By Clare Rankine (’13)

It’s these cold July days that make me think of my first year in Melbourne. Experiencing new everything, new moments, new people, new winter.

It’s been a long day at uni, and I catch the 109 back to Res. The tram slides me out of the city and into the suburbs, to Kew, a place I’m beginning to know better, but still have time to explore.

2020 Fees

The fees for the residence consist of accommodation, food, utilities a one-off capital levy and a refundable bond,. The fees are based on a 19-week semester.

Students make a financial commitment per semester however we have an expectation that students stay for the year. Please see our 2020 Fees Policy for more information.

The 2020 fees-

2021 Fees

There will be an increase to the 2021 fees (details published by mid- year 2020).

We are currently taking 2021 student applications here

1. MAKE AN APPLICATION

• Have a look through the information on the website.
• Complete the online application form – there is no cost involved in applying
• If your application is successful you will then be invited to attend a tour & interview.

2. INTERVIEW AND TOUR FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
   

• You and, if possible, your parents will be invited to tour the Residence. You will then be interviewed by the Manager.

3. OFFERS

• Finishing off Year 12, deciding which course to study, and preparing to leave home is stressful enough. We understand that taking away the uncertainty of where you will be living can be a huge relief. As such, we try to make early offers where possible.
• Early offers can be made at any time throughout the year. However, because we aim to have a balanced student body, we will usually wait until we have a number of applicants before we make the first round of offers. This could potentially happen in the first half of the year.

3. ACCEPTING YOUR OFFER

• After receiving your offer from us, we ask you to indicate whether or not you plan to accept the offer.
• On receiving your university offer you are required to email or call us to formally accept or reject your place.
• Upon acceptance of your place you will receive a welcome letter and are required to pay a deposit.

4. LATE OFFERS

• If you have been placed on the waiting list, there is a small chance you may be offered a place as late as early February.
• We encourage you to seek other alternatives, if you have not received an offer by August 31st

From December to early February we offer friends and family group bookings for between 10 or more people.  We have 50 beds available (twin-share), as well as dining facilities, a commercial kitchen (catering can be arranged), an outdoor courtyard, entertainment room, internet access and shared bathroom facilities.

• Groups are required to book a minimum of two nights.
• There is a minimum of 10 persons required for a group booking.
• The cost for accommodation is assuming twin-share.
• Group booking costs are through enquiry only.

Please contact the manager to discuss your group’s requirements.

Occasionally, we will agree to accommodate groups smaller than 10. In this circumstance, the cost should be negotiated with the manager.

If you are looking for somewhere to host a conference in Melbourne during December and January, we may be able to help.

We have 50 beds available (twin-share), as well as dining facilities, a commercial kitchen (catering can be arranged), an outdoor courtyard, internet access and shared bathroom facilities.

If you require larger meeting spaces and break-out spaces, the Kew Baptist Church facilities next door could be available and we would be happy to tailor a package to suit your needs.

If you’d like to know more, please get in contact with us.

We think that part of exploring and growing during your time at KSR includes your spiritual life. There are many ways that this can be done. There will be conversations with the other residents and staff, and there are many faith communities nearby.

For those who wish to attend a Christian church, the Kew Baptist Church is next door and is welcoming  to anyone who might wish to come along to an event or a service. The pastors are available to talk with you or get you connected into a small group.

Living away from home, starting university and living in a new, big city is not easy. There are so many new people and places, rules and regulations that you need to get used to. Sometimes it can all feel a bit much.

There are a number of ways you can find support. Each person is placed in a care group for the first couple of months while you are familiarising yourself with your new surrounds. If things are getting a little difficult, there’s your roommate and the other residents who will be happy to lend an ear. The RLCs and the guys from the House are always there to lend support. For both the big and small matters, the Manager is available to help you work through the issues and, if necessary, setup some support structures or even give you the necessary information to see a professional.

We provide 3 meals per day, 7 days per week. Breakfast is available from 7am each morning and you can prepare a packed lunch to take with you if you’ll be away at lunchtime. At 6pm, everyone gathers for dinner together in the dining room. Fruit, bread, coffee and tea are available all day and supper is offered each weeknight. Our chef is able to cater for any special dietary requirements if requested.

As part of our commitment to service, community, and getting ready for life after Res, students are required to fulfil one duty per week assisting with setting tables or cleaning dishes after a meal time.

The following is a snapshot of a sample dinner menu from KSR (mains only):

Community life is the heart of the KSR experience. Being a community means knowing, spending time enjoying the company of, and supporting each other. It means helping out when something needs to be done, looking after the facilities and making the most of life together.

There are lots of things to do to be part of the community spirit. For many years now, most of the Res participates in a mixed-netball competition with others from the Kew community.  There’s always people organising trips to the shops, cafes or one of the great local night spots. In recent years there have been semi-regular Soccer matches, movie nights, girls’ nights and parties at the House.

There’s no shortage of deep and meaningful conversations around the fireplace, joking around and late-night board games.

But there’s also lots of peer support when it comes to study, emotional challenges and achieving goals together. One of the favourite things for the residents to do is to go along to each other’s music recitals, drama performances, sporting matches and art exhibitions and celebrate one another’s achievements.

One of the richest and most important ways to enhance community life is to participate together in acts of service or life learning experiences. We have had people visit people with intellectual and mental disabilities, collect and deliver goods to those in need, and sleep outside in the winter to understand better issues of homelessness. We strongly encourage all members of the Res community to engage in at least one ongoing service activity throughout the year.