Last week, the Student Accommodation Council held our second annual Future of the Sector: PBSA conference at Crown Sydney. In just its second year, the event doubled in size to over 370 attendees, drawing developers, investors, operators and educators from across Australia to share insights and explore opportunities in student accommodation.
The day kicked off with sold-out site tours of Scape Kensington, The Switch Kensington, UNSW Village and Unilodge Kensington. Walking through these vibrant communities, it was clear why the Kensington precinct has become a hotspot for both developers and students, thanks to its proximity to UNSW and excellent transport links. The tours highlighted the variety of PBSA product now available, from heritage town houses to lux-studios with racecourse views, students are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation in the Kensington precinct.
Once the conference began in earnest, a series of panels examined the sector from every angle. I had the privilege of moderating a discussion with Scape CEO Anouk Darling, Campus Living Villages Executive Vice-President Development John Huber, Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy and newly appointed ABA CEO Simon Birmingham. The conversation reflected on a politically charged 12 months, during which debates around housing, migration and student caps temporarily slowed PBSA investment, while also highlighting the post-election rebound in market confidence. The mood of the panel was positive, with the opportunities for universities and PBSA developers to collaborate on growing bed numbers in Australia emphasised as both a social and politically significant imperative.
Clinton Ostwald from Urbis presented the latest PBSA Benchmarks, projecting the sector will reach 144,300 beds by 2027, signalling significant growth and opportunity. However, the Victorian pipeline continues to see many beds stalled in the approval process rather than breaking ground, largely due to the significant impact of foreign investor surcharges in that state.
Investor panels, featuring those investing and managing capital, offered insights into where funding is coming from and what drives large-scale PBSA investment. Sessions on student expectations highlighted the need for flexible, high-quality accommodation and design that reflects the evolving needs of students. Will we see ‘unplugged’ rooms and a return to students having space to be ‘messy and creative’? The panel suggested that this may well be the direction of future PBSA design.
IDP provided a global perspective, showing Australia’s higher education market in context and emphasising the country’s ongoing appeal to international students. Australia’s global reputation as a destination for study remains unparalleled, even in a period of geopolitical upheaval.
What stood out most for me was the energy in the room. The diversity of attendees and the quality of conversations underscored the sector’s resilience and ambition. The message was clear: Australia is well-placed to expand its PBSA offerings, providing more housing options for students and raising the standard of accommodation nationwide.
With strong growth, rising student demand, and a collaborative industry driving innovation, Australia has become the most dynamic place in the world to develop and invest in PBSA.
Torie Brown is the Executive Director, Student Accommodation Council
