Video production by Onix Productions.
Tim Glass is State Operations Manager for Scape in Melbourne. He looks after 15 buildings and 8,300 beds, and nearly all of them are accredited under the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS). We sat down with Tim to talk about the role Student Accommodation Association (SAA) plays in the sector, what accreditation means for students and why wellbeing is central to quality accommodation.
Bringing the Sector Together
Tim sees SAA doing two important jobs. The first is advocacy. SAA speaks up strongly for students and for the design and quality standards of the places they live. The second is bringing people together. SAA connects private purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) with university accommodation, so both sides of the sector can work from a shared view of quality.
“I believe in the adage that a rising tide raises all boats.”
With so much noise around international students, migration and caps, Tim says it is vital that providers work together and advocate for what the industry needs.
Helping students choose with confidence
For Scape, accreditation is about informed choice. Students can see that a Scape building has been tested against rigorous standards. That matters more as new players enter the market, from private rentals to build-to-rent.
“It gives the confidence to the student that they’re booking quality student accommodation.”
Tim also sees NPAS as a way of keeping students at the centre of decision making. It sets apart accommodation designed with students in mind from buildings that are simply run to make a quick buck.
“This is about accommodation built for studentas and co-designed by students.
Great buildings are only half the story
Most new student accommodations look incredible, with gyms and plenty of other facilities. Tim believes the real difference comes down to people, and how a team engages with the students living in the building. Stress and poor mental health are becoming more common among students. Strong standards mean providers have rigorous processes in place to spot when a student is struggling and connect them with the right support services.
What success looks like
Looking ahead, Tim would like to see more buildings become accredited. He would also like NPAS to be recognised as the measure of quality in the places students come from, such as China, Southeast Asia and India.
For Scape, joining SAA and NPAS was a natural step. The company works with a range of industry bodies to support and advocate for the student accommodation sector. With its focus on accreditation and quality standards, Tim says SAA was “an obvious choice”.