on the first day of the conference.

But enough about the conference, this edition also features a wide range of articles contributed by members from around Australia and New Zealand, and indeed further afield. I’d like to thank all of our contributors, and I’m sure we’ll all learn a great deal from what they have shared on the following pages. You’ll see articles ranging from Alcohol Harm Minimisation to Leadership, along with a celebration of member institutions successes, and profiles of some of our fantastic 2017 award nominees.

It has been a busy year for all of us involved with AACUHO, I’ve enjoyed seeing many members at a variety of networking events throughout the year, and it’s incredible to think that since our last conference 12 months ago AACUHO events have been held in Perth (twice), Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra. If you have an opportunity, please do attend an event near you, they provide a fantastic opportunity to socialise and learn from one another, covering a range of topics important to us all.

• Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM: Governor of Tasmania

Finally, I would like to recognise and thank the AACUHO committee for their hard work and dedication over the past year. A special mention must be made of Andrew Renfree, who is stepping down at the upcoming AGM after serving as secretary for a number of years and making an outstanding contribution to the association. Maryanne Pidcock is also stepping down as Vice President at the upcoming AGM after a year of great service in the role. Thank you both, on behalf of our members, for the great contributions you have made to our association and our industry.

• Tom Ellett: Senior Associate VP Student Affairs / Associate Provost Univ. Programs at New York University and Past President at ACUHO-I

Please enjoy this edition of the SRMJ, my thanks again to all our contributors, the AACUHO team, and our publishers. See you in Hobart!

• Adam Ferrier: Consumer Psychologist, and Global Chief Strategy Officer / Partner at Cummins & Partners

Vincent Wilson AACUHO President

The conference program itself includes many fantastic presentations, with over 20 members and partners delivering concurrent sessions throughout the conference, along with some outstanding professional development opportunities. On top of all that, we’ve got a terrific line up of keynote speakers joining us from all over Australia and the globe:

• Rob Edwards: “The Health Presenter” and Founder of Its Time Foundation

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

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AACUHO FEATURED

2017 Conference keynote speakers Opening Plenary, Tuesday 9th May, 9:15 am-9:45 am Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM, Governor of Tasmania Tasmania’s 28th Governor, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM, was sworn to Office at Government House on Wednesday 10 December 2014.

Previously she was Professor, Faculty of Law, at the University of Tasmania and Director of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute. She had also in her career at the University held the positions of Dean, Faculty of Law, and Head of School.

On 26 January 2014 Her Excellency was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the law, particularly in the areas of law reform and education.

Her teaching interests included Criminal Law, Evidence, Criminology and Sentencing, and her research interests included Sentencing and Criminal Justice.

She was a Commissioner of the Tasmanian Gaming Commission, with a particular interest in regulation, gaming policy and harm minimisation.

Professor Warner had been a Member of the Sentencing Advisory Council since 2010, and had assisted with the preparation of the Council’s discussion papers and reports.

She was a Member of the Board of Legal Education; a Member of the Council of Law Reporting; and Director, Centre for Legal Studies.

In addition to working with the Tasmania Law Reform Institute on its projects, she had been involved in providing advice and submissions on rape law reform, drug diversion and mental health diversion programs and abortion law reform. She also assisted other law reform bodies nationally including the New South Wales Law Reform Commission and the Australian Law Reform Commission.

As the former President of the Alcorso Foundation, Her Excellency supported social and cultural advancement in the community through its programs in the Arts, Environment and Social Justice.

She has received a number of awards and fellowships, including Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law in 2007; Visiting Fellow All Souls College Oxford in 2009; the University of Tasmania Distinguished Service Medal in 2013; and the Women Lawyers Award for Leadership in 2013. She has been nominated as a finalist in the

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Tasmanian Australian of the Year Awards for her contributions to the law reform and legal education.

Her Excellency graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Tasmania in 1970, and a Master of Laws in 1978.

She served as associate to the former Chief Justice, Sir Stanley Burbury, in the early 1970s.

Tuesday 9th May, 11:15 am-12:15 pm Tom Ellett, Ph.D. Thomas Ellett, Ph.D., is a full-time leader in higher education, with a focus on student affairs, a field in which he and his team have been lauded as one of the leading service-delivery/innovative organisations in the country. His work includes focusing on enhancing students’ overall living and learning experience outside the classroom, particularly in the areas of student involvement and engagement, residential living, orientation, student conduct, high school immersion programs on college campuses, and departmental assessment. He also holds an academic appointment to teach graduate level courses. Additionally, he is a certified life coach and provides personal and executive coaching services.

Throughout his career, Tom has been a thought leader in the field of student affairs. He often serves as a keynote or invited speaker at industry conferences, and has served as an external reviewer at over twenty institutions and professional associations. Most recently, Tom has been an invited speaker at a variety of international venues. He has presented to institutional members of the student affairs staff of the prestigious Russell group at Cambridge, and other university staff in Amsterdam, Rome, and most recently in Stockholm, where the city leadership asked him to address stakeholders responding to the European Union’s Eramus Programme about the need to increase student accommodations.

Tom has been professionally active in associations focused on student affairs. He has served on the executive boards of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) in the Tri-President Role (VP, President-Elect, President) and as President of the Mid-Atlantic College and University Housing Officers (MACUHO).

He has published numerous articles in journals and industry magazines.

Tom has also served as the project director and principal investigator for three of the studies resulting from a $50,000 grant funded by ACUHO-I, which focused on the crisis in recruiting and retaining entry-level staff in the field. He is a co-founder of the Regional Entry Level Institute, an institute for entry-level professionals in the field.

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Tom received his Ph.D. from Fordham University in Education, Leadership, Administration and Policy program, an M.F.A. from The Catholic University of America, and a B.A. from Fordham University.

Other institutional affiliations include New York University, Syracuse University, and Utica College.

Wednesday 10th May, 11:00 am-12:00 noon Adam Ferrier Adam Ferrier is ‘The Consumer Psychologist’, Australia’s leading consumer psychologist. He was the Founding Partner and Global Head of Naked Communications, one of Australia’s most awarded agencies, before selling the company and joining independent creative media agency CumminsRoss as part-owner and Chief Strategy Officer in 2014.

Highly engaging, Adam has the unique gift of being able to communicate complex issues in an entertaining, clear and enlightening way. That’s why he is consistently regarded as one of the best and most interesting keynote speakers in the advertising, marketing and media industry.

A registered psychologist, Adam obtained degrees in commerce and clinical psychology before beginning his career in forensic psychology.

He worked in maximum security prisons and private practice before switching his focus from criminal behaviour to consumer behaviour and joining marketing consultancy Added Value. Later, during his time as a Strategic Planner for Saatchi & Saatchi Adam invented a board game called ‘The Analyst’ which was translated into three languages and still sells well in the Benelux countries.

Adam co-founded Naked Communications Asia Pacific in 2004. Naked grew to be one of the most successful agencies in Australia, and was later sold. During this time the Adam’s work received many accolades, winning at top award shows such as Cannes Lions, The Effies, Clio, ADMA, AMIA and LIA. In 2012 he led the creation of ‘Steal Banksy’, one of only nine ideas in the world to win a Gold Effie and Gold Cannes Lion. Adam’s ‘Overstay Checkout’ idea for Art Series Hotel won the Global WARC Innovation award 2013 and he also won the Cannes Chimera in 2014 for ‘The Act Button’.

His other awards include: Adnews’ 40 under 40 (2010), Mumbrella’s 7 Top Strategists (2011), Australian Creative’s Power 20 (2012), Encore Magazine’s Power 100 (2012) and Australian Creative’s Power 20 (2013).

Thursday 11th May, 8:55 am-10:10 am Rob Edwards Rob has a Bachelor of Science with majors in Anatomy & Physiology.

He has been a company director for 20 years in the health and well-being industry where he designed and delivered staff development programs for hundreds of organisations.

Prior to that he worked for five years in a cardiac rehabilitation program where he wrote the internationally distributed book “Better Blood Pressure”.

He has diverse experience working with people at all levels of business, cardiac patients, young offenders, elite athletes and remote island communities.

Rob also manages the Its Time Foundation that he established in 2007 – that replaces diesel power with solar in remote island schools.

Rob’s focus is simply to encourage people to take a brief time out in their busy lives to consider their most important asset – themselves.

And to get you thinking about sustainable actions that deliver long-term quality of life outcomes.

We can’t look after other people unless we look after ourselves first.

Thursday 11th May, 3:30 pm-4:30 pm Allana Corbin Allana Corbin recovered physically and mentally from a fatal plane crash, to become the first woman to circumnavigate the mainland of Australia solo in a helicopter. Her story of adventure, danger, tragedy and love is truly inspirational.

Allana Corbin’s aviation career began in 1988, when she began working for Balloon Aloft in tourism marketing, and as member of the ground crew. Allana also began fixed-wing training and skydiving at this time.

On 22nd December 1990, Allana was a crew member on a Search and Rescue mission from Camden Airport, dispatched to locate a missing training aircraft. The plane Allana was in, a Cessna 210, suffered a catastrophic engine failure and crashed.

Allana’s comeback has been described as miraculous – not only has she taught herself to walk again but in 1995, she gained her commercial helicopter licence, and in 1997 became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo in a helicopter.

In October 1998, Allana launched her autobiography The Best I Can Be published by Pan McMillan. Her second book Prisoners of the East was launched in October 2002.

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Allana is well known for her extensive work with various charity organisations, and her active support of The Tasmanian Air Rescue Helicopter Service. She has held various influential positions, including the Ambassador for the Ability Australia Foundation, as well as a Line Pilot and Public Relations Manager for Rotor-Lift.

AACUHO FEATURED

As Public Relations Manager for Rotor-Lift, Allana was responsible for establishing The Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust, a charity set up to equip Tasmania’s Air Rescue Helicopter with the highest standard of medical and rescue equipment.

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Categories are as follows:

Deakin Residential Services (DRS) has enhanced performance and execution in the marketing and communications space over the past twelve months. This submission focuses on DRS’s success utilising Snapchat as a marketing and communications tool in 2017.

ach year, AACUHO offers a range of scholarships and awards that recognise outstanding performance and innovative ideas from our members. These awards are presented on an annual basis at the AACUHO Conference.

• Fran O’Brien Award for New Professionals • Joe Massingham Award for Meritorious Services • Michael O’Leary Award for Innovation • Business Partner of the Year • The ‘My Favourite Student’ Best of Program Award • AACUHO Award • AACUHO-I Award • Excellence in Marketing and Communications Award • Excellence in Facility Development or Management • Excellence in Student Experience • Excellence in Customer Service Nominations for the 2017 Awards have now closed, and are being reviewed by the Selection Panel. We feature here the award nominations for the Excellence in Marketing and Communications Award – facility over 500 beds and the Excellence in Student Experience Award – facility over 500 beds. The recipients of all awards will be announced at the 2017 AACUHO StarRez Awards Gala Dinner – A Starry Night, on Tuesday 9th May, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

Deakin Residential Services

DRS’ new social media strategy, launched in 2017, leverages off the concept that modern consumers wish to experience and immerse themselves in your story or product in an innovative and meaningful way, rather than merely being informed about your offering. With a focus on ‘working smarter, not harder,’ DRS has successfully enhanced both the student experience and generated quantifiable positive brand engagement since launching the strategy at time of our 2017 check-in.

2016 research shows approximately 40% of 18-24 year olds actively engage with Snapchat an average of 18 times per day. Our aim has been to facilitate opportunities for residents to produce organic Snapchat content that they would proudly link to the DRS brand during the orientation period, thus acting as influencers for potential future residents.

The DRS Snapchat strategy uses Geofilters – special overlays that communicate the where and when of a ‘snap’ in a fun way – to encourage students to share their res experience with their networks.

DRS designed and flighted a total of nine Geofilters during the 2017 orientation period.

From a student experience perspective, the filters aimed to provide them a geotagging solution on Snapchat to enhance the engagement with our Orientation Events. From a marketing perspective, the promotion of ‘Deakin Res’ and the specific event aided in actively promoting the enjoyment students were having as part of living on-campus, providing a far-reaching and unique positive peer recommendation of the Deakin Res experience.

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AACUHO FEATURED

KEY FACTS:

Campus Living Villages

• Value for money in terms of marketing impact is one of the most significant benefits of this style of communication. At a cost of just $274 to DRS, Geofilters used during Orientation were viewed an incredible total of 45,089 times.

In August 2016 within its Australian business, Campus Living Villages (CLV) launched the business’s first national social media campaign, Village Bites, designed to promote healthy eating and positive wellbeing across the 10,400-strong residential community.

• Many individuals who would have received these ‘snaps’ constitute Deakin Res’ target audience.

Featuring celebrity chef, Jimmy Wong, a star of Masterchef 2016, residents from across the Australian campuses were called to submit their favourite healthy “cheap eats” recipes via Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #villagebites. State winners were flown to Sydney to participate in a national Masterchef-style cook off judged by Jimmy, where they vied for a $1000 national prize.

• Pictured above – a sample of the Geofilters used during the 2017 Residential Orientation Program

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The Pangrattato Tagliatelle recipe was designed by Jimmy to meet the competition criteria as a dish that is easy to prepare, affordable and healthy.

The highly successful Village Bites campaign was designed to: • Promote the “Grow” component of CLV’s Live, Learn, Grow residential life program, a key point of difference between CLV and its major competitors. The three-pronged framework helps residents meet new people, perform in their studies and learn new life skills as they transition to independent living.

• Create a library of engaging social media content for the business’s national Facebook and Instagram channels.

• Document the valuable contribution of the community by providing a digital cookbook of recipes submitted by Jimmy and residents, which was shared nationally.

• Encourage healthy eating and positive wellbeing among the resident community.

The Village Bites Campaign resulted in increased engagement across our suite of village social media channels.

As a national campaign, CLV was also able to: • Gain celebrity representation and exposure on Jimmy’s Instagram (@jimmywongeats) to an audience of over 7,200 followers • Launch a high-profile event across 40 social media accounts with minimal replication of effort.

Hootsuite’s social media management tool was used to share content across Facebook and Instagram accounts serving 22 campus locations, resulting in extensive time savings. A library of user-generated images was developed for use in the ongoing promotion of the Live, Learn, Grow program.

UTS Housing Every year, UTS Housing organises a free Annual Dinner repeated over 2 evenings for 750 residents out of a total of its 1200 residents under a specific theme. Last year, the theme was “the Wizard of Oz” as there’s no place like home or a home away from home and held on Tuesday 24 July and Wednesday 25 July 2016.

To engage with our audience, we divided the campaign into three distinctive phases: 1. Intrigue and interest for the upcoming event A month before the event, two short animated videos of ’15 seconds were created around the theme and characters of the evening but without revealing the title. Colours were specifically set to black & white to reflect the movie and emphasise the intrigue. Residents were advised that the event was coming soon.

Our main interaction with residents is done via our Facebook page, which is the platform we used to launch these two videos (first one was on 19 April 2016). In the text accompanying the videos, we encouraged residents to guess what theme would be and recognise the characters in the animation.

The videos were also posted on our Instagram account and internal digital screens within residences.

These were well received. Interest was created as we received emails and FB messages from residents asking when they would be able to book their seat, some even thinking they missed the invitation and asking for it to be sent out again although invitations were not yet sent out.

1. Revealing the theme and Call for action: reserve your seat - Posters & Augmented Reality

• Demonstrate its reach as Australia’s largest student accommodation provider. With over 10,400 beds across the country, CLV implemented this campaign on a scale

Two specific posters were created revealing the theme of the dinner on the same day the invitations were sent out on 2nd May. Videos were inserted in the posters placed in residences. Residents could view them via the “Zappar” app when scanning a specific code on the poster. This technology brought further excitement to the event and a new dimension to the interaction between residents and a printed poster.

Due to its success, Village Bites has been implemented by CLV’s properties in the UK using the model established in Australia.

To support the promotion of the big event of the month of May, our monthly calendar of social events within UTS Housing residences and

• Promote a consistent message about healthy eating and wellbeing across its resident community.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

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AACUHO FEATURED our monthly booklets of events reflected the theme in their design and a spread on the Wizard of Oz was done in our booklet.

- Animations On Facebook, the theme was revealed via 2 new short animations of 15 seconds now in colour to mirror the transition as done in the movie “The Wizard of Oz”.

- Invitation to VIPs Our 36 VIPs received a special invitation with a note requesting them to scan it with the “Zappar”app.

An animation was then activated in which the Wizard personally invited the VIPs to the dinner - Invitation to students Students received a personalised invitation via Event Brite requesting their presence to one of the two evenings of the annual dinner.

Customised banners were created to link to the theme.

2. Engage during the evening o Animation At the start of evening, as residents settled at their tables, a wonderful animation (created by 2 residents working for our team) introduced guests to the evening’s theme by showcasing the story of the Wizard of Oz and announcing the MCs to the stage.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kna7Ab9-QsQ A great way to link all guests one last time within the theme of the evening. Also, while the MCs went on with their speech, a looping animation was set in the background.

Link: https://youtu.be/iZswC_C9QAE o Menus with augmented reality animation During the evening, a last animation of the Wizard of Oz was inserted in the menus present on all tables.

Statistics of Zappar code scans: 55 zaps o Customised GifGifs & Selfies During the dinner, staff took GifGifs and Selfies of residents with a choice of 3 frames customised to the evening’s theme. Selfies were posted on our Facebook page and students received a link to it; efficient way to drive traffic back to our page. Residents could keep a copy of that photo and share it with friends and family. Statistics: numbers of GifGifs: 314 and number of Selfie photos: 135. o Live Instagram During the evenings, live Instagram feeds were posted on our Great Hall’s screen; another way to interact with the crowd. Many of the customised selfies appeared on it. Example: http://bit.ly/2ojTpkA Numbers: Night 1: 120 photos approved and posted live.

Night 2: 130 photos approved and posted live.

Good numbers considering there were so many activities during the evening. Followers to our instagram account also increased by 65 new followers.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

Final outcome Both nights were fully booked within a week of invitations being sent out. We were very satisfied with the number of social media interactions with residents on both nights considering how many activities were happening during the Annual Dinner. Residents’ feedback thought the campaign was “colourful”, “innovative” and “live”.

A lot of students posted further photos of the customised gifsgifs and selfies after the evening – some even after a month time – which indicates the theme, evening and the marketing of the evening were a success.

University of Newcastle The Challenge The Campus Services Marketing Team was asked to increase the awareness and profile of UON Student Living amongst international and national markets to ensure strong demand was maintained for its on-campus housing offering. Addressing section 1.4 of the AACUHO Standards, the campaign would form the basis of the Student Living Marketing Plan for 2016/17. Externally the campaign needed to support the achievement of the University’s 99% occupancy targets across the 2016/17 year and show a positive impact in student demand, primarily for overseas students who had previously been seeking off-campus accommodation as their first preference and to influence resident retention figures. As a secondary objective the campaign looked to show an increase in internal referrals from internal stakeholders, divisions and faculties.

The Solution A multi-channel campaign was developed by the team with overarching videos, social media posts, on ground collateral, refreshed brochure and external advertising. Each aspect was used to demonstrate how our residents experience all that the University of Newcastle and the surrounding city has to offer and that at UON Student Living, life on-campus is what you make it.

The videos (links below) took a destination marketing approach utilising imagery showing the ocean baths, thriving small bar scene and coastal city vibe that make Newcastle an attractive place to live and study.

Also intrinsic to the campaign were the impressive facilities and strong academic achievement of the University of Newcastle, Newcastle’s incredible location and our award-winning ResLife program.

The campaign tagline Life’s What You Make It was designed to encapsulate the attitudes of the Student Living team, our Residential Mentors, the on-campus community and show how residents can gain

the most from their University experience by exploring the city voted as one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities in the world.

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AACUHO FEATURED • Life On-Campus, It’s What You Make It • Make Our Campus, Your Home • Meet Jiajia, International Student Ambassador at UON Student Living A hashtag #maketodaycount was introduced to involve the residential community and leverage our residential support program inspiring UON Student Living residents to balance work, rest and play and make each day count. The hashtag aimed to encourage current and future residents to engage with their community (addressing section 2.6 of the AACUHO standards) by connecting and sharing their posts via our competitions and social media.

In addition, a Student Living mobile app was developed to facilitate better communication with our international and new resident cohort.

The app translates into the language that the student has their phone set to therefore providing better support and preparing new residents even before they leave home.

The Outcomes The campaign has had considerable impact as indicated in Figure 1 in driving both international and returner demand to live in the UON Student Living precinct.

Pleasingly anecdotal feedback from our Off-Campus Accommodation Officer has indicated that 85% of enquiries at the resumption of semester one were from International students versus 15% domestic enquiries.

Showcasing the student experience and accommodation facilities has also resulted in an encouraging level of referrals from internal stakeholders such as Global, Student Services and Homestay areas.

During the campaign period social media engagement increased with 74% increase on Instagram, 40% on Twitter and almost 20% on our Facebook platforms. We were also very proud to have our videos shared by external tourism organisations and the Newcastle City Council.

DRS RESPECT values – Responsiveness, Encouragement, Safety, Proactivity, Enjoyment, Connectedness and Tolerance – were introduced into the residential community with the holistic aim of emphasising the importance of every individual in fostering a harmonious and healthy community, and in turn, and engaging and enriching on-campus student experience for all.

A number of initiatives were introduced in 2016 to support the aims of formally integrating our RESPECT Values into the community: • All programs and events held on student residences were required to leverage at least one aspect of the RESPECT community values.

This included all social, cultural, sporting, and artistic functions and leadership development programming.

• A creative promotional campaign including student designed posters, RESPECT phone wallets and fridge magnets, and the active involvement of the residential student population in promoting the values via a video campaign – https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YJ55DUVlD0g.

Following the launch of our RESPECT Values, quantitative signs have been outstanding with reduced emergency service and serious behavioural incidents, and increased reporting of health issues needing support and referral. In addition positive feedback has been received from student leaders and the general student population following the introduction of the RESPECT values, with 81% of the residential population indicating their awareness and understanding of the values as part of our 2016 Annual Student Experience Survey.

A number of new initiatives will be launched as we lead into 2017 to complement existing activities including: • The launch of an internal staff communication piece throughout the year focusing one value for each edition. This newsletter will be distributed throughout Deakin to promote DRS activities and programs and our RESPECT Values as a whole.

Figure 1.

Deakin Residential Services

• The introduction of a monthly poster campaign, positioned in high traffic areas (toilets, elevators etc.), encouraging students’ own interpretation and embodiment of our values in every day community life.

Deakin Residential Services (DRS) provides accommodation to approximately 2000 residents across the four campuses of Deakin University. Officially launched in 2016, the DRS RESPECT campaign articulates a set of core values for all residents, complementing the University Australia sector wide campaign “Respect. Now. Always.”

• Facilitation of a staff workshop at our forthcoming Planning Day, requiring team members to brainstorm and discuss ways that they can embody and further support the integration of our RESPECT Values in our community.

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Student Experience Journey Framework

To achieve this, CLV has launched a Village Life content program across both Australia and New Zealand to welcome residents and capture the unique student experience at each village. Content includes: • Residential life highlight videos such as ‘CLV TV’ and ‘A Day in the Life’, allowing potential residents to experience the excitement of village life before even setting foot on campus.

• Introductory videos to communicate critical information (such as ‘Local Hotspots’, ‘Getting Around’ and ‘Meet the Staff ’), provide relevant information and welcome new residents in an engaging and personable way.

• Videos to introduce programs such as ‘V1 – First Year Uni’, targeted to the first-year resident cohort.

• Videos that highlight key moments in the residential experience such as ‘Move In Day’.

• Introduction of a planned RESPECT Values Snapchat GeoFilter for residents to use and promote their own ‘random acts of kindness’ within their campus communities in trimester 2, 2017.

• Further formal measurement of the understanding of our RESPECT values within our community through our planned Annual Student Experience Survey (assessing individual student, student leader and perceived community awareness and understanding).

DRS believes the clear articulation of our RESPECT values, in conjunction with our Student Experience Framework which facilities activity, event and campaign programming in health and wellbeing, arts and culture, social and community, academic and leadership pillars, has been of significant benefit to the residential community, and plays a central role in enriching the living and learning experience for our residents during their time on-campus at Deakin.

Campus Living Villages Campus Living Villages’ (CLV) core focus is to provide residents with innovative residential life and student experience programs. Providing residents with relevant, engaging communications during key periods of their journey (shown in the Student Experience Journey Framework below) is essential to their successful integration into campus life, and supports the recruitment and retention strategies of CLV’s university partners.

In 2017, an Australian internship program was launched to support the project, providing a current resident the opportunity to travel around Australia as the face of the Village Life videos. James Coates from UNSW Village gained an invaluable professional development and travel opportunity, adding further video production and presentation experience to his resume.

A team of Content and Social Media Specialists travel around Australia and New Zealand capturing the student experience on video. As the popularity of video content grows on social media, CLV has found that this is one of the best ways to engage residents in its target demographic.

Outcomes CLV’s Village Life content program has provided numerous benefits to the residential community in Australia and New Zealand, including: • Supporting the launch of key programs in New Zealand such as ‘V1 – First Year Uni’ in Semester 1, 2016 • A 23% increase in applications to Uni Hall in 2017, as a result of the effective communication of the ‘V1 – First Year Uni’ program to potential residents and parents • Helping to increase student satisfaction rates among first year students at UCA Student Village • Increasing engagement (likes, shares and video views) on Village Facebook pages • Offering an exciting internship opportunity to a village resident in Australia

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In New Zealand, the ‘V1 – First Year Uni’ video content was created in collaboration with the University of Canterbury to promote CLV’s award-winning first year experience program. This content was a key Semester 1 recruitment tool, and was also used throughout the semester to help residents settle into the community and understand how to make the most of the program. The video, and the success of the V1 program, resulted in first year residents reporting a 92% overall customer satisfaction rate in March 2016, compared to an 83.4% satisfaction rate from new starters in the prior period.

In Australia, video continues to have the highest engagement across all village Facebook pages. The latest video series, ‘Local Hotspots’/’Local Tips’, posted on each village’s Facebook page in early February, has been viewed over 5,600 times across the national portfolio and reached over 31,000 users.

Providing an opportunity for student residents to be the face of CLV was well received throughout the villages. In addition to supporting skill development for high performing CLV residents, James’ appointment enabled the team to capture additional village content during O-Week 2017, and helped CLV to enhance the depth of its communications.

University of Newcastle Student Living continues to deliver a number of initiatives that develop a healthy and respectful on-campus residential community. Throughout 2016, Student Living have focussed on ensuring an improved awareness, education and support surrounding the issue of sexual assault and sexual violence within on-campus living. This is undertaken through a multi-faceted approach of policy; education and information; support; and contact and reporting processes.

Education in the behavioural expectations of residents and the development of a respectful living environment begins from the early stages of the life cycle of the resident. A compulsory Student Living e-induction is included as part of the acceptance process in becoming a resident for both new and returning residents. This induction includes, amongst other questions, an Info graphic specifically regarding Consent, and the following question presented to them as part of the Health and Wellbeing section of the induction: I understand that any form of un-consensual contact with another person is not tolerated within this community and is direct breach of the expected ethical, community and legal standards as set by both Student Living and the wider community. I understand that Consent

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AACUHO FEATURED is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual or other behaviours. Consent needs to be given for each separate encounter and a person cannot consent if they are intoxicated; silence or passive participation cannot be interpreted as consent, with both or all parties needing to have a verbalised and discussed agreement that they are willing to participate in the event/action or act.

YES/NO Once on-campus, as a Student Living resident, our orientation program ResFest includes information sessions on Health and Wellbeing; student behavioural expectations; Bystander Intervention; the introduction of support services and key support staff available to all residents; and methods of accessing these services. These details are also easily accessible though the Student Living App ensuring there is a one-stop-shop for all questions and information regarding Student Living. Within the app clear information is provided regarding what is Consent, why it matters, what Sexual Assault and Violence are, and how to contact Student Living, the RESPECT line and other services across campus.

We are proud to also note that we have included gender-specific seminars with key note speaker Brent Sanders, author and presenter on violence against women, sexual assault, discrimination and harassment. 688 residents attended these seminars in 2016, and 720 attended in 2017. These seminars include the legal parameters of consensual sex, strategies regarding de-escalating a situation, and factors to be conscious of in poor decision making by potential perpetrators including alcohol, peer pressure and fear of losing face. Information is then again provided on how to contact or make a report regarding concerning behaviour, a concern for a friend, or information on an incident that may have occurred.

Our education continues with the Consent Matters online course, mandatory for each resident, and focusing on increasing the understanding of what consent means, the importance of consent, and the need to continue to check in with each other while engaging any kind of sexual or intimate behaviour. The course is also designed to help students recognise difficult situations and ways of stepping in if others need help.

The course was designed by EPIGUM, an international development group based in the UK, and is now being utilised by a number of other Universities across the world. We are proud to have been the only Australian University part of the development of this course, with our Residential Leaders providing direct input and feedback during the development phase, and even providing voice-overs. The online module involves interactive activities, quizzes and character scenarios students can relate to.

To date, 1,044 of our 1,750 residents have completed the course, while another week remains before the deadline to complete.

Student Living provides 24/7 support for all residents through our daytime and after-hours staffing teams, Security services, and our residential leaders who are students living on campus and are key contact points for our residents. Our leaders undertake a comprehensive training program on caring for their residents and supporting the creation and sustainability of a respectful on-campus community. Leadership training The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

includes workshops on: mental health; incidents and risk; ethical sexual behaviours including healthy relationships and consent; community building and bystander intervention; understanding drugs and alcohol; restorative conversations; cultural intelligence and inclusiveness practices; and self-care and boundaries. Our student leadership team is heavily supported by our Student Living Support Coordinators who meet with them weekly and are available to be contacted outside of these allocated meeting times.

In 2017, a specific Responding to Sexual Assault on Campus workshop is being held in April for the current residential leaders.

Inviting the guidance and expertise of Newcastle Sexual Assault Crisis Centre to deliver this session, we aim for Residential Leaders to understand the importance of a survivor-led approach, how to respond to these disclosures in the first instance, and how to care for the survivor and for self when you have received this knowledge.

Student Living Support is accessible to all residents via phone, in person, email, or through online incident reporting forms. Residents who report an incident of sexual assault or sexual violence are supported entirely in pursuing a course of action that is directed by them. This may take the form of support-only for the survivor; support plus an investigation to be undertaken by the University; or support and assistance in accessing and reporting to the Police. The University-led investigations are undertaken through the Office of the DVC-A, with support provided

by Student Living as required.

The team continue to work in creating a cohesive and respectful community to which residents feel safe and a connection to the community. A program of activities and events encourage connections and the celebration of an individual’s strengths and capabilities, while developing further their leadership and employability skills. Our community building program renews focus this year, with the team working at each individual residence to solidify their community values and attributes. Using this process, Student Living will be working closely with each residence, their paid and voluntary leaders, and the general residential body to drive positive social norms, setting their own voluntary standards of acceptable behaviour that is recognised, engaged and driven by them rather than enforced by the institution.

Led discussion will be facilitated on the acceptable norms of ethical sexual behaviours, what is seen as usual behaviour within that residence, what is acceptable by the residents, and are there any unethical sexual behaviours they have witnessed that they wish to pro actively address from a cultural perspective.

The time frame for this project will run throughout 2017 – 2018.

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Campus Living Villages/University of Canterbury

Project initiatives included;

UC Accommodation is an on-campus student accommodation Village situated on the University of Canterbury campus in Christchurch New Zealand. The Village includes a dedicated first year Hall with 552 bedsUniversity Hall (Uni Hall), and is operated by Campus Living Villages, a global provider of student accommodation with over 43,000 beds across Australia, New Zealand the UK and USA.

• Reviewing of the role of the Resident Assistants (RA) as key supporters and positive influencers of a first year resident’s in their transition to the university and village community;

In preparation for the 2016 academic year, Uni Hall at UCA Student Village, Christchurch, launched its “Healthy Learning Community” initiative. The program is targeted at first year students beginning their journey at the University of Canterbury and is designed to:

• Reviewing staff roles and positions to lead desired changes;

• Revamp and reinvigorate the village’s Live, Learn, Grow residential life framework with a dedicated focus on academic (Learn) and personal development (Grow) activities. This revamp would alter the village’s previous reputation as a hall of residence heavily skewed towards social events, such as parties.

• Focus on mental health awareness and positive well-being, to establish a solid foundation among the resident community during this crucial period of a student’s development.

• Implement a contemporary youth engagement model that is strengths based and focused on development and encouraging residents to be the best they can be.

• Realigning the Uni Hall brand to position the Village as a reputable academic environment;

• Developing forums to further encourage resident input, feedback and commentary; • Providing a safe and secure environment for residents with particular attention to crisis management; and • An evolution from a punitive approach to managing resident behaviour to a restorative justice framework and approach.

New Developments Implemented in 2016 Residential Assistants The number of Residential Assistants were increased from 11 in 2015 to 13 in 2016, improving the ratio of RAs to cohort and increasing the opportunity for more personal interaction. In addition, CLV provides Residential life support in a Community Manager and Evening Duty Management, 24/7 pastoral care. CLV introduced the concept of welfare

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AACUHO FEATURED checks on every resident, with RAs individually meet with every resident to make sure they are making friends, checking on academic progress, being socially engaged and enjoying life in the Village.

In January of 2016, prior to Move In day, a new Resident Assistant (RA) training program was introduced, with a focus on a an integrated and collaborative approach with the University, to provide the very best support and referral service to residents, connecting residents into all University and community support services, clubs and societies, encouraging participation and engagement into the all the University and UCA opportunities, Resident Assistants recruitment selection included key academic and tutoring skills as well as other key strengths such as sport and drama. These key strengths were harnessed into events and inter-hall competitions, seeing University hall residents participating in greater numbers than competing halls.

University Student Services Engagement For the first time, RA training included significant involvement from University of Canterbury Services Student Development Team providing information on Campus Security, UC Health Centre, Student Services, Academic Support, Disability, Maori and Pacific Development Centre, connecting the Village service to the university. This coordination between the university and the Village ensured student residents were connected to services to assist them with any issues ranging from mental health to finance to academic support.

Brand Repositioning To reposition the Uni Hall brand and reputation, CLV’s award-winning V1 – First Year Uni program was launched for students starting their first year of university. The program focused on supporting residents as they transition to independent living, with events and communications right from the time they apply. An informational V1 – First Year Uni video and Survival Guide were produced and distributed to educate and alleviate any anxiety around moving to the Village.

Student Voice and Engagement In 2016 University Hall launched The Student Voice, a student council concept where residents from all areas of University Hall could have their opinion heard by management. The Student Voice planned events for residents, sent feedback to the catering staff about the dining hall food and helped management plan large scale events like the UCA Ball.

The Humans of Uni Hall Facebook page was launched, modelled after the famous Humans of New York Facebook page. The Uni Hall page supports respect, acceptance and individuality by showcasing the stories that make residents unique.

Increase in Learn and Grow Events To assist personal growth and academic success, Uni Hall increased the focus on academic events, providing tutorials in a wide variety of subjects on a weekly basis. With a high proportion of engineering students at Uni Hall, additional engineering tutorials and alignment with the university engineering faculty were introduced.

Resident Safety and Security Focus at Uni Hall Following the 5.7 magnitude earthquake on February 14, 2016, a The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

Business Continuity Plan (BCP) container was sourced to hold material for emergencies, a first for New Zealand student accommodation. The container houses equipment for residents’ welfare such as blankets, water, first aid/burn kits; 12 radio phones in case of network failure; caution tape and traffic cones to lockdown a building; and rescue equipment such as spades and crowbars. This provides residents and staff with immediate access in case of a natural disaster. The shipping container is located in a car park outside any building fall zone, accessible from several directions.

Leadership/Management To supplement the Village Management structure, new General Manager and Community Manager roles were introduced to drive the Healthy Learning Community program.

Results and Improvements • Uni Hall residents reported a 92% overall customer satisfaction rate in March 2016 compared to an 83.4% satisfaction rate from new starters in the prior period.

• Uni Hall residents achieved very positive academic results, including a 93% pass rate in 2016.

• Uni Hall experienced a 25% increase in applications for 2017.

• Decrease in Incidents and Damages The decrease in damage of property is related to the introduction of the V1 Programme. Staff were active and visible members of the University Hall community and provided a new and innovative approach in dealing and managing residents. This resulted in: o A decrease in overall total incidents of 62% o An 81% reduction in incidents involving alcohol, and 89% reduction in unattributed damage (damage that cannot be allocated to a resident). o Incidents involving mental health, which is on the incline worldwide, dropped by 34%.

• Increase in satisfaction rates for Learn and Grow events o Resident satisfaction results from Learn events increased significantly at Uni Hall, to 71.8%, up from 53.8% in November 2015. o Resident satisfaction results from ‘Grow’ events also increased significantly to 58.7%, from 49.2% in November 2015.

• In mid-November 2016 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the township of Kaikoura, 180 km from Christchurch, and showed the extent to

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which the Healthy Learning Community program contributed to the development of a socially conscious student body. Uni Hall played host to hundreds of guests rescued from Kaikoura, with staff and students working through the night to prepare over 200 rooms for evacuees. Students made beds, cleaned bathrooms, removed garbage and vacated their own rooms to support those in need.

UTS Housing Meet the Olympians is an Olympic Educational program designed to instil in young people an appreciation for the values, spirit, and philosophy of the Olympic Movement.

This program was conducted in association with the Australian Olympic Committee at UTS Housing. The program was specifically held just before the exam session to motivate, encourage, and inspire residents before the start of this important period.

Meet the Olympians is a live studio audience discussion; featuring outstanding Australian Olympians sharing experiences about the positive impact sport has had on their lives. The discussion centred on the ASPIRE values (A – Attitude, S – Sportsmanship, P – Pride, I – Individual responsibility, R – Respect, E – Express yourself) and includes a question and answer time. Discussions also featured multimedia of highlights of the Olympic Games and display of Olympic memorabilia. The conclusion of the session allowed for photo and autograph opportunities.

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The four Olympians who graced the occasion were: • Sharni Williams – Rugby 7’s – Olympic Games gold medallist (Rio 2016) http://rio2016.olympics.com.au/athlete/sharni-williams • Shelley Watts – Boxing – Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympian http://rio2016.olympics.com.au/athlete/shelley-watts • Hayder Shkara – Taekwondo – Olympian and UTS Alumnus http://rio2016.olympics.com.au/athlete/hayder-shkara • Lea Yanistas – Waterpolo – Olympian http://rio2016.olympics.com.au/athlete/lea-yanitsas The Olympians used a narrative approach to optimise motivation levels. For e.g. Sharni Williams, who is an Olympic Gold medallist, shared her story of how she took up the sport of rugby. She wanted to be an Olympian at the age of 8 but didn’t know how to get there. At the age of 20, she started playing rugby. Only a couple of years before the Rio 2016 games, she got called in the rugby 7’s team. Being a motor mechanic, it was extremely difficult for her to train after completing work every day. It was her discipline, determination, and dedication that helped her achieve her Olympic dream.

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AACUHO FEATURED A number of the athletes present on the panel were also university students and have been very well equipped with balancing university and sporting commitments.

Friends and family can be a very positive supporting network. However, at times, they can put a lot of pressure on an individual based on their high expectations. The athletes shared their own stories of how they kept focus and self-belief during the Olympic Games when under continuous media surveillance and pressure from family members. They also shared the effectiveness of continuous training and listening to music which released stress and helped maintain the ultimate goal. The athletes gave relevant examples of how this can transpire in a university setting. For e.g. during exam time, how family and friends might have high expectations and how this can affect exam preparation. The importance of studying throughout the semester can be relatable to continuous training schedule of an athlete and the benefits of doing so were also discussed.

UTS Housing proved to be an appropriate backdrop for the Q&A style session, being the home of the Australian Centre for Olympic Studies which aims to provide a national focus for Olympic studies in Australia.

Captain of the gold medal winning women’s rugby sevens side, Williams said sharing her experience with students of all ages is a blessing.

Another important factor was the fear of failure. Athletes shared different highs and lows of their career and how they overcame those lows with a positive attitude and self-belief.

“I have had the most amazing journey I could ever ask for so if I can inspire one person to live life to the fullest then I’ll be very chuffed,” said Williams who before the Rio Olympics worked as a mechanic.

The athletes answered questions from residents about working in a team, training individually and in a team, showing leadership in a group setting, and being a good role model in front of others.

Williams, who still has a huge smile on her face whenever she looks at the gold medal hanging around her neck, says the Olympic movement can be used as an education tool across many facets of life.

The athletes shared stories of how in a team sport team members needed to respect each other even though, at times, members had different point of views and, at times, if a team was not performing well, how the captain of the team needed to step up and demonstrate leadership skills.This can be relatable to working in a group assignment.Team members come from various backgrounds but needed to be respected and listened to.

“Educating people gives us the tools to make better decisions. If I can pass on some of my sporting knowledge it can be transferred in many different ways, like teamwork which can be transferred into the workforce.”

Sometimes, a group assignment suffers because of lack of involvement of certain members. This is an opportunity for an individual to stand up and demonstrate leadership skills and keep the group motivated.

UTS Staff member, Anirudha Saha, said it was a great privilege and pleasure to host the Olympians.

Before the start of the event, each attendee was given a handout.

The handout had three columns. The first column had four rows with four values. They were: Positive attitude, Leadership,Teamwork, and being a good role model.

The second column required participants to describe each value. In the third column, participants were asked to come up with an example in their own situation where they had experienced or demonstrated that particular value.

The idea was for students to take the handout with them for selfreflection and fall back on when looking for motivation.

The Olympians did their best to inspire the students to follow their sporting dreams and spent significant time with students chatting, posing for photos and signing autographs.

After the completion of the event, the elite athletes shared some positive views about the event on different social media platforms.

The session hosted by UTS Housing provided the opportunity for residents to hear how Olympic athletes become involved in sports, the highs, and lows they experience along the way as well as the exhilaration of competing at the Olympic Games.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

The one-hour discussion centred on the importance of values in sport as well as many of the difficult life choices the athletes have had to make.

“We wanted our students to learn from such athletes on how they balance between personal and professional life,” said Saha who explained that UTS aims to find role models like these Olympians, to motivate and inspire students before busy exam periods.

“For a lot of students, these are their heroes growing up.

The opportunity to meet and hear from these athletes will definitely create a positive impact for the future. The ups and down in an athlete’s life can be related to a normal student’s life in general. Hearing the journey of such Olympians will inspire students to be successful.”

The Australian Olympic Committee highlighted the event in their press release: http://education.olympics.com.au/news/olympic-champions-inspireuniversity-students http://corporate.olympics.com.au/news/olympic-medallists-inspire-utsstudents The event was live-streamed on the UTS Housing Facebook page and had 8,400 views and a reach of over 54,000 users.

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National Alcohol Harm Minimisation Project PROF. TIM CORNEY PHD I Queens College, University of Melbourne

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ACUHO and University Colleges Australia (UCA) are working together on an exciting alcohol harm minimisation project that will have benefits for AACUHO and UCA members around Australia.

The project emerges from the findings of an Australian Research Council Linkage study (Schofield et al. 2009) conducted in NSW and Victoria in the years 2011-2014 that analysed students’ drinking practices and alcohol policies within university residential colleges.

Findings from that study suggest that drinking among students was heavy and frequent, and in particular that the drinking practices were integrated by students into the colleges’ micro-processes (activities, events, routines), and shaped by college policies and organisational practices.

A national steering committee Chaired by Professor Tim Corney is working with the Burnet Institute and other stakeholders to trial a mobile phone intervention application knowns as a MIDY during Orientation weeks in 2018 and 2019. The proposed study aims to address change within the ‘drinking culture’ of colleges, through adopting

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

a multi-pronged approach that can be applied to both students’ drinking practices, and college policies through stakeholder direct participation. To this end, the study will pilot students’ use of an innovative mobile phone technology (MIDY); develop a peer to peer, narrative based, preventative education campaign in collaboration with students; and review and revise alcohol policies and procedures in collaboration with students and college/housing administrations. The aim is to shift the focus of social and leisure activities within colleges from one which privileges a culture of heavy and/or frequent alcohol consumption, to one which fosters ‘alcohol citizenship’ (Leontini et al. 2015). Funding is being sought to support the project from various sources including state health departments.

AACUHO and UCA Executives are excited about the possibilities flowing from the project for student accommodation and colleges into the future and will keep members informed of developments. Professor Corney will be presenting findings from his initial field research in the UK at the AACUHO conference in Hobart next month and there are plans to provide more information on the project at the UCA annual conference to be held in Brisbane on 28/29 September.

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Building a Restorative University LINDSEY POINTER I Victoria University of Wellington

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estorative justice is being used as a response to discipline issues on university campuses around the world with encouraging results. Research by sociologists David Karp and Casey Sacks has shown that compared to the traditional conduct model, restorative practices result in fewer appeals, less serious reoffending, higher participant satisfaction, and improvement in student learning.1 Restorative justice provides a shift in focus from rule violations and punishment to the impacts of the incident and what can be done to make things right. Through a facilitated process, the person who was harmed and the person who caused the harm are brought together to talk about how they were affected and form a plan moving forward. The process creates an opportunity for greater understanding and healing.

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand has seen positive results following the implementation of restorative justice to handle incidents of student misconduct. Through the use of restorative justice, the university has been able to avoid suspension, expulsion, and the eviction of students from university housing and has instead offered a process that more fully integrates students into the community.

I would say the restorative shift had the greatest impact on me. Going from a “who needs to be punished” mind set to a “what can we do to repair this and make things right mind set I believe is a clear step to making the world a better place… Building positive relationships will make the world a better place.

– Residential Advisor

Victoria University has also gone beyond the implementation of restorative justice as a response to discipline issues to begin to create a Restorative University that fosters positive relationships founded on mutual care, respect, responsibility, and honest communication at all levels. This holistic approach has allowed the university to take a proactive approach to avoiding conflict and misconduct through fostering feelings of belonging and connection.

The Restorative University model is being built through the intentional implementation of restorative practices such as Connection Circles and the Restorative Conversation model that build, maintain and repair relationships within the university community throughout the year.

This effort began with the Residential Life staff including student Residential Advisors.

At the beginning of the year, Residential Advisors were provided with an introduction to the restorative shift and an overview of how student misconduct cases would be handled through restorative justice.

Following the introductory session, each RA staff group participated in an experiential workshop to learn how to use the Connection Circle tool to build healthy relationships among residents, establish positive group norms, respond to common group behaviour issues including messiness and noise, and provide support following a community trauma. The RAs also learned how to engage in a Restorative Conversation to address an issue one-on-one with a resident or colleague.

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AACUHO FEATURED

My favourite part was the connection circles and finding out information about my fellow leaders that I wouldn’t otherwise have discovered.

I liked watching how creating a safe space affected how people communicated.

– Residential Advisor

The feedback from the Residential Advisors was overwhelmingly positive (100% Satisfied or Very Satisfied with the training) and they have reported being able to implement the restorative practices covered right away.

Following the success of the implementation of Restorative Justice at Victoria University, the University of Newcastle in Australia brought the trainers affiliated with the Chair of Restorative Justice at Victoria University over to deliver both a Restorative Justice Facilitator training for professional staff and the Restorative University workshop with student Residential Mentors. Again, the training was met with enthusiasm by university employees who saw clear application for the tools in their jobs as well as in their broader lives.

It not only provides you with tools to approach challenging situations within your job and role as a leader, but can assist you in your everyday life.

– Residential Advisor

The shift to handling student misconduct through Restorative Justice is an important first step in the transformation of university culture.

However, these practices are most effective when they are part of a greater intentional culture shift. We all agree that it is important to prioritise student and employee wellness

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and to build strong communities. Restorative Practices offer concrete tools that can be easily implemented to make that vision a reality.

University students stand at the brink of adulthood. In our role, we have a valuable opportunity to help shape the way these students take the next step into their lives.

Giving students, both RAs and residents, the experience of being part of a healthy and caring community as well as tools to peacefully and productively resolve conflict and put things right when they make a mistake are gifts that will last a lifetime.

Interested in learning more or bringing restorative practices to your university?

Visit www.aspenrestorativeconsulting.com/ restorativeuniversity/ or contact Lindsey Pointer at Lindsey@aspenrestorativeconsulting.com or Haley Farrar at Haley@aspenrestorativeconsulting.com.

References 1. David R. Karp & Casey Sacks, “Student Conduct, Restorative Justice, and Student Development,” Contemporary Justice Review 17/2 (2014), pp. 154-72.

I fully believe this is what needs to be taught throughout the rest of the country/world.

– Residential Advisor www.adbourne.com

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The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

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Leadership in Focus VINCENT WILSON | AACUHO President

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few hectic months in to another incredibly fast paced and high pressure year with my team and I’ve been pondering what makes for strong successful leadership in times when the year is flying past you and the pressure of deadlines is well and truly on all of us. It’s easy enough to focus on leadership and teamwork in quieter times, but how well do we do this when we and our teams are under the proverbial pump?

As difficult as it can be when you’re racing towards a deadline, as leaders it is our responsibility to be the ones who take a moment to pause and reflect amongst the chaos. Here’s my tips for keeping yourself, and your team, on the straight and narrow in high pressure and fast paced times. Of course, there is much more to leadership in any situation than what I’ve outline below, but hopefully these few practical tips will help get you well on your way.

positive leadership traits that we display during quieter times, providing the inspiration and clear direction that our teams rely upon us for. We should be cautious not to let negative personal behaviours slip out, admittedly difficult to do when under immense pressure, but whilst our partners may forgive us at home, in the workplace bad behaviour from a leader can do serious damage to a team. When everyone in a workplace is feeling a little more stressed and tired than usual it is ever more important that a leader keeps smiling, maintains professionalism, and provides the inspiration the organisation needs.

Know when to step in… and when to step out

As one of my wonderful leadership mentors Liz Wright would say, get in your helicopter! It is only from up high that we can see the entirety of the world around us, guiding our teams in the right direction as we dodge and weave our way to success. From our helicopter we can identify team members in need of assistance, see obstacles in our path before we run headlong into them, and plan for the next task and the task after that whilst our teams are busy in the present.There is no silver bullet when it comes to effective leadership under pressure, but by providing situational leadership appropriate to each circumstance we go a long way to achieving our goals.

One of the most difficult things as a leader when our team is under pressure is identifying when it’s useful for us to step in and help, and when we’re better off getting out of the way and let our people do what they do best. How to do this often depends on the individual, for example with senior team members who may be leaders in their own right you can often have a frank and honest discussion about what they need from you, whilst in other situations a ‘captain’s call’ may be required. Generally, if you are witnessing team members expending more time, energy, and stress on a task or situation than necessary it may be wise to step in and provide some clarity of direction. If a team or individual is simply extremely busy getting the job done, it may be most beneficial to let them know you are there to support them if required, but otherwise step back and allow the team to perform.There is a third way here, which can be highly beneficial in either scenario, and that is to play the role of traffic controller by keeping unnecessary communications or tasks off the team’s radar and removing any roadblocks before they become major impediments to progress.

Keep your cool

Encourage self-care

Be the duck! As a leader it is critical that no matter how hard we are paddling under the water we maintain an outer calm.This will reassure others that everything is under control, and prevent panic from those within our teams who may be feeling the pressure most. None of this is to say that we shouldn’t empathise with team members under pressure or acknowledge a busy or stressful time, but we can do this whilst demonstrating a calm and in control approach to any situation.You’ll be amazed by how much your mood and approach as leader is reflected in those around you.

Regardless of how busy or stressed out we or our teams are, preserving the positivity and general mental health of the team is critical to success.

Make sure team members aren’t regularly skipping their lunch breaks or working late every night, encourage individuals to continue with their regular self-care activities, and lead by example by doing the same.

If you normally take a short walk to clear your head mid-afternoon, keep doing it when you’re under pressure! Not only will it help in these situations more than any other time, it will send a powerful message to the team and make it OK for others to manage their own stress levels and wellbeing, all of which will deliver better outcomes for you, the team, and the organisation.

Situational awareness

Focus on leadership Along with keeping our cool, as leaders we need to continue exhibiting all the

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Four Strategies to get the Most from Attending a Conference LAURA BURGE I Deakin Residential Services

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onferences can be an overwhelming flurry of keynotes, concurrent sessions, corridor conversations, coffee dates, networking, and late night soirees, and it can be challenging to know where to focus your energy and how to wisely spend your time.

Which sessions should you attend? Are workshops or

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presentations more valuable? Do you skip the keynote to check emails? And how many coffee dates are too many to fit in before 11 am? To help you on your way, here are four simple strategies you can employ to ensure you make the most of attending your next conference:

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1. Be Prepared As the malevolent Scar espouses the importance of ‘being prepared’ to his hyena minions in the Lion King, the same advice (minus the plot line of trying to knock off the reigning monarch of the time) applies to planning for attendance at a conference. This can be as simple as reviewing the program schedule in advance and noting which sessions you intend to attend. Not only will this save you time on the day – plus any last minute panic of trying to navigate the maze-like venues in which conferences are usually held – but it may also mean that you have the time to do some initial research on the topic or the presenter, and thus be able to meaningfully contribute to the discussion – particularly if it’s a workshop.

Being prepared is also equally about taking ‘smart’ notes during sessions to save you time down the track. If you’re anything like me, you’re no doubt bound to come home with a ton of fresh ideas, information, statistics and quotes, so it’s hugely beneficial to work out your own way (like mine below) of marking or highlighting action items, additional reading or a follow-up connection requests in advance. *

Action Item

>

Additional Reading/Research



Connection

Importantly, if you’ve got the luxury of travelling with other work buddies, use the opportunity to ‘divide and conquer.’ As tempting as it may be to hang with the same crew (and stay in your comfort zone) there’s zero value in both (or more) of you attending the same session, especially if there’s more than one on at a time which will be of value.

The same applies in social settings – it can be nice to know you’ve always got someone to mingle with on a crowded dancefloor, but it’s so much more fun to make new friends whilst busting out your best moves.

2. Be Memorable Ever been on a blind date or had to meet a work colleague in a crowded venue for the first time when you didn’t know what they looked like?

It can be really tough trying to pinpoint someone for the first time frequently in a sea of black workwear, and whilst I’m certainly not suggesting everyone carries around a red rose (or whatever takes your fancy) for the purposes of identification, you may wish to think about the ways you might like to stand out from the crowd. It might be what you wear (a nice bright coloured outfit – “look for the guy with the red scarf ”), or if you’re a little more conservative like myself, it might be what you have to say. By this I mean I two things – firstly make sure you’ve got, for want of a better expression, your ‘elevator pitch’ ready to go, and secondly, make an impact by getting involved and contributing to discussions!

In regards to the former, as a bare minimum you should have who you are, where you’re from, and your role (and what that means – titles are confusing!) ready to go. In the process of this initial introductory conversation, I also like to know why someone is attending a conference, what they hope to gain from the experience, and perhaps most importantly in terms of common ground and future collaborations – what they’re passionate about.

In regards to the latter, I’ve also found that conferences are only as good as the delegates whom attend and the level of contribution. This doesn’t

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mean you’re expected to vocally share your opinion on every topic during every session, but a conference has a great vibe and atmosphere when attendees are engaged and active, asking thoughtful questions, contributing to discussions and sharing not only their success stories, but the challenges they’ve faced and lessons they’ve learned.

3. Be in the Moment Engaging in scheduled social events or informal networking opportunities are also a great way to make the most of conference attendance. Contrary to what your mother told you growing up, the advantage of ‘burning the candle at both ends’ (within reason and for a short amount of time!) means you can be up networking with the early birds over coffee or, if you’re super keen, a morning run, or forming valuable connections over dinners and karaoke in the evening. I’ve often personally found that it’s during these informal conversations that I’ve learnt something new or connected with someone I wouldn’t have normally met under different circumstances.

Being ‘social’ can also be about spreading the word of what you’ve learnt and whom you’ve met through social media. Depending on your passion and technological prowess – it can be great to share articles, content, or quotes through LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook as each day unfolds. Not only is this likely to result in adding to your online network, but it’s a great way of sharing what you’re learning to those not so lucky to score a golden ticket to attend.

Finally, truly ‘being in the moment’ is just as importantly about removing distractions (hint, hint… drop the smart phone). It may be tempting to keep on top of those work emails as they pile in, but conferences provide a unique opportunity to get a whole lot done in a small window of time through connecting and engaging with colleagues and other professionals on the ground. Give yourself the chance to strike up a conversation with a stranger (and soon to be, new friend) without hiding behind your phone screen.

4. Be a Good Colleague (and pay it forward) Reaping the rewards of conference attendance is also about being a good colleague and sharing what you’ve gained from the experience upon your return, scoring some brownie points with management as part of the process. This might mean putting together a simple one or two page conference report – highlighting hot topics, lessons learned and recommendations for the future, hosting a short presentation over your next scheduled morning tea, or simply teeing up an introduction between new connections and those most relevant in your team.

However formal or informal your methods, your colleagues will no doubt appreciate the opportunity to learn more from your experiences.

Finally, don’t let the learning and professional growth – or perhaps even the socialising – finish once the conference ends. Take the time upon your return, once you’ve had the chance to clear out all those emails you put on hold, to read up on those smart notes you took during sessions, explore additional readings and research on topics of interest, and follow up with those connections you made.

Looking for a way to use these helpful strategies whilst they’re fresh in your mind? The 2017 AACUHO Conference is fast approaching – if you haven’t already registered to attend, it’s not too late to do so! Register at https://www.aacuho.edu.au/conference/conference www.adbourne.com

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The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

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Three ways the right flooring can improve quality of life for you and your neighbour We’ve all been in the situation where our neighbours are driving us nuts, be they next door or upstairs, even the best neighbours can be irritating at times.

With a growing number of people having to live on top of each other in order to fit into our cities, we need to learn how to be good neighbours and this is even more important for multi storey living. This is acknowledged by the Housing Owners Association in NSW as being the No 1 complaint issue in high rise building.

So, how do you know if your floorcovering is going to minimise your impact on your neighbour?

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Floor

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1. Acquaint yourself with how sound is transferred between rooms and how floorcoverings can increase or reduce this transfer.

Figure 1: Airborne Sound (Transmitted)

Let’s discuss two types of sound. Airborne sound (Figure 1) is created by voices or items such as televisions and stereo’s and may be transmitted through surrounding walls or floors into adjacent spaces. This type of sound can be affected by furnishings and fittings or minimised by use of insulation systems. Structure borne sound (Figure 2) can be created by floor traffic and dropped objects via vibration. The intensity of impact noise transfers can be influenced by many elements such as floor coverings, thickness of substrate (e.g. concrete), type of concrete floor (pre or post stressed) suspended ceilings and insulation systems.

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The sounds of floor traffic and dropped objects is important when considering types of flooring materials. The cushioning of impacts reduces the loudness of airborne sound within the room and the level of sound that can be Figure 2: Structure-Borne Sound (Vibration) transmitted to adjacent areas. It also minimises the transmission of impact-generated, structure-borne noises throughout the building. In multi storey dwellings, the transmission of impact-generated noise is of primary concern.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

Resilient flooring (such as vinyl), in general, deflects under the impact of footsteps, dropped objects and rolling loads. This resilience helps to reduce floor impact traffic noise. In comparison with other hard-surfaced flooring (wood, marble, ceramic, concrete, metal), resilient floors are low noise producers.

2. The 2016 National Construction Code (NCC) of Australia has requirements for floorcoverings that are used in high rise residential buildings.

The National Construction Code Volume 1 Deemed to Satisfy provisions of SOUND TRANSMISSION AND INSULATION Part F5.3F5.1 Application of part; these apply to Class 2 and 3 buildings and Class 9c buildings, which require product testing to international standard (ISO 717.2) to ascertain suitability for use as floorcoverings in these types of buildings. The result required is Ln,w (impact) not more than 62, while this is quite technical, you can just ask your Architect, Designer, Builder or Flooring Contractor which products or systems meet this.

This is a minimum level of performance and compliance with the NCC can mean that floor impact noise is still an issue for lower residents.

3. Ask your Flooring Retailer to: a. Show you samples and supply examples of laboratory tests for products that meet these requirements. b. Arrange on your behalf an onsite test to confirm these results in your particular circumstance (often this is a requirement of Bodies Corporate). This service is available from businesses such as www.palmeracoustics.com +61 7 3802 2155.

When looking for a fashionable flooring solution that will make you and your neighbours happy ask your Flooring Contractor to show you the Armstrong® Flooring’s Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Natural Elements® Cush ‘n’ Plank™. Natural Elements® Cush ‘n’ Plank™ is a state of the art 5.0mm wood look plank with an integrated cushion layer that can exceed the requirements of the NCC. Even better Cush ‘n’ Plank does not require additional underlay (and therefore expenses) to meet these criterion.

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AACUHO FEATURED

FedUni Living receives prestigious Australian University Teaching Award “It encompasses approaches to learning and teaching, and the student experience of higher education that enhance student access, widen participation and support progression.

“The LLL program was assessed on detailed evidence provided including its distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose; influence of student learning and the student experience; its breadth of impact and the extent to which it supports principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.”

The award recognises programs and services that demonstrate effectiveness through rigorous evaluation that set benchmarks for similar activities at other institutions.

“These national awards are very competitive and winning one is very prestigious,” Professor Marcia Devlin, Federation University Australia, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Quality), said.

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“This award is well-deserved recognition of the outstanding work undertaken by Colin and his team to support FedUni students.”

he Live > Learn > Lead (LLL) program at Federation University Australia recently received a major award at The 2016 Australian Awards for University Teaching acknowledging quality teaching practices and outstanding contributions to student learning.

The Federation University Australia LLL program coordinates a holistic successful support program for students around the following four institutional pillars:

“Our LLL residential community program has been recognised for making an outstanding contribution in the category of widening participation,” Colin Marshall, Federation University Australia, Director of Campus Life, said.

• Provision of student support throughout the student life cycle;

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• Contribution to student recruitment, orientation, transition of students to physical campuses;

• Promotion of student learning, resilience, development and growth;

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• Encouraging multicultural engagement across the entire student cohort.

“Campus Life collaborates with local, national and international communities to facilitate significant initiatives that widen participation and success for regional and rural higher education students,” Mr Marshall said.

“Program initiatives align with various stages of the student life cycle, which directly contributes to ‘closing the gap’ for regional students and increases their ability to access, participate in and actively engage in their tertiary education.

“The program focuses on extending, promoting and enhancing evidence-based best practice initiatives, between the student residential community, the broader institutional community and external communities.

The program offers strategic, targeted high-level support to students through early engagement activities and numerous outreach activities.

It is delivered across the Ballarat and Gippsland campuses for up to 1,000 students within residential accommodation facilities annually.

“The LLL program directly aligns with a number of Federation University Australia’s strategic plans including the 2015-2017 Learning and Teaching, 2015-2016 Social Inclusion, 2015-2018 Student Retention and Success and 2015-2017 Reconciliation Action Plans, so my team and I are absolutely thrilled to receive this prestigious award,” Mr Marshall said.

The Australian Awards for University Teaching awards presentation ceremony was held on Thursday 1 December 2016 at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

Colin was joined by Campus Life team members Melanie Coffey and Andrew Renfree where they received the Award from Senator Simon Birmingham, Federal Minister for Education and Training.

“The LLL program is underpinned by an inclusive philosophy theory which brings together residential communities, student learning journey, student belongingness and broader institutional engagement initiatives.”

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ACUHO-I

If campus housing is your profession, ACUHO-I is your association.

More than 950 institutions and 250 companies from around the world count on ACUHO-I for its valuable member resources, all designed to strengthen the campus housing profession.

ACUHO-I delivers: Informative publications such as Talking Stick magazine, the Journal of College & University Student Housing, and a variety of invaluable books and reports.

The ACUHO-I online community connecting thousands of professionals around the world.

A vibrant online library featuring hundreds of documents and resources.

Online courses, certificate programs, and webinars that deliver valuable information on hot topics in campus housing.

Registration is now open for the ACUHO-I Annual Conference & Exposition Providence, Rhode Island • June 17-20, 2017 featuring

Pre-Conference Study Tour • “Go Global” Reception Dynamic Speakers • Pre-conference sessions • & more 44

Learn more at acuho-i.org

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ACUHO-I

Internal Assessment Looking inward with a critical eye allows a department to grow and a story to be told SHAUN CRISLER

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nstitutional effectiveness has become more than a buzzword over the last decade.

Presidents and chancellors are calling for large reform under the banner of institutional effectiveness, focusing on affordability, quality instruction, and campus climate.

These initiatives give terms like assessment, evaluation, and comprehensive reviews a whole new meaning. The only way to meet the challenges of tomorrow is to know where we stand today.

How can we ensure that we are in a place to provide reasonably priced, attractive, and well-maintained living environments? What is the best way to demonstrate that our programs are both efficient and effective? How do we highlight our work in providing an environment, including programs and services that promote learning in its broadest sense, with an emphasis on academic suppor t, diversity, sustainability, success, and enhancement? If you don’t know the answer to these questions or have just begun to ask these questions within your depar tment, it might be time for an internal review of your depar tment’s policies and practices. Wherever you are in your assessment journey, you are not alone.

The ACUHO-I Professional Standards were created in 1985 by the Professional Standards Committee. The standards are reviewed and updated to keep them current and to capture the effective practices in our field. The creation of the Self-Assessment Guide (SAG) in 2007 allowed ACUHO-I to shift from providing professional standards to facilitating conversation around the use of professional standards for self-study and continuous improvement. The SAG provides a nomenclature within our field, and it grounds us in common expectations of what our work could be on campuses throughout the world.

Regardless of the size of your depar tment, this project will require a framework to allow leverage of your resources. Manage your time, and make sure you get the results you need. Perhaps your Division of Student Affairs has a framework in place used in reviewing depar tments every three to five years. If your depar tment is accustomed to reviews, you may find that you can use the ACUHO-I

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Professionals Standards in addition to other standards set within student affairs. If your institution does not use a five-year review model, it is time to revisit the goals of the depar tment. These steps may help you make the most of your self-study effor t.

Step 1: Become Familiar with the SAG and ACUHO-I Standards Identify a professional or group of professionals who are willing to become familiar with the ACUHO-I Standards and SAG. Work with them to begin a conversation in the depar tment about the impor tance of standards and the need for self-study as a measure of housing and residence life’s impact on the student experience. This step is impor tant in beginning to create professional buy-in and lays the foundation for broader conversations. While this conversation begins in your depar tment, it’s a good idea to star t a parallel conversation with other stakeholders such as divisional leadership and external offices. Often, someone has been through this process before and may have insights that can make the process easier for your depar tment. Jeff Hale, director of residential life at South Dakota State University in Brookings, highlights the impor tance of reaching out. “This is the time to create buy-in and get other stakeholders to the table to help you with the review. Dining services, admissions, your vice president, and your immediate staff all need to buy into this process and can help you with the information that you collect.”

Step 2: Create a Space for Dialogue Provide a forum for feedback, both internally and externally, to discuss the SAG as a measuring tool. Professionals and stakeholders all carry a piece of your story and are influential in how you impact students. Teresa Metzger, assistant director of academic initiatives at Colorado State University in For t Collins, thinks that approaching the self-study from the ground up is impor tant. “We were for tunate to have a residence director who has a passion for assessment, and she wanted to use our self-study as an oppor tunity to build her knowledge and skills around assessment. To help encourage honest

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dialogue she sent the self-assessment guide to everyone in our depar tment, to all levels. When she collected the information, we had a repor t that captured our strengths and areas of oppor tunity.

The repor t was powerful in that it gave everyone a voice and allowed us to have an honest conversation based on the results.”

qualitative information. The work group has three special functions: The group works to train and educate other staff throughout the self-study effor t, represents the voice of the staff and serves as the representative of the effor t, and communicates the progress of the effor t to the depar tment.

Step 3: Select a Leader

Step 6: Provide Evidence-based Scores

Select a professional or professionals who can serve as a leader for the self-study. Most would assume it should be the director, but with this process the director may need to take on a different role – that of an executive sponsor – in order to minimise barriers and work to identify resources for the self-study initiative. The title of the professional has limited impact, but the leader of the self-study should be able to do the following: facilitate and guide the entire effor t of the project; serve as a link between department leadership, staff, and the working group; and work to align resources, suppor t, and information sharing.

Whether you decide to focus on one functional area or multiple areas, you will need to give staff a sense of what information the work group will be collecting. Terra Peckskamp, the director of residence life at Syracuse University in New York, recalls her experience in setting the foundations to collect good information.

“I asked each committee to make specific requests to staff and use surveys and interviews to collect hard-to-reach information,” she says. “Each group took a functional area and used the SAG rubric to grade each area. The rubric pushed us to find the tangible evidence in our depar tment to justify our findings.”

Step 4: Establish a Governance Group and Framework

Step 7: Analyse, Review, and Share the Information

The thought of a governance group or framework may sound intimidating, but working to establish them early will allow you to communicate the steps needed to move the self-study forward, provide a timeline and action steps, and keep everyone abreast of where you are in the process at all times. The governance group does not require a large number of staff, but it does require the right mix of staff. Those who have the best vantage points in the process provide suppor t to the work group and have the ability to share the purpose, impor tance, and commitment needed to complete the selfstudy. These three elements are the basis of your framework.

You may find that after the work group has collected the information needed to satisfy their requests they can begin to pull the information into a repor t or a presentation that can be shared with the depar tment and other stakeholders. Peckskamp recalls her thoughts at this phase of the self-study. “I used a depar tment meeting to make time for each committee to make a 15-minute presentation focused on areas of excellence, areas of improvement, and highlights.

This information was used to create the goals for the depar tment.

We continue to use the information, and now that we are working on our strategic plan we have the information needed to set our goals and strategic priorities.”

Kyle Car ter, the associate director of the office of residence life at Michigan State University in East Lansing, remembers the approach his depar tment used to incite excitement, build buy-in, and get everyone on the same page. “Our divisional chief of staff and our director of assessment went to each area of the depar tment with a presentation designed to answer questions, provide assurance, and talk about the process.” Coming into the depar tment allowed for the space to communicate why this effor t was impor tant and to provide examples of why it was a priority for the depar tment.

Step 5: Create a Core Group One of the most impor tant steps to consider in the self-study is the work group, which consists of staff within the depar tment who are at the helm of the self-study effor t. They will be the main group working to collect, organise, and analyse quantitative and

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Step 8: Implement the Findings and Results The commitment of the work group does not have to end at the analysis and review phase of the self-study. The second leg of the process is a plan for implementation of the findings and results. The conclusion of the self-study process and the production of a findings repor t represent the final phase in the analysis and review process.

Car ter notes the usefulness of having two teams. “Within the work group, we had two leaders: one who led the self-assessment team for five-year review and a second leader on implementation. They both are on the same team, so our leadership separated it into two different projects. The self-assessment was more than a year long. Then it was time for the next team to come on board for the implementation process.”

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SPECIAL INTEREST

Creating fabulous food and service experiences for university residential dining, retail food courts and branded stores on campus.

Alliance is a Spotless company

spotless.com The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

SPOT0402

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UCA

Second Collegiate Way International Conference DR IAN WALKER I Immediate Past President, University Colleges Australia

T

he Second Collegiate Way International Conference was held in conjunction with the University Colleges Australia (UCA) biennial conference at University House, the Australian National University, from Sunday 13 to Thursday 17 November 2016. Bringing together over one hundred leaders of collegiate residential communities from Australia and across the globe, this conference followed the first one held at the University of Durham in November 2014.

Opened by former Governor of New South Wales, Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir, the Conference theme was Collegiate

Communities – Global Contexts. A full program of plenary sessions and individual/small group presentations took place over the Conference period, with some panel discussions taking place around topics such as support for international students, developing respectful communities, alcohol harm minimisation, what makes a ‘good’ college, and mental health and wellbeing. A rich variety of presentations representing college communities in very different global contexts demonstrated many similarities of issues and challenges as well as creative ways of adapting residential programs to local needs. A number of presentations emphasised the importance of the scholarly, living-learning character of collegiate residential life.

CWI Conference Photo (General Morrison standing behind Ian Walker).

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UCA

Conference papers may be accessed through the UCA website: https:// universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au/conferences/papers/

ANU Chancellor Gareth Evans (top) and General Morrison address the Conference.

It was great to have not only NAAUC representatives attend, including President Lachlan Power and Vice-President George Hibbard, but also student representatives from residences of the ANU. The Conference Dinner was held at Old Parliament House and addressed by ANU Chancellor and former Australian Foreign Minister, Professor the Honourable Gareth Evans, and an inspirational closing address was given by 2016 Australian of the Year and ANU (Ursula College) alumnus, General David Morrison.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

Life Membership of UCA was awarded at the Conference Dinner to Professor Trevor Cairney, former Master of New College (UNSW), and to Dr Philip Dutton, former Principal of Burgmann College (ANU). At the UCA Annual General Meeting, Ms Rose Alwyn, Master of St Mark’s College, Adelaide, was elected President 2016-2018.

A Collegiate Way International Committee, chaired by Dr Michael Eamon, Principal of Catharine Parr Traill College, Trent University, Canada, will continue to plan ways of connection, sharing and collaboration, with the next conference likely to be held at Rice University, Texas, USA, in two or so years’ time.

Student voice and participation.

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SPECIAL INTEREST

3D virtual tours that fill your beds PAPER MONKEY

One of the most common comments we receive from regional and international students is that they would have valued the ability to see exactly where they were going to live as part of their decision making process.

Get in touch today to find out how we can use this game changing technology to revolutionise the way future students see your college.

Now they can.

Since 1996 we have worked with schools, residential colleges and universities to refine their brands and marketing material & improve not just the quantity but also the quality of the applicants their marketing campaigns attract.

Dive in at papermonkey.com.au/3d-virtual-tours Visit us at the 2017 AACUHO conference for a demonstration of this amazing technology and for special conference pricing. Let’s revolutionise the way future students see your college!

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hotographs and floorplans tell part of the story, but imagine allowing potential students to curiously explore an entire floor of your college and see for themselves exactly what it’s like to be there in person.

In as little as one day, we can produce a 3D virtual tour of your various bedroom types and common areas and create a digital model that can be embedded on your college website, allowing potential students to walk through at their leisure – even up and down stairs if multiple floors are scanned.

Want to revolutionise the way future students see your college?

3D virtual tours are the latest mobile responsive technology that provide an experience just like being there.

For a fraction of the cost of a quality video production, a 3D virtual tour can be viewed on desktop or laptop computers, mobile devices or even a virtual reality headset.

The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal

51

PRODUCT NEWS

Get a total student accommodation cleaning system

which prevents against mould build up on surfaces such as upholstery or mattresses,” Mr McDonald said.

The Jetsteam Maxi Inox is the latest accommodation steam cleaning machine distributed by commercial cleaning equipment supplier, Duplex Cleaning Machines.

“It‘s a very easy machine to operate. This upgraded model consists of state-of-the-art features including a robust, stainless steel build, improved digital control panel and waterproof LED hose control system.”

Director of Duplex Cleaning Machines, Murray McDonald, says the Italian made, upgraded model represents the next generation of steam cleaning for student residences including sanitisation and cleaning of upholstery, bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens.

“It produces high-temperature, dry steam vapour, which is renowned in Australia and overseas for its ability to kill bacteria. It also produces a low moisture steam,

“It can also be used for specialised student accommodation cleaning, including bed bug cleaning.

For more information on the Jetsteam Maxi Inox, visit www.duplexcleaning.com.au or call 1800 622 770.

“THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE” In 2009 PEX delivered the first online assured tenancy process for UNITE and has since been helping to drive the productivity and profitability of its customers in the residential property market. The highly configurable nature of its cloud-based Enterprise solution supports the distinct revenue and service models of affordable, student, direct-let, build-to-rent and serviced accommodation portfolios.

Access greater visibility of rental property operations, customisable work-flow and ‘multi-perspective accounting’ to support innovative product and pricing of accommodation packages. Real-time management information, app’s and easy to use dashboards and ‘wizards’ effectively support local and centralised lettings and operations teams.

PEX is currently implementing for its market leading international customers a new technology, designed and developed to support exciting and futureproof online customer experiences.

Now with offices in Sydney to support the growth of its Australian customers, our Director Nikki Couper would welcome an opportunity to meet, share and learn more of your objectives.

nikki.couper@pexsoftware.com

Solve smelly bathroom drains with Drain Mate® Having a clean and hygienic environment for guests is paramount for a successful accommodation business. You can clean all you like, but it can be difficult to get rid of those bad smells coming from the bathroom floor drain and the last thing you want is the smell being what is remembered about your accommodation rooms.

Using harsh and nasty chemicals is a short term and costly solution. The simple, easy, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution is Drain Mate®.

How it works Drain Mate® is a one way floor drain that fits easily into your existing standard 100 mm (4 inches) floor drain. Drain Mate’s unique self-closing trap door lets waste and water through, but keeps smells, pests, noise and overflow out.

Designed, invented and made in Australia, Drain Mate® has also been subjected to testing by a recognised testing laboratory for Australian Standards and has

52

been granted Level 2 Certification and complies with approved specifications ATS 5200.040:2005.

Drain Mate® is easily installed; no plumber required and attaches to your existing floor drain grate cover using one of our four supplied washers and two screws (white and chrome stamped). There is also no need for any additives for Drain Mate® to function correctly and is easily removed for cleaning.

Drain Mate® has been installed in many, many bathrooms throughout Australia, both residential and commercial, providing an immediate solution for drain smells and pests. It can be installed anywhere there is a 100 mm floor drain.

Visit our website www.aussiedrainmate.com.au for a demonstration video, installation slide show, where and how to buy and further information or simply contact Mark on 0400 19 38 21 to discuss how Drain Mate can solve your 100 mm floor drain problems.

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PRODUCT SPECIAL NEWS INTEREST

»MOTION» Coffee Table Module Laminated table top in 18mm thickness, W700mm x L700mm come with Polypropylene base in standard grey colour. It can be integrated to other modules via clip-on connectors or as an individual coffee table.

Back-Seat-Base Cushioned back and seat in various upholstery colour options.

Back shell is moulded in Polypropylene in 2 colour options, White and Grey, while the base is moulded in Grey Polypropylene.

Pouf Additional seating area without backrest, or you can even use it as a footrest.

»Motion» is a modular sofa system designed for a variety of seating areas including reception/breakout and common room areas.

The square module and quick linking system enables provision of endless layout options and various eye catching multi-colour solutions.

With »Motion» as your building block you can create semi-private spaces by adding screens and tables therefore making »Motion» customisable to any setting. This offers the possibility to make formal areas and conference settings more vibrant and versatile.

Privacy Screens Optional add-on screen help to reduce visual distractions and enhance personal privacy and comfort. Use screens to create a cellular environment for meetings and working or for reading and resting within common areas.

See »Motion» at booth 12 and 13 AACUHO Conference, May 8th-11th Hobart, Tasmania.

Enquiries to Phil Ellis 0412 357 499, email phil@directproducts.net.au or visit our website

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PRODUCT NEWS

New brand from established provider ups game in Student internet The established leader in managed WiFi and internet for student residences in Australia has launched a refreshed service under the new ‘connectmy.net’ brand.

Fresh face for a refreshed service connectmy.net is powered by the BigAir Group – Australia’s largest and most experienced provider of managed WiFi and internet to student residences extending over a decade.

We’re introducing connectmy.net as a refreshed service to our customer base, and to underpin that we’ve given the face of our brand a fresh new look.

With improved services, new speeds and new features, we’re showing a fun and relevant brand which students and residents can easily identify with to provide an overall enhanced service offering.

New Analytics now offered To co-incide with the launch, connectmy.net is now able to offer customers a suite of analytics tools to assist in maximising the effectiveness of the service and to extend a duty of care to users. They are: Location analytics. This provides real-time, location-based usage analysis to help gain an understanding of where your residents are connecting to the network and their movement around your campus.

Behavioural analytics. This enables you to protect your residents’ welfare with cybersafety capabilities. Resident managers are able to receive notifications when there is increased search or internet traffic around certain ‘hot-button’ topics such as Suicide, Abuse, Radicalisation and other issues. This enables managers to be forewarned and step in early to mitigate possible escalation.

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That means ‘OK’ in emoji language – and, with a slight tweak, neatly forms a ‘C’ – the first letter of our new name.

We want everyone using connectmy.net to be be satisfied with our service.

Whether it’s installing a high-speed WiFi service or providing hassle-free internet to your residents, our goal is to see everyone give us this ‘OK’ sign.

Visit www.connectmy.net

The hidden costs of air conditioning

you can expect to have to service and replace it more frequently than you would under normal usage.

One of the most significant operating costs for any business is electricity.

Carbon Footprint. Lowering AC use will directly reduce your carbon output.

But the cost of running air conditioning is largely hidden. Power can’t be seen, you don’t see consumption in real time. Poor energy conservation habits like leaving AC running in rooms left empty, or running the temperature of heating too high and cooling too low all contribute higher costs.

So, what are the common but hidden costs of air conditioning in your facility?

Wastage. In single bed accommodation, massive amounts of power is wasted when AC units are left running in empty rooms. And the first thing most people do when they enter a room is turn on the heating to the highest setting or the cooling to the lowest setting.

This is because a lot of us believe that turning the air conditioning to it’s lowest temperature will cool the room down faster as a result, air conditioning becomes set at much lower temperatures than necessary for normal comfort. Did you know that a one-degree decrease in the temperature of air conditioning will increase energy usage by 5 to 10%.

Rising power costs. Increases are inevitable but you can focus on initiatives that reduce energy consumption and wastage.

So what’s the solution?

The solution lies in the implementation of smart technology. By installing devices that automatically control AC setpoints and turn off air conditioning when there’s nobody in the room, you remove the human error that leads to wastage and inefficient energy consumption.

You can find out more about the automated devices that can save your facility power and money by visiting www.airconoff.com.au About the author: John Clifford is the Managing Director of Aircon Off, developers of a range of products that help optimise air conditioners to eliminate wastage, save money and conserve energy. Find out how we can help your facility become more energy efficient at www.airconoff.com.au.

Hardware breakdown. If an AC unit is made to work harder than necessary,

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Port Douglas

Mackay

South Pacific Laundry specialises in the provision of quality linen and supplies for the student residential industry.

SPL provides:

Adelaide

• A 365 day service to all its clientele with a 24 hour turnaround.

• A leading edge technology in RFID to assist housekeeping and managerial staff in time reduction and efficiency.

South Pacific Laundry (SPL) has been a provider of commercial laundry and linen services to the hospitality industry in Melbourne for the last 20 years.

Currently, the South Pacific Group is establishing a strong network of modern laundry across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia with plans for several more facilities up the East Coast of Australia in 2017.

The relocation of our Sydney operations to a new larger facility in Bankstown together with the relocation of our Brunswick plant to Broadmeadows will establish South Pacific Laundry as the single largest privately owned laundry in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere.

Contact Robert Teoh National PR & Marketing P: (03) 9388 5300 M: 0421 716 888 Coverage Australia wide

Pricing Information Contact supplier direct Delivery Free daily delivery within 25km city metropolitan areas Minimum Order Contact supplier direct

• Dedicated account managers and experienced support staff who are available 7 days a week.

• A dedicated software design package and centralised billing system enables seamless transactions, paperless and customised reports.

• Delivery rationalisation systems, providing and streamlining efficient delivery routes which will reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

• Building of partnerships and sharing benefits with the customers from savings made through its constant laundry process innovations and group purchasing power of linen products.

• Dry cleaning, Uniform cleaning services, Housekeeping services, Dust mat hire and Cleaning services.

• Provision and supplying of Corporate uniforms/work wears and customised hotel room Amenities.

Full Contact Information South Pacific Laundry 9-23 King William St Broadmeadows VIC 3047 P: (03) 9388 5300 F: (03) 9387 2399

*Albury only

E: customerservice@southpacificlaundry.com.au robert.teoh@southpacificlaundry.com.au