What is a Co-op?

Student Living (With A Difference)

A co-operative (or co-op for short) is a self-run, democratic organisation controlled by all members, who actively participate in setting policies, controlling funds and making decisions. Co-operatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, namely the Rochdale Principles of Cooperation (read below). Co-operative living is a very unique experience which emphasises community and interconnectedness.

Co-operatives serve both their members and the wider community through collaboration. We work with various student housing organisations and the Canberra Food Co-operative.

Student Housing cooperatives were formed primarily to provide low-cost housing to university students. Members typically share a house and are communally responsible for its management - this subsidises their rent.

Canberra Student Housing Co-operative

Canberra Student Housing Co-operative

Semester 1 2022, Planning day!

At the Co-op, we are proud of our strong democratic nature and enthusiastic participants!

We have meetings every Sunday evening where we discuss relevant agenda items and vote on motions. These meetings alternate between our Sunday meetings (Co-op wide) and Committee meetings (Committee-specific). Every Co-oper is assigned to a role or two when they attend our semesterly planning day!

Our planning day is generally held on the Sunday before O-Week prior to each semester, and is a day where we establish roles and goals for the upcoming semester. Attendance is compulsory for all co-opers!

To learn more about our committees, see below!

  • Operations

    This Committee works to ensure the day-to-day functioning of the co-op; supporting our administration, finance, facilities, and internet teams.

  • Human Relations

    Our HR Committee ! It is responsible for the applications, publicity, managing grievances, and Havelock relations teams at the co-op.

  • Culture

    The Culture Committee is all about community! They organise events for the community, as well as deliver our residents communal food, and run our garden!

  • Core Business

    This Committee focuses on our broader influence; by promoting activism, Paying-The-Rent, developing inter-institutional relationships and working toward relocation.

The 7 Rochdale Principles

From Student Cooperatives: Affordable Student Housing by NASCO

  • Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibility of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

  • Cooperatives are democratic controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

  • Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible, benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

  • Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

  • Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

  • Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

  • While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members