Uni Student Accommodation Sunshine Coast

[Rodt]

G'Day Swaggers,

I have my first born daughter potentially attending uni on the sunshine coast (Qld for those not in the know) next year and we are starting to put our thoughts towards the logistics of it all particularly accommodation.

We are considering all the options such as stay on campus, house share with other students, board in a house or even her own apartment and it is all a bit daunting. No doubt more of a worry for a dad having his daughter living a significant distance away from home where he can't look after her

Keen to hear from other swaggers who may have gone through this and have some good suggestions.

We are planning on spending some time on the coast (after we are back from a cruise holiday) at the start of Feb and am wondering if any swaggers have any contacts (or even able to assist) that may be in the real estate game in the general location of the uni. Obviously looking for something of the type that is secure for her and that she would feel safe in and able to get into the uni work.

Worried dad so please be kind 

Thanks and Cheers

Rod

[Pete79]

Transport will need to be your next biggest consideration when you're making decisions about accommodation.

Public transport on the Sunshine Coast is a joke!

If she has a car, you have plenty of options.

My wife works just down the road from the uni, we quite often see signs on the windows of houses around that area for rooms to rent. But as with all accommodation near any uni, these will generally be the most expensive rooms.

In comparison to many other cities rents are fairly cheap here. And the further away from the beach the cheaper they are. We are on acreage and it's only 15 minutes to the work for the wife in peak hour traffic. Friends of ours are renting a 3 bedroom in town not far from us for only $275/week. 

Only downside is the nightclubs are a long way away from here.

Based on what I've seen with my siblings and friends who have gone to uni in different cities, they will change accommodation many, many times over the years. Start with something safe and convenient, then let her sort her self out once she's settled in and made friends.

[Nomad]

Hey Rod

There are a number of student accommodation complexes within Sippy Downs / Chancellor Park that offer pretty easy access to the campus.
A quick google search:

https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=student+accommodation+sippy+downs

I haven't been through them for years but they are ok. You can also search a site called Flatmates for share accomm.

The usual right of passage is spend the first 6 months or year in student accomm whilst you find your feet and then go and get a share house with your friends from then on.

A big guide to your decsion is as to whether or not she has a car. I am not sure of parking costs / priveledges on campus for students so wrth looking at that as well, cause if she has to pay to park that may eat significantly into the budget.

Cheers

[Rodt]

Thanks Guys,

We are a bit lucky on a couple of fronts as she has a car and she doesn't like the nightclub scene that much (yet anyway). We were tossing up maybe renting her a one or two bedroom apartment within a 15 or 20 minute drive so it may be an option depending on costs and parking costs (Thanks Nomad wasn't thinking of this).

Haven't lived there for about 15 years but everytime we go back to visit something has changed (progress  ) so am not sure of good or bad areas anymore. That along with having a good living environment are probably my two biggest concerns

Cheers

Rod

[gphcald]

Having worked in University security in NSW for 8 yrs and aware of the Uni of Sunshine Coast security dept, I would have her living on campus, they do not have a bar there (and do not want one) and the place is quiet for a uni, not sure re parking but normally it is nominal, but inquire any way.
Living on campus 24 hr security response if required, not sure of the campus accommodation but it is all fairly new. I would strongly suggest a visit to the Security Dept and speak to the manager, also look over the accommodation, you may need to book soon as it goes fairly quickly.
just my 2c worth
If you want more info PM me

[rags]

Hi Rod, I've been there and know the problems and share your worries.
We had this problem when daughter no1 moved from home ( Blue Mts at time) to Newcastle Uni. We tossed up all the same ideas and decided on a 3 bedroom house in the next suburb to Uni ( walking distance ).  With the house furnished , We then let the 2 spare bedrooms out to students for a fee that included all utility costs and Internet. It wasn't intended to be a money making exercise but rather a safe house for daughter. 2.5 years later she moved uni's to Brisbane as her Boy friend had an army posting to brisbane  they moved into a DHA property.

Our 2nd daughter then moved out and up to Brisbane for work but as she moved in with sister so that was not as bad for us.
 She commence uni this year and has just completed her 1 st year at Sunshine Coast uni but as we now live in Brisbane she now lives with us on non uni days and stays with her grand mother on the coast on uni days.
I asked her tonight as she raced out the door about SCU accomodation options and she rattled of some possible options. I shall ask again about options when  I see her next ( she works weekends here in Brissy), and I will sugest if she is interested in speaking with your daughter. 
It can be a stressful time for the parents, little things like dealing with car issues etc over the phone.
My daughter, coming from a rural lifestyle as a kid, says that boys won't be an issue at the SCU as she suggests that they are only interested in the surf and she is not.
Good luck

[Paddler Ed]

Best bit of advice I got was when I was looking at Uni's the first time round in the UK nearly 20 years ago now...

Don't bother getting catered halls - most student's won't make it for the first (normal person's) meal of the day - they'll either be running late or it won't be served at a time that is convenient to them.

Based on my experiences here in Aus (which is quite different to the UK set up) the following observations apply:
-Find out where the international students tend to go - they're likely to be a big competitor to domestic students for accommodation. Where I am based, the internationals all tend to be in one accommodation option or in town rentals.
-Find out if there is a college life style/scene, and if so which ones are "party" colleges. Decide from there... the lecturers know which college the students belong to, which can be amusing when it's about the rugby, less so when they're despairing with the state the students have rocked up in...
-Parking is often limited at uni's, and even with a permit you're not guaranteed a park. Also, if the police are like here they regularly speed gun or RBT the roads around campus.

On the flip side, I went through the UK's clearing system and ended up in a rented room in a student house with 7 other students. It was great, and in fact there are 2 married couples that came out of that house - one lot have been married 11 years, the others 8 years, having met in September 1998.... I missed out the whole UK halls system, but the houses were good; my 2nd and 3rd year house was very Young Ones.

[Rodt]

Thanks all for the comments and really good points made.

We would love to get into it and square away some of these issues now but until they know if they are in you can't really do anything. To make it worse we decided to go on a family cruise (may be the last 'family' holiday we have in a while) so we lose out a bit in the timing stakes. Have allowed to extend my holidays into the first week of Feb to get it sorted so hopefully enough time.

Rags that would be appreciated if you could get some incite from your daughter which could save us a bit of running around.  We have family up in Gympie and also have a house in Caboolture but she is not keen on the drive up and down the highway that much.

She is a bit of a homebody and is not that keen (at this stage anyway) on the big party lifestyle so trying to get somewhere that allows her to expand her horizons at her own pace is what we will be looking for. Happy to say that for end of school celebrations her and a friend have been driving up and (now) down the Qld coast and camping with the tent so good to see that some of us has rubbed off 

Thanks again all