COVID-19 Measures and FAQ

Australia and the world are currently dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know this is a period of worry and uncertainty for our residents, staff, and their families.

At dwell Student Living, the safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff remain our highest priority and we stay committed to provide you with a safe and secure living environment.

Precautionary measures have been implemented across all our properties to keep our residents and staff safe and healthy. We have also established systems, processes and facilities to mitigate the potential risks as we safeguard our dwell community against the COVID-19.

We are working hard and doing everything we can to ensure we provide the best support we can, as the situation continues to evolve.

These measures are based on the latest advice from the relevant authorities. Please refer to details below for more information.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus and can affect your lungs and airways.

The main common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Dry cough

Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Aches and pains
• Sore throat
• And very few people will report diarrhea, nausea, or a runny nose

For the latest information on coronavirus and its symptoms, visit the WHO website https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.

dwell Village Melbourne City has a dedicated team in place, overseeing the situation. The dwell team has been monitoring the national and international situation around Covid-19 carefully. We have been implementing the latest guidance by the relevant health authorities since the start of this outbreak.

We want to ensure that everyone has the practical advice and assistance they need, to do what’s right, and also feel fully supported by the dwell team.

Please be aware that, as our teams work hard on this, there may be a delay in, or reduction to, the other services we are able to provide. We thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.

As featured in the Official Journal of Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association (APSAA), June 2020

We work closely with the city councils to take good care of our residents’ wellbeing. Read more about the international students’ Covid-19 stories on Adelaide Living, featuring our dwell East End Adelaide’s residents Kaiyun and Ken Ahuja.

• Kaiyun: finding comfort in chats and cooking during COVID-19
• Ken: ‘Zoom’ing his way through COVID-19

• We’ve increased our cleaning frequency across our properties and shared common areas.
• We monitor regularly, purchase and stock up on personal protection equipment (PPE).
• We have cancelled all in-person Residential life activities, and replaced them with online activities that focus on mental wellbeing.
• Selected common areas may be closed to promote social distancing. Please approach our staff for the complete list.
• Split team arrangements and Business Continuity Plans are in place.
• Posters on personal hygiene/ social distancing placed up in common areas.
• We have placed hand-sanitisers around the accommodation’s common walk way for residents’ ease of use.
• Isolation room on site. Procedure with guidelines from pre-arrival till end of isolation is in place.

• All arriving and returning residents to the site are required to fill a travel and health declaration form upon check in.
• Procedures for Visitors to Property: Contractors will have to fill a travel & health declaration form, contractor who has been to affected area in the last 14 days will not be allowed entry. Visitors are not allowed.
• Social distancing:
  • Selected common areas may be closed to promote social distancing. Please approach our staff for the complete list.
  • Front desk has implemented “Contactless Service”, encouraging residents to seek assistance through telephone or emails.
• Suspected Case Procedure: SOP in place for suspected cases – Resident is directed to visit doctor/visit hospital. Ambulance may be called.

Every one of us needs to take responsibility for our own health and hygiene. In line with advice from the authorities, we also strongly encourage you to do the following:

• If you have an immune system condition or respiratory illness that might leave you vulnerable, please notify a member of the team immediately.
• Avoid all social gatherings – this means you should not spend time in common areas.
• Wash your hands regularly using soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, especially after sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands afterwards.
• Bin any used tissues immediately.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Do not share items that come into contact with your mouth.
• Check that your contact phone number is up to date in our records so we can contact you if we need to.

If you have a booking and are not allowed to enter Australia or travel interstate on time due to travel restrictions, you will be granted a deferment of your booking start date until when the travel restrictions are lifted. The same terms of the original booking will apply, including your room type, weekly rent and promotions!

You just need to email us at least 7 days before your contract start date.

If you defer your studies to Semester 2 2021 or Semester 1 2022, or your University does not offer face-to-face classes due to COVID-19, we can also defer your stay at dwell to the same period. All you need to do is email us at least 7 days before your contract start date and provide evidence of your enrolment deferral.

If you need to cancel your booking due to any of the following reasons, all you need to do is email us at least 7 days before your contract start date and provide evidence of your reason to cancel. We will cancel your booking and provide you a full refund of any fees paid.

• Travel Ban: if there is a travel ban either in your country of origin or in Australia, or if you are a domestic student and interstate borders remain closed
• Visa Denied: if your Visa application is rejected or your Visa is cancelled
• Online course: if your University does not offer face-to-face learning
• Cancellation of enrolment: if your University cancels or rejects your course application
• Medical Condition: in the unfortunate event that you or a close family member falls ill due to COVID-19