Accommodation

Accommodation in managed residence

Our managed residences are comprised of three to ten-bedroom houses located across Ballarat. All houses are fully furnished with private bedrooms. Larger and/or ensuite rooms are priced as premium managed residences.

Houses consist of individual bedrooms, a shared kitchen, lounge area, and shared bathrooms.

  • Individual rooms in houses are fully furnished with a wardrobe, study desk, desk chair, lamp and a king single or single bed.
  • The shared kitchen is equipped with a large fridge, oven, four-burner cooktop, and a microwave.
  • The shared lounge room includes a dining table and chairs, two large couches, a coffee table, and a large television.
  • Each house includes a shower, toilet, and basin. Some houses also have a bathtub.

View room rates

Since Managed Residences are homes within the area, these are not wheelchair accessible. They could, however, suit people with other special needs. Please contact the team to discuss.

Managed Residences offer shared lounge rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and gardens as common areas.

Our Residential Life Program engages students from diverse backgrounds who share equally diverse aspirations and support needs. To help you make friendships and enjoy everything university life has to offer, our dedicated team of staff and RAs run a comprehensive program of academic, social, health, sport, wellbeing, spiritual, cultural, and community events.

Getting involved in our Residential Life Program will help you meet new people and have a great time, however our residents are free to participate in as many events as they wish.

RAs are recruited from the group of residents already living in ACU student accommodation. Our RAs represent our diverse community of residential students in Ballarat, and international and exchange students are encouraged to apply. RAs are chosen for their leadership skills, community participation, and demonstrated commitment to improving student life.

We recruit RAs in October for the following year, although occasionally they’re recruited at other times throughout the year. Students must be residing at the property for a minimum of two semesters to be an eligible candidate.

Ballarat is a fantastic location for university students with all the conveniences of a larger town. There’s something for everyone in Ballarat, including cinemas, cafes, a large department stores, a range of boutiques, and local eateries with plenty of international options. The Ballarat Aquatic Centre boasts an indoor swimming pool, sporting grounds, and gym facilities, and it’s close to Victoria Park where many local sporting groups train. Picturesque Lake Wendouree is also a short stroll away and here you’ll find walking and running tracks in beautiful surrounds.

Read information about local bus routes.

As we try to group students together by course and year level, you might find that you can carpool with other students who are driving to campus

No, students can work with others in the house to sign up for an agreement that best suits everybody.

Your partner may apply for a separate room in the residence if they are a student, and you may request to live in the same house, but all rooms in the residence are single occupancy only.

Visitors are permitted until 10pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. Visitors are not permitted to stay overnight in any of the premises.

No pets may be kept or brought into the residence. Please contact staff if you have a support animal.

Smoking is strictly not allowed inside the residence, or around the perimeter of the residence. If you wish to smoke, you will need to move to a safe location away from property doorways and windows.

Managed Residences have fully furnished and fully equipped kitchens. All students have access to a stovetop, oven, and microwave in their houses.

Houses contain a free in-house laundry. An iron and ironing board are also provided.

We do not offer a cleaning service. Students are provided with a mop, broom, and vacuum cleaner to be shared amongst the house. Apart from these items, students will need to purchase their own cleaning materials.

Applications

If you are enrolled to study at ACU, you are eligible to apply for a place in a Managed Residence.

The application form is available online. To submit your application, a $75 non-refundable application fee is required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

You will be contacted within a week of submitting your application. If you are offered a place, you will be emailed an acceptance letter and rental agreement to complete. Your place will be confirmed once documentation has been completed and submitted, and a bond equivalent to four weeks' rental fees has been processed.

There is no closing date for applications. You can enter ACU student accommodation at any time during the year if there are spaces available. However, we do recommend submitting applications early as spaces are limited.

Cost

Your rental fee is an all-inclusive fee, covering electricity, gas and water.

ACU Student Accommodation run a number of free social and academic events throughout the semester, which are free to attend for those living in a Managed Residence.

To secure your place in Managed Residence, a security deposit equivalent to four weeks rent is required. This payment does not contribute towards your rental fees and must be paid by credit card, but is held for the duration of your rental agreement. In addition, a standard $90 cleaning fee, plus two weeks of rental fees are required.

At the end of your rental agreement, the security deposit will be returned to the credit card account from which it was taken. Any outstanding fees, damages or cleaning fees allocated to your account will be deducted from your security deposit.

Rental fees are paid fortnightly by direct debit only. For international students, you are able to make credit card payments until you open an Australian bank account. Our payment schedule operates two weeks in advance.

We do offer short stays for students, subject to availability.  Rates are dependent on the length of your stay.

Please contact staff  if you’re interested in a short stay in a Managed Residence.

We do accommodate groups of students for short stays, subject to availability. Please contact staff if you are interested in a group booking.

Under 18 students

During your stay at ACU Accommodation, it is important for all residents to maintain the cleanliness of their living spaces. Since this might be your initial experience living away from home, our residential staff are eager to assist you in familiarising yourself with the appropriate cleaning products and their usage. Additionally, we offer complimentary hire of cleaning equipment at your residential reception.

Yes – we have a large variety of scholarships available for all residential students ranging from a 20% weekly discount to all accommodation fees covered. We recommend viewing the eligibility criteria for each scholarship on our webpage here.

Yes, we accept domestic students under the age of 18. Currently, we do not accept international students under the age of 18.
At ACU Student Accommodation, we prioritise creating a secure environment for all residents. In line with this commitment to safety, we have a policy against overnight visitors on our premises. Visitors found at our accommodation between 10pm and 8am from Sunday to Thursday, and 11pm to 8am on Friday and Saturday, will be politely requested to leave the premises. The resident will be asked to meet to discuss this breach of the agreement.
All under 18 students are made aware of by all residential staff, including our after-hours staff members. If an under 18 student is found to be consuming alcohol, a meeting will be arranged with residential management and a formal breach may be issued and your parent/guardian will be notified. ACU Student Accommodation does not provide any alcohol at our residential events throughout the year.
Our residential life program is structured around five key pillars: Academic, Cultural and Community, Health and Wellbeing, Social, and Spiritual, all designed to bolster our residents' support system. We foster academic excellence, cultivate positive health and wellbeing practices, foster teamwork skills, and enhance the overall student experience. Additionally, all our residential events are advertised through the ACU Life platform, to which residents are added before checking in.
Each member of our team undergoes rigorous screening, including up-to-date police checks and Working with Children Checks (applicable to NSW/VIC) as well as Working with Vulnerable People Checks (applicable to ACT). Additionally, our staff participate in regular training sessions, including Mental Health First Aid, First Aid, and ongoing mental health education throughout the year.
Once a student turns 18, a new Occupancy Agreement is signed, removing the parent/guardian from the existing agreement. If any incident or breach of the Occupancy Agreement arises, we will no longer contact the parent/guardian.

Students under 18 years old are welcome to apply for accommodation by completing the application form provided here. Following submission, our residential management team will reach out to schedule an interview with both you and your parent/guardian. This interview serves as an opportunity for us to get to know you and ascertain whether ACU Student Accommodation aligns with your needs. It also offers you the chance to ask any questions you may have about residing with us. Upon completion of the interview process and suitability, we will send you an Occupancy Agreement, which will be co-signed by your parent/guardian.

Our dedicated onsite residential team conducts routine check-ins with under 18 students to ensure their satisfaction during their residence. Should any concerns arise during these sessions, ACU Student Accommodation management will promptly reach out to the next of kin to address them.

Contact Details

ACU Student Accommodation
Burke House, Aquinas Campus, 1200 Mair St, Ballarat VIC, 3350
Phone: +61 (0)3 5336 5323
Email: studentaccommodation.vic@acu.edu.au

 

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