International student forced from home over false allegations
An international student has been awarded more than $10,000 in compensation after being forced from her university accommodation following unsubstantiated claims she threatened other students with a knife. The University of Canberra student, who cannot be named, successfully took her case to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal after what she described as being treated as a "pariah" despite having done nothing wrong.
The events that led to false accusations
The student had moved into UniLodge accommodation in January 2025 and almost immediately began experiencing issues with noise from other residents. After filing multiple complaints, she was moved to another room in February, but continued to suffer from noise disturbances and hygiene problems caused by other students.
On March 21, 2025, around 1am, the student complained twice to UniLodge about loud noises coming from a group in the kitchen adjacent to her new room. She approached the students twice to ask them to quiet down, with the tribunal noting there was "no evidence before the tribunal that she was anything other than polite and respectful in her language".
During her second visit to the kitchen, the student searched for tools, including a knife, to repair a yoga chair she needed for a 3am yoga class streamed from the United States. After being unable to find suitable tools, she returned to her room empty-handed.
Unfounded allegations and unfair treatment
Soon after returning to her room, security and police officers arrived to question her about allegedly threatening students with a knife. An ACT Policing report confirmed officers "were unable to substantiate any offences".
Despite the lack of evidence, the student was immediately moved to another room under the pretence it was "just for one night", only to discover the next day the move was permanent. She was required to be escorted by security to collect her belongings, a condition she found "upsetting, demeaning and unreasonable".
Later in March, she was informed the alleged incident was being treated as "a case of serious misconduct" and she would need to attend a meeting with residential management. When she asked if she could bring a lawyer, she was told "this meeting cannot be attended by any legal representative ... as this would require us to have one present as well".
Tribunal findings and compensation awarded
On March 31, 2025, the student moved into an Airbnb, suffering from severe psychological distress and feeling suicidal due to the treatment she received.
Tribunal member Mark Hanna found the student to be "a distinctly honest and diligent person, for whom hard work and honour were of the highest importance". He noted her testimony appeared to be "honest, frank and sincere with no attempt to minimise her actions".
The tribunal ruled that KMSAC Pty Limited, the company that owns and operates UniLodge, had breached the student's right to quiet enjoyment and exacerbated the situation by refusing her legal representation. Mr Hanna stated: "The applicant, already at a cultural and language disadvantage, was put at a clear disadvantage in an investigation which ultimately led to her occupancy being terminated and for her character to be impugned."
The tribunal ordered the accommodation provider to pay the student more than $10,000 in compensation for the distress, interference with her studies, and unfair treatment she endured.
