UniLodge

Congratulations to Rebecca Yue for her outstanding contribution and dedication to our Finance team! ? Rebecca is consistently positive, bringing an optimistic attitude to every month end, accounting task and team member. Bec is an incredibly reliable team member who you can trust with any task and know this will be completed to the highest standard. She has been instrumental in supporting the team with the reconciliation process and has dedicated time to mentoring and training new starters, giving them the best opportunity for a successful start. Let’s all celebrate Rebecca’s dedication and positivity – we are so fortunate to have her on our team! ?? #UniLodge #EmployeeRecognition #Teamwork

Congratulations to the Most Outstanding Property Financial Performance winner, Essence Apartments Chermside, represented by Leah Bassett. This award, proudly sponsored by St.George Bank, was presented by Owen McGuigan and John Carew. Though the serviced apartment division represents a smaller segment of our overall business by bed count, it consistently outperforms in financial results. This success has been amplified since Leah joined the team, bringing extensive sector experience and elevating our operations to new standards of professionalism, which directly contributes to our profitability. On the revenue front, we leverage advanced pricing strategies, yield management, targeted marketing, and an effective corporate sales approach. On the cost side, the division is a lean, mean, fighting machine, working smarter as well as hard.

? On the Spot Award ? Mariana Holanda's commitment to the marketing team and willingness to step up and do what needs to be done has been incredible. She really has knocked it out of the park. Mariana, we appreciate you ?? and thank you for helping us to succeed!

Congratulations to the Workplace Health & Safety Award Winner, the UniLodge La Trobe University - Bundoora team. Representing the team on the night, Lisa Zailanee and Deanna Constantine accepted the award from Ian Nearhos and Lachlan Jefferies, with proud sponsorship by Truis. This year, the La Trobe team has excelled through a commitment to focus, internal communication, and innovation, fully integrating WHS into their business practices. At the centre of their WHS culture is an automated incident data platform, providing accurate, up-to-date information accessible to all staff. This data supports comprehensive, relevant training sessions, fostering a whole-of-business approach to WHS. All WHS indicators are closely tracked and are progressing in the right direction. The positive feedback from our university partner is a testament to the team’s dedication and achievements in this vital area.

Congratulations to Morgan Di Domenico, winner of the Marketing Initiative of the Year! To earn this award, Morgan conducted thorough research to identify market needs, then transformed ideas into action, swiftly moving from concept to implementation. She created a campaign that resonated with target audiences, leveraging marketing technology and analytics to deliver measurable results. At UniLodge Park Central, a property with over 1,500 beds in one of Australia’s most competitive markets, Morgan’s strategic insights and creativity were key to outperforming the competition. She developed 18 videos for TikTok and Instagram, monitored market response, and adjusted content to drive increased brand awareness, resident enquiries, and property tours. Morgan’s exceptional efforts led to increased occupancy and market share growth, setting a shining example of how properties can take charge of their outcomes via social media.

Congratulations to Margaret Horne and Kayelle Po'Ona from the Talent Acquisition Team in the People Department, winners of the Innovation Award! The award was proudly sponsored by foodifox and presented by Tangent Wong and Shawn Yi. Talent acquisition has been especially challenging in recent years, marked by general workforce disengagement, high natural turnover, and, in our organisation, substantial growth. To meet these challenges, the talent acquisition team has had to rethink traditional practices, experimenting with new strategies to accelerate recruitment while ensuring a professional candidate experience. They refined our positioning and messaging, sped up response times, identified and eliminated inefficiencies, and strengthened relationships with Hiring Managers for a more cohesive approach. Key initiatives include talent pooling, targeted recruitment, and notably, the use of group interviews for high-volume hiring drives. This approach was particularly successful at ANU in Canberra, where the team recruited 45 dedicated night staff across the campus in a collaborative effort that earned commendation from the university. This success highlights the impact of fresh thinking in tackling longstanding challenges.

Congratulations to the UniLodge Canterbury Residential Life Team, recipients of this year’s Residential Life Program of the Year Award! This award was proudly sponsored by TK Property Services Pty Ltd and presented by Theo Kambouris. The UniLodge Canterbury team reimagined every aspect of the resident experience—from pre-arrival to arrival and post-arrival—crafting a program that sets a new standard in the field. Guided by best practices in student development theory, rooted in UniLodge values, and closely connected with Indigenous communities, Te Wiki Whaiahunga has made a remarkable impact on residents. The name, combining Māori words, reflects direction and orientation, helping students gain a sense of understanding in their new environment. Recently, a group of Canadian university representatives visited and were so impressed by the program that they described it as “world-leading”—a powerful endorsement from experts in the field. At UniLodge, our mission is to create communities for inspired living, and the Residential Life Program sits at the very heart of this mission. Occasionally, an initiative emerges that is truly transformative, and this winning program is one such example.

Reflecting on the Living Sectors Summit UniLodge and Essence Communities were honored to participate in the recent Living Sectors Summit, a premier gathering of industry leaders and innovators dedicated to shaping the future of affordable housing, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), and Build to Rent sectors. ?? Highlights from the Summit: Peter Bates, our Chairman, delivered a forward-thinking session on the evolving landscape and future opportunities within PBSA, sparking engaging discussions on how we can adapt to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students. Tomas Johnsson, our CEO, joined an expert panel to discuss critical themes such as resident experiences, driving operational efficiency, and strategies for maximizing shareholder value in the living sectors. This event also served as an incredible platform to connect with fellow developers, investors, and colleagues, as we exchanged ideas and discussed the growth and opportunities that are shaping the future of build to rent. The conversations and insights gained reaffirm our excitement about the soaring opportunities within build to rent and student accommodation sectors. #studentaccommodation #buildtorent

Congratulations to our Student Leader of the Year, Sophie Roe! This award was proudly sponsored by Rely Pacific Laundry Equipment (RPLE) and presented by Phil Hodges and Mark Ritchie. Since joining UniLodge Townsville, Sophie has been deeply engaged in every aspect of university life. She has provided valuable strategic input to the residential life program and is considered a go-to person for both management and her peers. As a Medicine student, Sophie remains calm and collected in times of crisis, with student welfare as her highest priority. She is a role model who carries herself with professionalism, a friendly demeanour, and a positive attitude. In 2023, she was a proud recipient of the George Roberts Halls Bursary, recognised for her academic merit, character, and contributions to the hall’s ethos. At UniLodge, student leaders like Sophie go above and beyond to create an outstanding experience for residents. They support residential life teams with events, act as mentors, and are there for residents in times of need—all while balancing their own academic commitments. The UniLodge experience is significantly shaped by the dedication of these student leaders across all our properties.

Congratulations to Melanie Kim, the 2024 recipient of the Customer Service Excellence Award! The Customer Service Excellence Award was proudly sponsored by Cirka, with Matthew Bond, Rebecca Bond, and Scott Booth presenting Melanie with her prize. Melanie exemplifies outstanding customer service and was, until recently, a highly valued team member at UniLodge South Bank. Her dedication and commitment to excellence shone through in every aspect of her role. She played a pivotal role in creating and implementing processes that optimise operations across the broader PBSA portfolio, significantly enhancing efficiency and effectiveness within the organisation. With her innovative ideas, in-depth knowledge of UniLodge, and proactive approach, Melanie built strong, enduring relationships with key stakeholders through her personalised service. We look forward to seeing Melanie continue to exceed expectations in her new role with the UniLodge Strategic Projects team.?