Iglu provides a supportive home away from home for students

The return of international students to the city has been a slow-growing process, but notable purpose-built student accommodation Iglu Melbourne City is ensuring it is there every step of the way with doors wide open.

Situated overlooking the Queen Victoria Market, Iglu offers independent experiences with an instant community, and it is one of the founding members of the Student Accommodation Council.

The Student Accommodation Council is a recently formed division of the Property Council of Australia (PCA), launched by executive director Torie Brown and Scape CEO and inaugural chair Anouk Darling.

The purpose of the new division is to represent and advocate for Australia’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector and to provide safe and secure housing for students as they return to their studies in Melbourne.

“Young international students become lifelong ambassadors for our country – it is crucial they have the best possible experience studying in Australia,” Ms Brown said.

“Purpose-built student accommodation provides a supportive, safe and fun environment for students while they study, live and work in Melbourne.”

As one of the more established facilities, with another location in South Yarra, a new property due to open opposite the Flagstaff Gardens, and interstate facilities in Brisbane and Sydney, Iglu has a wide range of choices for students to aid not only with their studies but also with forming lasting connections.

It is this lasting impact that Ms Brown said was important due to the additional benefits the students also added to the City of Melbourne.

“Having students living in and around the CBD provides an instant sugar-hit to local businesses, increases city vibrancy and injects much needed skills into the local workforce,” Ms Brown said.

“As well as providing pastoral care, student accommodation operators encourage new friendships and connections through facilitated activities and common spaces which ensure students don’t become socially isolated.”

Making up the floor space of the Iglu entry is a welcome area and front desk where students can access 24/7 staff support. While all spaces of the building are well-secured to ensure safety of the students comes first, the addition of the noticeboards, touch-screen communication monitors and the personal letterboxes adds a touch of home and community.

This attention to detail and creating a home environment for all is seen across all PBSA builds as they are Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant and strive to assist students with hearing and visual impairments, and those who are wheelchair-bound.

Iglu also has a cinema, study rooms, bookable meeting spaces, a gym, laundry, game and multi-purpose areas and a basement for bike storage.

The study rooms in particular are vitally important for students at this time as they undertake their tertiary studies both in person and online. The study nooks also allow for students to study in private outside their bedrooms while still being within sociable quarters, but a desk is still supplied in students’ bedrooms if they prefer.

The Franklin St location consists of 594 beds and like many PBSA buildings they have studio rooms and multi-shared apartments available.

Each bedroom comes with its own bathroom, a kettle, toaster, fridge, cleaning supplies such as vacuum and mop and broom, both wardrobe and underneath bed storage, and the ability for each student to control their own heating and cooling.

Not far from Iglu Melbourne City, are two other founding PCA Student Accommodation Council members – Journal Student Living and Scape – all of which have a goal to see the city thrive through the welcoming back of students.

The Student Accommodation Council has come at a time when student numbers are set to increase, following 181,000 students arriving to Australia in the first half of this year, and the hope is for the available accommodations to only further entice students to Melbourne. •