Postgraduate and Research Students' Association (PARSA) Releases Room for Change Accommodation Report

he Postgraduate and Research Students' Association (PARSA) at the Australian National University (ANU) is pleased to announce the release of the Room for Change Accommodation Report which sheds light on the current housing situation faced by our postgraduate and research students.

This comprehensive report, a culmination of an extensive accommodation survey conducted by PARSA late last year, presents an in-depth analysis of the housing market in Canberra and the difficulties encountered by our students, both living on-campus and off-campus. It comes at a critical time when Canberra is grappling with a cost of living crisis and with a critical shortage in affordable university accommodation.

Our findings show an alarming trend of soaring housing costs and inadequate living conditions, making both on-campus and off-campus housing increasingly inaccessible for our postgraduate students. This situation has far-reaching impacts on their academic performance, mental health, social connections, and sense of belonging in the ANU community.

"The findings from our survey present a call for urgent action," says Tristan Yip, President of PARSA. "Our students, some of the brightest minds in Australia, are grappling with skyrocketing housing costs, substandard living conditions, and ever-shrinking access to affordable accommodation. We need to ensure that our postgraduate students, who contribute so much to academia and society, have access to affordable, safe, and nurturing spaces."

The report calls upon the ANU to ensure all postgraduate and research students have access to affordable, safe and accessible accommodation for the entirety of their studies. It recommends properly implemented guarantees on first-year postgraduate accommodation, the establishment of a dedicated ANU Accommodation Officer, family-friendly accommodation officers and increased emergency accommodation grant capacity.

“We call upon the Australian National University to implement the recommendations to ensure that our students' well-being is prioritised and studies aren’t compromised”, says Sharrada Segeran, Equity Officer of PARSA. “After all, postgraduate years are hard. We do not have to make them harder.”

PARSA encourages all members of the ANU community, postgraduates and staff alike, and the general public to read the report, consider its findings, and join us in advocating for change.

The full report can be accessed HERE