New year, new accommodation facilities at SCU Village

As Southern Cross University prepares to welcome new students in 2013, residential college SCU Village has been working hard to upgrade facilities in Lismore.

The upgrades are part of a three-year enhancement program that has seen apartments revamped and common areas added across the three SCU Village sites at the Lismore campus.

Orion College was the final location to receive an upgrade, with renovated bathrooms in all four-bedroom units, new floor coverings, and replacement furnishings to refresh the apartment interiors. The works were completed on schedule and in time for Christmas.

SCU Village Operations Manager Lismore campus, Amoreena Rowe, said the new facilities at its three colleges had been extremely well received by residents.

“The residents at Sirius love the air-conditioned common area and study room, while Orion residents enjoy getting together on the Rec deck and cooking up a feed in the outdoor kitchen. Magellan’s residents are of course loving the new BBQ and movie area, and there are always people out and about enjoying these new spaces.

“These facilities have really brought residential life at SCU Village to a new standard, and encouraged residents to get out of their rooms and meet new people. They have also been a fantastic boost to our Live, Learn, Grow residential life program, providing us with even more locations to host events such as cooking classes, end-of-year parties, movie nights and study groups.”

On the NSW mid north coast, SCU Village was also focusing on ramping up residential life said Lynda Eather, SCU Village Operations Manager Coffs Harbour campus.

“We have recruited a new group of Resident Assistants who are keen to share their great experiences of living on campus. They look forward to a year of bringing residents a varied range of new and exciting events.”

With more than 6000 new and returning students preparing to study at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses, the community is invited to assist in the search for appropriate off-campus rental accommodation.

SCU UniLife Senior Manager Erin Miller said students – both domestic and international - will be seeking accommodation in private homes, units, flats and rental houses.

“Finding a place to live is one of the biggest decisions faced by University students. I encourage the community to get involved. Sharing your home with a student can be a rewarding experience and provide wonderful insights into other cultures.

“Renting rooms in your home or renting out a vacant house or flat can also bring welcome additional income.”

Ideal properties at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour are either in close proximity to public transport routes or within a reasonable walking distance to the University’s campuses.

ON-CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION
Applications for on-campus accommodation at SCU Village sites at the Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses are now open. Rooms are limited and SCU Village recommends applying early to secure a place.

OFF-CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION
SCU’s Off-campus Accommodation Service maintains a free, comprehensive listing of long and short stay accommodation around the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour campus areas.

Members of the community can register as an accommodation provider by submitting their listing at unistays.scu.edu.au or email on accomm@scu.edu.au Alternatively, call the UniLife accommodation officer at each of the campuses: Gold Coast on 07 5589 3001, Lismore on 02 6620 3220 or Coffs Harbour on 02 6620 3220.

Photo: Students enjoying the outdoor kitchen at Orion College in Lismore, one of SCU Village’s residential colleges.