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The University of Western Australia will build new accommodation for up to 1000 students over the next two years under an Australian Government scheme for affordable housing.

The allocation to UWA was announced today by Federal Minister for Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke and State Minister for Housing, Troy Buswell.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme will allow the University to build student housing which will be let below market rental, providing valuable support for students, particularly those from rural and regional Western Australia.

The University has accepted State Government conditions to allocate priority to students from a low socio-economic background, Indigenous students, students from rural and isolated areas of WA who need to relocate to Perth to study, students with disabilities and women enrolled in non-traditional disciplines such as engineering, computer science and postgraduate study.

The University is considering appropriate sites but most of the accommodation will be located adjacent to the University in the current residential college area.

The State Government supports the scheme, agreeing to provide $1 for every $3 of the Federal funding.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said: "We are delighted to receive these residential places because we are very keen to accommodate our students close to the University where they will be able to get the full benefit of the University experience, academically and socially."

"The University believes that students who live in residential accommodation close to the campus have a richer University experience. The NRAS funding will enable us to offer student housing at affordable prices ensuring better equity and access to a university education, particularly for regional and rural students," Professor Robson said.

NRAS is an Australian Government initiative to stimulate the supply of affordable housing by increasing supply, reducing rental costs for low to moderate income households and encouraging large scale investment in delivering affordable housing.

The University is commencing an expansion of Currie Hall, building 24 rooms in its first stage, which is expected to attract funding from the scheme.  It is proposed that an additional 400 dwellings will be constructed at this site.