CIT faces complaint after student found dead in Bruce Residence

Canberra Institute of Technology is investigating a complaint against the administration of student housing at its Bruce campus after a resident was found dead in March this year.

CIT confirmed the death of a student at the Bruce campus student accommodation on 2 March but could not provide any more details due to privacy reasons.

ACT Policing said officers attended the death of a 30-year-old man in March at student accommodation known as CIT Bruce Residence.

It said a report was prepared and the matter was currently before the Coroner for consideration.

A CIT spokesperson said the complaint centred on the quality and standard of accommodation services provided by CIT.

Information provided anonymously to Region alleged the death was the result of “gross negligence and maladministration” at CIT Bruce Residence.

“As consideration of the complaint has not been finalised, it would be inappropriate to make further comment about it at this time,” the CIT spokesperson said.

“Noting the unsubstantiated nature of the allegations in the complaint, CIT considers that it would not be appropriate for names of CIT employees referred to in the complaint to be published while consideration of the complaint is underway.

“CIT takes the safety of its students very seriously.”

The Region source alleged that the student was found dead in his room by his parents, who had to climb in through an open window after trying in vain to contact the residential assistant.

Residents reported he was a known drug user and known to police, who regularly visited to check on his welfare, the source said.

The student, who was believed to be the only one living on the ground floor, did not have a card for the building and kept the window open so he could climb through to get into his room.

Some residents, who feared for their safety, had allegedly abandoned their rooms and left their personal belongings behind.

The Region source alleged the bathroom and kitchen on this floor were filthy, there was an odour and rubbish was overflowing from the bin.

The information on the student noticeboards was also out of date, and there was no residential assistant on that floor despite one being listed.

CIT did not respond to questions about whether any changes had been made since the death in the running and staffing of its student accommodation or whether the organisation was facing any legal action over the incident.

The death and complaint follows a turbulent time for CIT, which faced a scandal over the awarding of high-priced contracts to a consultant, ‘systems thinker’ Patrick Hollingworth, and a subsequent investigation by the ACT Integrity Commission.

The AIC found that former CIT CEO Leanne Cover acted corruptly and is still investigating the matter.

Mr Hollingworth is pursuing CIT in the ACT Supreme Court for breach of contract after the ACT Government cancelled some of the contacts.

CIT Bruce Residence provides self-catered accommodation for students and sits in a semi-bush environment.

It has 48 rooms, a shared bathroom, laundry facilities, a kitchen, a recreational room, a courtyard, and a barbecue area.

The CIT Students Association manages CIT Bruce Residence and the other CIT accommodation, Monterey Apartments in the city near CIT Reid, in partnership with CIT.