By Will Cassell
The ANU and UniLodge “cannot be trusted to self-regulate” according to a former senior resident, who is suing both UniLodge and the Australian National University after she became chronically ill from toxic mould exposure in her former student accommodation.
Observer sat down with Clare (whose name has been changed for privacy reasons). She has been diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) after living at Lena Karmel Lodge for over two years.
An independent mould report was commissioned by Clare after UniLodge declined to undertake their own report, instead offering her a temporary room. The report found that Clare’s room was contaminated with Aspergillus, a species of black mould. Such a finding would require anyone who enters the room to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Another report completed by US-based MyMycoLab showed severe levels of mycotoxin in her blood.
For Clare, ending her occupancy agreement was “like navigating a minefield”.
“UniLodge profits tens of millions of dollars and they couldn’t pay for one independent mould inspection,” she said.
Email correspondence provided to Observer shows that ANU Operations gave Clare an ultimatum: to return to her room permanently, or lose access to her possessions within it. Clare stated that she “had to plead with them” for an alternative plan.
After she refused to move in, Clare found herself homeless.
“There’s an inherent problem in the asymmetry of power between UniLodge, ANU and students,” she stated. “Students have no rights and protections under Occupancy Agreements, and they are afraid of breaking their contract because there’s always pushback and the threat of being liable to pay their remaining annual rent”.
She added that when complaints are raised, the “ANU engages in bare-minimum maintenance, gaslighting about the presence and health risks of mould, and is only interested in moving another student into the room to keep the rent flowing”.
In March 2025, a third instance of flooding occurred at Unilodge, causing around ninety residents to be temporarily relocated. In January 2026, UniLodge painted over the affected areas, which another Lena Karmel resident who spoke to Observer alleged were ridden by mould.
Clare called the mould “inevitable” where water damage is unremediated, alleging UniLodge was “not concerned with student health whatsoever”.
“If they [UniLodge] were,” she added, “they would thoroughly and immediately remediate student housing”. Clare also found the complaint process to be “deplorable and appalling”.
“It’s because we’re students, we’re vulnerable and unsuspecting, we don’t have support, and we’re working long hours trying to pay exorbitant rent for water-damaged and mould-ridden rooms”.
Clare stated concern that “students’ health and lives are at risk, especially those with asthma and pre-existing conditions”. She is calling for an independent investigation into UniLodge and independent regulations to prevent threats to the health of future students.
“No one should be paying a single cent for a room that makes you sick”.
She reported her life changed from studying full-time, working part-time, and running half-marathons, to being bedridden and presenting to the emergency department multiple times.
She is also calling for Lena Karmel Lodge to be demolished, as it is “past the point of remediation”. This is not unprecedented. A Broken Hill school was demolished in 2024 after extensive aspergillus was found in the building. This same species of mould was also found in Clare’s room.
In 2023, three patients died from Aspergillus at Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle. In 2025, two patients died from Aspergillus at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Last month, one hundred families joined a cohort preparing for a class action lawsuit against Calvary Mater for mould-related deaths.
In a statement to Observer, an ANU spokesperson said, “[t]he safety and wellbeing of our students is always our top priority”.
“Each of the ANU residences has an allocated Property Manager Officer, as well as 24/7 cleaning and maintenance team coverage,” they said.
“Room inspections are conducted on a routine basis to ensure any maintenance issues are detected. Residents are encouraged to report any concerns immediately and are advised on how to do this”.
“If I was well enough at the time, I would have organised a rent strike,” Clare said.
Clare, who studied law, hopes that UniLodge will be held legally accountable. She points to students seeking $35 million USD in Tennessee for compensation for mould-related illnesses.
“This is the beginning of a class action that needs to happen to UniLodge nationwide”.
More to come.
Graphics by Harry Dennis
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