About Us

Our Values

At Mackay Student Residence we are committed to providing excellent accommodation, with a reputation for quality pastoral care of students and high standards. Our core values are:

Teamwork - With everyone working together the residential accommodation achieves better results
Integrity - The residential accommodation promotes honesty and sincerity
Respect - We will respect each other's differences, views, religions and property
Support - We will assist and guide students to achieve their highest potential
Enjoyment - True friends, good food and the best of times
Wellbeing - Safety, security and privacy of everyone is highly valued

We strive to create a safe environment in which student members are able to successfully pursue academic careers and to continue their own personal development.

History

The Mackay campus for CQUniversity was established in 1992 and has undergone many developments. The on-campus student accommodation is relatively new to the Mackay campus and is currently undergoing some changes, making this a new and exciting time to be a resident of Mackay Student Residence.

The Mackay campus already boasts modern student residential accommodation with rooms available in block style accommodation. There is a choice between rooms with an ensuite and rooms with shared facilities. Recently CQUniversity has built a new 72 bed apartment block for students. Availability will commence from Term 1 2011 in addition to the existing accommodation. The new facility offers state of the art accommodation with each room featuring an ensuite, balcony and kitchen facilities.

Location

The student accommodation is a short 5 minute walk to the University, making it the most convenient option, cutting down your travel time and saving you money on fuel. The College itself is surrounded by scenic cane fields, local flora, fauna and wildlife, providing a relaxing and beautiful environment in which to enjoy University life.

Region: Mackay is a city of more than 90,000 people situated on the central Queensland coast, approximately 1,000 kilometers north of the State's capital, Brisbane. International students have the opportunity to see some of the best beaches Australia has to offer, scenic rainforests and the Whitsunday Islands. The natural beauty of the area has been a lure for travellers ever since the first settlement in 1862.

Climate: Subtropical weather patterns dominate most of the Mackay region, with heavy rainfalls experienced in summer and typically dry weather during winter. January is Mackay's hottest month, with an average maximum of 29.9 degrees Celsius. Mackay's coldest month is July, when the maximum temperature averages 21.1 degrees and the minimum averages 12.7 degrees.

Population: Mackay's population growth rate is one of the highest in Australia. The preliminary estimated resident population of Mackay City at 30 June 2006 was 90,303 people, an increase of 3,675 people or 4.2% over the year. Projections prepared by the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning indicate that by 2011 the expected population of Mackay City will be between 91,400 and 93,700 people.

Sport: Mackay's sporting prowess has given the city a national reputation. Well-equipped sporting facilities have nurtured the talents of Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalists such as Cathy Freeman. Many sporting clubs in the region feature multi-million dollar complexes.

Economy: Mackay is renowned for its stable economy, due largely to the diversity of local industries - coal, sugar and tourism. Coal mining is the largest contributor to the region's economy. In 2003-04 coal exports from the Mackay regions were valued at $4.5 billion per annum. In 2005 the region's economy grew by 23 % - nearly 3 times the rate of the rest of Queensland - to $8.9 billion. It is predicted to increase by at least 30 % in the next four years to $12.6 billion annually.

Entertainment: Mackay has a wealth of entertainment options. Island resorts, fine restaurants, lively clubs, theatres, cinemas, art galleries, parks, an aquatic centre and many other attractions are all part of the atmosphere that makes Mackay unique.

Shopping: Shopping areas abound in Mackay. Good starting points for new residents include the City Heart, Caneland Central and Mount Pleasant Greenfields Shopping Centre. The City Heart, with its bustling shopping park, permits limited motor traffic while preserving a pedestrian mall atmosphere. Caneland Central is home to major supermarkets, department stores, and more than 110 specialty shops. Mount Pleasant Greenfields Shopping Centre caters to the growing population on the north side of the Pioneer River

Transport: Airlines, coach companies and Queensland Rail provide daily services to and from Mackay. Mackay Airport handled 656 000 passengers in 2005-06, up by 14 % on the previous 12 months. Most suburbs within the city limits are serviced by some form of public transport. Mackay Transit Coaches operate Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Mackay Taxis provide a Taxi Transit service that allows people to share transport from their homes to popular destinations for the price of a normal bus fare.