William McLennan (St Lazare, Quebec, Canada)
Bachelor of Political Science, University of Melbourne
"Moving to the opposite side of the world for almost a year on my own was daunting to say the least. Of all the decisions I made on my journey to and in Australia, choosing Yarra House as my accommodation was by far the best. The administration has gone to pains to make the experience of living in here the best it could possibly be by helping both with issues of finance and everyday living. On top of that, living with mostly Australian nationals has made it infinitely easier to get stuck in the culture.
A huge benefit is the location; Yarra House is located just 15 minutes out of the city by bus or train, close enough to feel in the city, but far enough away to avoid the noise, high rises, and people when you just want to get away. Being located next to various ovals and parks, living in Yarra almost has the feel of living in a city park, surrounded by both nature and city life – it's perfect for anyone inclined towards either lifestyle.
Besides the location and the logistic simplicity, Yarra House is full of social opportunities. I have made so many friends both Australian and international that I know will be with me for the rest of my life. There is never a shortage of things to do and people to do them with at Yarra House. If you want to play music, party on the town, lounge and watch movies all night, or just sit in the kitchen eating and chatting, there will be someone at Yarra to join in.
There is so much more to tell, but suffice it to say that living at Yarra House is one of the best choices any student can make. I'll never forget my experiences here."
Milly Raso (Mt Eliza, Victoria)
Bachelor of Writing and Publishing, NMIT Fairfield Campus
"When I applied to study at NMIT I had planned to transit to and from Fairfield from the Mornington Peninsula. I am so glad that I decided to stay at Yarra House instead. Yarra House is visually beautiful; it is clean and modern with its own resident peacock. It is a refreshing change from most other student accommodation buildings!
Yarra House, being conveniently close to the city without being swamped by traffic, sky-blocking buildings or smog, has been my home now for a year and will be for another. I love the nature that surrounds the building and all residents embrace it with daily walks through the bushland, around the river and to the boathouse to feed the cute ducks.
I highly recommend Yarra House for anybody, especially if you are scared or worried about moving out of home. I came in not knowing anybody but now I have made countless friends who have made my living experience that much more enjoyable. Nobody here is rude, stuffy or arrogant. Everybody is friendly and kind - I love that about Yarra House. I am so glad I moved here."
Jean Roland Bergicourt (Black River, Mauritius)
Diploma of Photoimaging, NMIT Fairfield Campus
"I study photo-imaging at NMIT Fairfield campus. I saw Yarra House advertised at NMIT TAFE and so I checked their website for more details. When I first arrived at Yarra House I was feeling good but at the same time a little bit anxious about living on my own.
I would recommend my friends to live here at Yarra House: it is the best accommodation for me. I’ve got everything I need here and I love it. The best thing about living at Yarra House is that I’ve met many new people and made many friends. I also really enjoy living in Melbourne in general and I will always remember the experience of being a student and living on campus.
I love that Yarra House is surrounded by nature, which makes it very peaceful. I often sit on the balcony to relax and go for a walk down to the river for some fresh air. The support Yarra House provides has been vital for me."
Amanda Kontos (Adelaide, South Australia)
Bachelor of Writing and Publishing, NMIT Fairfield Campus
"Yarra House is an experience not to be missed. I moved here as a scared newbie to a great big city, but I soon found that there were others just like me! Not only did I find friends but I found people I could almost call family. There's always someone around Yarra House and being ever so convenient to me (I only have to walk across campus to get to class) made it the best choice around. Not only that but it's in a great location. A fifteen minute train ride away from the city, Yarra House is definitely in the middle of everything but it still holds true to the suburbia lifestyle with the beautiful trees, trails and parks."