Starting university is an exciting milestone, but for students living away from home for the first time, it can also bring isolation, uncertainty and the challenge of building a new support network.
A new collaboration between RMIT University and Scape by The Living Company is helping address these challenges by bringing wellbeing support directly into student accommodation, with social work students working as peer support workers within Scape residences.
Designed by students, for students, the Scape Peer Support Program enables RMIT Bachelor and Master of Social Work students to complete their field placements while supporting fellow residents to build meaningful connections, navigate challenges and better understand their mental health and wellbeing.
By sharing their lived experiences and providing an approachable first point of contact, peer support workers help make conversations about wellbeing feel more accessible, while reducing the stigma that can sometimes prevent young people from seeking help.
Professor of Field Education in Social Work, Dr Ronnie Egan, said the program emerged from challenges experienced by both organisations.
“From Scape’s perspective it was around their residents’ wellbeing and access to services, and from an RMIT perspective it was about the international student experience and placement opportunities,” she said.
The collaboration brings together RMIT’s expertise in social work education and student experience with Scape’s role as a provider of purpose-built student accommodation, creating a practical model that supports both student wellbeing and work-integrated learning.
Designed by students, for students
The program began in January 2026, with five RMIT Bachelor of Social Work students from India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Vietnam and Melbourne undertaking placements with Scape.
The first cohort co-designed the program and developed a series of intercultural initiatives and events to help residents connect with one another and feel more at home in their communities.
A second cohort of seven Bachelor and Master of Social Work students commenced placements in July, representing Malaysia, India, China, New Zealand, America and Melbourne.
The impact was evident within weeks. During the second placement period, the number of students referring themselves for peer support more than doubled within just four weeks compared with the previous placement period.
The increase highlights the value of offering support through people who understand the realities of student life and can provide a familiar, approachable pathway to help.
Scape Wellbeing Manager Lisa Wright said co-design and accessibility were central to the initiative.
“Resilience starts at home, and Scape is home for students living here. This initiative brings support into the home through someone who is familiar, relatable and accessible,” Wright said.
Bringing wellbeing support closer to home
For students adjusting to a new city, country or stage of life, knowing where to turn for help can be a challenge. This can be particularly true for international students navigating unfamiliar systems and cultural expectations while establishing new friendships and routines.
The program provides non-clinical, trauma-informed and culturally responsive peer support, helping residents access the right assistance while building stronger connections at home, university and in the wider community.
Peer support workers are available to provide informal guidance, help students navigate counselling and community services, and facilitate individual and group wellbeing activities. The program also supports the welfare of younger residents through appropriate welfare checks.
Importantly, peer support workers do not replace professional mental health services. Instead, they provide an accessible first point of contact, helping students recognise when they may need additional support and connecting them with relevant services.
By embedding the program within the residential environment, wellbeing conversations can become a more visible and natural part of everyday student life, rather than something students must navigate alone.
The approach is particularly relevant as young Australians face growing pressure around achievement, careers, technology and their futures.
The 2026 Gen Z Wellbeing Index, a national research initiative by Scape by The Living Company and youth platform Anyway, found that 69 per cent of Gen Z Australians feel guilty when resting or taking time off, while 49 per cent experience a great deal or a lot of pressure to achieve career success.
The findings reinforce the importance of creating environments where young people can build confidence, connection and independence, while knowing support is available when they need it.
Building a model for the future
RMIT peer support workers currently operate across five Scape properties in Melbourne: Swanston, Franklin, Victoria Street, Uni Square and Queensberry.
The long-term ambition is to expand the program across all 15 Victorian Scape properties by 2028, potentially extending its reach across more than 8,300 beds.
The program will continue in 2027 with a new cohort of peer workers, building on the services and activities developed through the initial placements.
Beyond supporting individual residents, the initiative also creates valuable opportunities for social work students to apply their learning in a real-world environment, develop practical skills and gain experience supporting diverse communities.
It forms part of RMIT’s broader collaboration with The Living Company, which includes the Franklin Street partnership, where RMIT University Pathways students live and learn under one roof, and the recently announced multi-million-dollar co-investment to establish the State Library Exchange.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared focus on connecting accommodation, education and community to improve the student experience.
For students navigating the transition to independent living, the impact of peer support can begin with something simple: having someone approachable to talk to, who understands the experience and can help them find their feet.
By bringing that support into the place students call home, RMIT and Scape are demonstrating how student accommodation can play a meaningful role in fostering belonging, resilience and wellbeing throughout university life.
