Student Housing at Curtin: We Deserve Better
The Curtin Student Guild is fighting to make student housing safer, fairer, and more liveable.
For too long, students living in on-campus housing — particularly in older facilities like Vickery House, Erica Underwood House, Guild House and Kurrajong Village — have raised serious concerns. We’ve heard from hundreds of residents at Guild BBQs, pop-up events and through direct advocacy: high rent, poor maintenance, safety concerns, and a lack of basic amenities are leaving students feeling neglected, unsafe and unheard.
This is unacceptable.
Safety Concerns Can’t Be Ignored
In July 2025, The West Australian reported on the lack of security in Curtin’s older student housing. The Guild worked to put this issue in the headlines to make sure the university and public take it seriously.
This follows months of pressure and advocacy from the Guild — including letters, formal meetings and direct conversations with students living in these residences — highlighting ongoing issues like break-ins, trespassers, poor lighting and the fear of walking alone at night.
“People deserve to be able to move about their home, or go to the laundry or common areas or gardens, with a reasonable level of expectation that strangers are not wandering about.”
— Guild President Dylan Storer, The West Australian, July 2025
The Guild continues to push for:
- Secure fencing and gates
- Swipe card access to residential areas
- Proper lighting and rapid maintenance response
- More 24/7 security patrols and CCTV coverage
- Clearer communication and quicker support from housing providers
Air Conditioning Is Not a Luxury
In WA’s climate, temperature control is essential — not optional. Yet many students in older on-campus accommodation are forced to live through summer without air conditioning.
Earlier this year, more than 1,000 students signed a petition calling for air conditioning in their homes. Despite the overwhelming support, Curtin University has yet to respond.
This is a basic standard of comfort and dignity, and the Guild will continue fighting until it is delivered.
We’re Taking This to the Top
The Guild is actively and relentlessly raising these issues at every level. We have brought them directly to Curtin’s senior leadership, raised them at Academic Board, engaged Ministers, and made sure they are on the public record, including putting this crisis in the headlines of The West Australian.
We are making it impossible to ignore.
We are also working with tenancy advocates and student organisations across the state, including as a Principal Partner of Make Renting Fair WA, to coordinate the next stage of this campaign.
We won’t stop until Curtin students have housing that is secure, liveable, and worthy of the rent they pay.
Get Involved
Are you living in Curtin housing and have concerns to raise?
Want to help fix the student housing crisis?
📩 Email the Guild President at president@guild.curtin.edu.au or contact Student Assist.