Accommodation Services

It is important to remember that your son or daughter is a young adult. Now is the time to trust in the way you have raised them.

Regardless of what is going on, we are here to help our residents, to encourage independence and to provide them with guidance for managing their own lives.

 How You can Help

• Help prepare for moving. Make sure that your son or daughter has all the necessities they will require (outlined in Before you leave home).
• Provide a safety net. Let them know you are there for them but encourage them to be independent and begin to manage their own life.
• Stay in touch. Write letters, send emails, use social media such as Facebook - whatever suits your family - to keep your son or daughter up to date with what the family is doing.  However, don't be disappointed if replies aren’t frequent - they may be busy with their studies.
• Help with homesickness. Encourage your child to get involved, join a study group or attend local activities to meet other students. They can also talk to residential support personnel.  If you are still concerned, let us know: more often than not, we will already be aware of the situation and be working to help them resolve things.
• Send goodies by mail. Packages containing favorite snack foods, photos or some homely comforts are always a source of delight.
• Help when your child is panicking.  If you are on the receiving end of an emotional phone call or email, don’t panic. Be a good listener, ask to hear about some positives and direct them back to the residential support staff, who are here to help them.

Contacting Accommodation Services

When Should You Contact Us?

In the case of a family emergency, if you are unable to reach your son or daughter directly, we can help.  You are welcome to contact us at any other time.  Remember, one of our main priorities is to help our residents learn to solve their own problems.

When Will We Contact You?

Staff will usually only contact you in an emergency or where we believe it is in the best interests of the student to do so.

Privacy

Accommodation Services is bound by the UTAS privacy policy.  Even though you may be paying for a student's stay at Accommodation Services, our residency agreement  is with the student themselves (unless they are under-age).  We are unable to discuss a student's personal or financial issues with anyone but the student (other than in the case of an emergency).  If you wish to directly liaise with Accommodation Services about such matters we will require permission from the student. We would prefer this permission in writing, following the format below:

I [insert resident's name] give permission for matters concerning my welfare and/or finances to be discussed with [insert name].

Dated and signed.

Safety and Security

The University of Tasmania provides a 24-hour security service all year round and operates a control room on both the Newnham and Sandy Bay campuses.

The UTAS Security staff:

• provide a security presence during peak hours
• conduct patrols of the campuses day and night
• respond to emergency calls, and
• can provide escorts in specific situations.

The UTAS Security control room operators:

• monitor CCTV security cameras, security alarms and the 'Safer Walk' on both campuses, and
• monitor and respond to emergency calls from Help Points.

Accommodation Services places a very high emphasis on the safety and security of residents. There are rules and regulations regarding safety and security that cover a range of issues designed to protect every resident.

All residences are secured by external door lock systems together with individual room locks. Each bedroom is equipped with a smoke detector and alarm.

Working with the university’s security staff are a number of Accommodation Services staff and residents who are trained in emergency procedures and first aid.  Accommodation Services harassment contact officers can provide assistance in certain situations.

As the residences are adult communities, residents are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and their peers and take normal common sense precautions regarding personal safety. Asset Management Services provides further information on personal security.

Accommodation Services provides information to all residents during their induction sessions related to personal safety and security.

For further information or questions please contact us with your enquiry.  Visit our applications page to lodge an application for accommodation now.