Accommodation Styles
What sort of accommodation is available?
Although there is some minor variation within the styles of accommodation available, there are fundamentally 3 styles:
- Standard Rooms
- Studio Apartments (Primarily for students who are not in their first year of residency at the College)
- One Bedroom Apartments (Primarily for graduate residents)
What is a Standard Room?
The College has 155 standard rooms. These are comfortable single rooms with shared facilities. These rooms are primarily reserved for first year residents and for residents who are on exchange or study abroad programs.
Residents in the standard rooms are able to select 21 or 14 meals per week as there are no food preparation facilities within these rooms. The 14 meal option is particularly attractive for students who may be at universities other than the University of Western Australia.
The rooms are fully furnished however, the College encourages residents to bring some of those more personal touches from home as an emotional comfort. Should a resident have a medical condition that requires a particular style of furniture, this needs to be discussed with the Deputy Head of College prior to the item being brought in.
Some indicative photos of a standard room are shown here. However, it is important to note that there is some variation amongst the rooms: some have balconies, some have ensuites (normally reserved for returning students with a leadership role), some have direct access to recreation areas etc.
Students living in the standard rooms have full access to the new facilities including two recreation centres, two academic learning centres, print room, and group study rooms.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The offer of residency within a standard room is solely at the College’s discretion, unlike the NRAS studios or one bedroom apartments where compliance with Government priority groups is a prerequisite for the College receiving financial support.
What is a Studio Apartment?
The College has 200 studio apartments available, particularly for students who are not in their first year of residency at the College. These rooms are fully furnished (including a refrigerator and microwave oven), air- conditioned with ensuites as well as being equipped with a small kitchenette. The cards used to enter these studio apartments also play a crucial role in controlling energy usage and are used to access both the laundry and printing facilities.
As with the one-bedroom apartments, the studio apartments are known as NRAS apartments. As such these apartments are rented out to residents under the legislation and regulations of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). Additional information regarding NRAS can be found here.
The images below show a display studio apartment.
IMPORTANT NOTES
An offer of residency in the NRAS studios and one bedroom apartments must comply with the Government conditions that form the prerequisites for the College to receive financial support.
There will be a number of configurations with the same provisions.
8 universally accessible studio apartments are also available.
What is in a Studio Apartment?
| WHAT YOU GET | WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE |
| Air-conditioning (reverse cycle) | Bed linen/pillow |
| Ensuite | Doona/blanket (including doona cover) |
| Refrigerator (249 litre) | Small kitchen appliances |
| Microwave (25 litre) | Cooking pots and pans |
| Electric cooktop | Cutlery and cooking utensils |
| Dining table and 2 chairs | Tea towels |
| Built-in desk, study chair and study lamp | Throws and cushions |
| Pin board | Vases and other ornaments |
| Mobile pedestal/3 drawer filing cabinet | Bathroom towels |
| King single bed with mattress | All additional food and beverages |
| Mattress protector | Office files/trays/stationery etc |
| 1 bedside table and lamp | |
| Partially catered (7 meals a week) |
What is a 1 Bedroom Apartment?
The College has 45 1 bedroom apartments available. These apartments are primarily intended for postgraduate students and Resident Advisors (an RA is a resident who has become a part- time staff member of the College to assist with its operations). These apartments are: fully furnished (including a refrigerator and microwave oven), air-conditioned with ensuites as well as being equipped with a small kitchenette. A separate bedroom to the main living area is an added feature of these apartments. The cards used to enter these apartments also play a part in controlling energy usage and are used to access both the laundry and printing facilities.
As with the studio apartments, the 1 bedroom apartments are known as NRAS rooms. As such these rooms are rented out to residents under the legislation and regulations of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). Additional information regarding NRAS can be found below.
The images below show a “display” 1 bedroom apartment.
IMPORTANT NOTES
An offer of residency in the NRAS studios and 1 bedroom apartments must comply with the Government conditions that form the prerequisites for the College to receive financial support.
There will be a number of configurations with the same provisions.
3 universally accessible one bedroom apartments are available.
Each 1 bedroom apartment has a living area that has a couch, small table and chairs. Furniture in these photographs are indicative only. Decorative items are not included.
Each 1 bedroom apartment has an ensuite with toilet, shower and basin/vanity.
What is in a 1 Bedroom Apartment?
| WHAT YOU GET | WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE |
| Air-conditioning (reverse cycle) | Bed linen/pillow |
| Ensuite | Doona/blanket (including doona cover) |
| Refrigerator (297 litre) | Small kitchen appliances |
| Microwave (25 litre) | Cooking pots and pans |
| Electric cooktop | Cutlery and cooking utensils |
| Dining table and 2 chairs | Tea towels |
| Built-in desk, study chair and study lamp | Throws and cushions |
| Pin board | Vases and other ornaments |
| Mobile pedestal/3 drawer filing cabinet | Bathroom towels |
| Separate bedroom with queen size bed | All food and beverages |
| Mattress and Mattress protector | Office files/trays/stationery etc |
| 2 bedside tables and 2 bedside lamps | |
| Coffee table | |
| Two-seater sofa |
NB. Basic kitchen and linen packs will be available for purchase through the St Thomas More College Reception
What do residents get when they live at Tommy?
Common to all residents
| Caring and supportive staff and senior students | Invitations to the Residential Students Department (RSD) events |
| Secure environment (Head of College, Deputy Head of College and 16 Resident Advisors all on site) | Resident Advisor (RA) organised events |
| Fully furnished room | UWA Sport and Recreation Centre membership |
| Full utilities (no connection fees) | Opportunities to participate in inter-college and intra-college sporting and cultural activities |
| Internet (250GB/month - individually upgradable) | Tell Me More Series |
| Academic Tutorial Program access | Preparation for Work Series |
| Chaplain | Leadership Development course |
| Outreach opportunities | 2 x Recreation Centres |
| Opportunities spiritual and personal growth | 2 x Academic Learning Centres |
| Invitation to Sunday community Mass | 2 x Group Study Rooms |
| Invitation to the College retreat/reflection day | Print Room |
| Access to Alumni mentors and potential internships | Music Room |
| Student Club membership and activities | Secure bicycle storage |
| Graduate Association membership for post-graduate students | Free Kayak loan (for use at the bay) |
| Invitation to the College Ball | Car pooling access |
| Several Formal Dinners throughout the year | Limited insurance on contents |
Variations for Standard Rooms
| Fully catered (21 or 14 meals per week) | Bed linen and towel |
| Fortnightly clean | Shared bathroom facilities |
| Welcome Pack for first year residents (College Polo and shorts) |
Variations for Studio Apartments
| Air-conditioning | King single bed (with mattress protector) |
| Ensuite | Partially catered (7 meals per week with the option to take up extra meal plans) |
| Kitchenette (refrigerator, microwave and stove top) | Monthly clean (option to take up fortnightly) |
Variations for 1 Bedroom Apartments
| Air-conditioning | Separate bedroom |
| Ensuite | Queen size bed (with mattress protector) |
| Kitchenette (refrigerator, microwave and stove top) | No catering (option to take up meal plans) |
| Monthly clean (option to take up fortnightly) |
National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS)
What is NRAS?
The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS or the Scheme) is a partnership between the Australian Government and the states and territories to invest in affordable rental housing.
The Scheme seeks to address the shortage of affordable rental housing for low and moderate income households. It does this by ensuring that NRAS accommodation is rented out at a rate that is at least 20 per cent below the market value. St Thomas More College has 242 NRAS apartments available. The Scheme has a number of terms and conditions relating to admission and eligibility that St Thomas More College must adhere to.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To be eligible you must have an annual income (in Australian Dollars) below $48,527 for the 12 months prior to your lease commencement date.
Please note, that the income threshold is reviewed and set by the Department of Social Services annually.
To enable St Thomas More College to assess your eligibility, you are required to:
- Complete a gross income assessment for the 12 month period prior to your lease commencement date;
- Provide relevant supporting documentation/evidence to prove your declared income amount (where applicable);
- Complete a Tenant Demographic Assessment form.
These forms will be provided to you prior to your arrival via email. It is a requirement that we receive this information before you move into your room.
If we are unable to satisfactorily determine your income based on your completion of the Income Assessment Form and the supporting documentation that you provide, you may be required to complete a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration.
Your continuing eligibility in a NRAS approved dwelling will be assessed on the 12 month anniversary of your lease commencement date. If at this time, your annual gross income exceeds $60,659 (also reviewed and set by the Department of Social Services annually) you will cease to be eligible.
You can check the most up-to date income thresholds at:
https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/housing-support/programs-services/national-rental-affordability-scheme/national-rental-affordability-scheme-nras-household-income-indexation
What are the special admission conditions?
With respect to admitting students to reside in rooms built under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), St Thomas More College allocates these rooms based on the conditions of the agreement with the Government which are to prioritise accommodation for students aged between 18-30 years along with:
- Students with low socio-economic status
- Indigenous Australian students
- Students that are located in rural and isolated areas of Western Australia relocating to Perth
- Students with disabilities and within the context of overcoming educational disadvantage associated with gender
- Women enrolled in non-traditional disciplines such as IT, engineering, architecture and postgraduate study.
St Thomas More College gives priority to the above-listed students as well as students from interstate.
First year students are customarily housed in standard rooms to enable them to take full advantage of the College’s orientation and transition to university programs as well as the enhanced pastoral care and access to mentoring that is available in this mode of accommodation. International exchange and study abroad students are also housed in standard rooms except at the discretion of the College.
Want to know more about NRAS?
Check out the Department of Social Services website
