Results are in! Our Annual Student Experience Survey highlights resident satisfaction

Throughout the challenging circumstances of 2020, Deakin Res has continued to prioritize the health, wellbeing and safety of our residents. As part of this commitment, every year in August we facilitate our Annual Student Experience Survey. This is our major survey for the year and is designed to seek feedback and measure the satisfaction of our residents across the broad range of services, experiences and programs offered within DRS across all campuses.  

This year we are pleased to highlight that 52% of residents responded to our survey – our highest response rate yet. Here’s what they had to tell us: 

DeakinRes is a safe place to live during COVID-19 

In light of life out of the ordinary this year as a result of COVID-19 we sought to include a number of questions in this year’s survey in regards to residents’ perception of safety within the residential precinct. Pleasingly: 

• 95% of survey respondents indicated they believed that student accommodation at Deakin is a safe place to live during COVID.  

• 99% understood what they could to do to ensure the residential environment remained a safe place to live

• 96% felt that COVIDSafe measures had been well communicated by DRS and, 

• 94% felt that DRS had proactively managed COVID risks in the residences. 

You’re safe to be you at Deakin Res 

We’ve long prided ourselves on our welcoming and inclusive community, and our RESPECT values are an important part of what makes Deakin Res special. As one resident commented in the survey this year, “…a sense of community, mutual respect and care for one another, has made the whole experience so much more enjoyable.” In 2020: 

• 100% of survey respondents noted their awareness of our values (equal to 2019)

• 94% felt these values were upheld by members of the community (+2.4% from 2019) and 

• 95% felt the values were upheld and role modelled by our volunteer Residential Leaders (equal to 2019). 

Further reflecting these values, 

• 98% of residents felt safe in their room (+0.5% from 2019)

• 97% felt safe to be themselves living on residence at Deakin (+2.7%)

• 97% indicated they had experienced a positive interaction with a member of the DRS staff team (+1.3%) 

Our Residential Leaders are a critical part of the DeakinRes team 

Every year we recruit and train students across our community to take on the important role of a volunteer Residential Leader. This year we received our highest satisfaction ratings ever for these amazing individuals who have certainly gone above and beyond to support our residents in 2020: 

• 95% of survey respondents indicated that their Residential Leader had facilitated regular meetings or events (+7.6%)

• 94% noted their Residential Leader had effectively communicated rules and regulations for living on campus (+2.4%) 

• 88% felt their Residential Leader had helped with any issues or problems (+1.1%) 

DeakinRes is the place to be in 2021 

When asked about their overall experience, perceptions of value for money and likelihood of recommending Deakin Res to a friend: 

• 94% of our respondents rated their overall residential experience as good/very good (+2.8% from 2019),

• 85% rated living on residence as good or very good value for money (+5.6%)

• 82% of residents would recommend living on campus to a friend (+2.6%)

Additional results from a longitudinal study conducted at Deakin (2015 – 2019) further highlight that students who live on residence are more likely to succeed and persist through to graduation. 

Still considering your options for 2021? Find out more and apply now for DeakinRes.