Sarah Hopkins, Jane’s Dean of Students, is affectionately referred to as the ‘Mum’ of Jane. She is a Tasmanian girl whose love of sport and travel has landed her in her perfect career: helping to guide young adults through their transition to independence.
After school, Sarah moved to Lismore in NSW to study her undergraduate degree (Human Movement and Science – majoring in Exercise Science). She lived in a student accommodation college, and looking back now, she wishes it had been more like Jane.
“We didn’t have as much support. There wasn’t a community there – you had to network a lot to make it happen. I had homesickness for most of the first semester.
“The university was under a flight path, and walking down to uni each day I remember watching the planes fly over and desperately wishing I was on a plane flying home.”
Sarah recalls the steep learning curve from living at home to being entirely responsible for herself in the day to day.
“We had to cook and cater, which was an added complexity. Jane would have been so much better, as I wouldn’t have had to stress about meals.”
This experience has given Sarah unique insight and the empathy to support the Jane residents, that is so clear to anyone who sees her interacting with Jane residents.
From travel guide to guiding teens into adulthood
Midway through a career in sport, Sarah’s first love, she took a three-year break to travel overseas. Sarah took a role with Top Deck travel guiding 18 – 20-year-olds around Europe.
“This is where I picked up a love for the emerging adult group, I love being there for them.”
Travelling through Europe and Russia, Sarah had to guide groups of young adults through diverse situations, some external and unexpected, like having a highway blocked by an avalanche, and some of their own doing, requiring negotiations with the Spanish Police!
“Young adults are testing the boundaries all the time. Sometimes crossing a boundary can have very real consequences. I really enjoyed providing the leadership and guidance to help them navigate this time.”
As well as being a problem solver, Sarah was there simply to help, not to treat the travellers like children, but as adults. To guide them not only around the globe, but also through this time of their lives.
“Being dynamic, changing direction and thinking on my feet was imperative – and I loved it.”
Having the students’ backs and their best interests at heart.
As the “College Mum”, Sarah helps the Jane residents in any way they need, whenever they need it. With a focus on both wellbeing and discipline, “trying to help them have fun but within some boundaries.”
“I love this age group. As emerging adults, they are exploring the next chapter of their lives. They will make mistakes, they are not sure of their boundaries, and they will push the line. Sometimes they push it too far and then don’t know what to do when that happens. I guide them as much as I can and help them when they need it. I always have their back and their best interests at heart.”
While she is referred to as the “College Mum”, Sarah emphasises that her role is peer-to-peer with the Jane residents, more like an older and wiser friend than a parent.
Sarah’s role with the residents starts well before they arrive at Jane. As soon as they start their enrolment, Sarah starts getting to know them. “I want to know as much as I can about them and why they want to come to Jane, so I can place them in a room near like-minded people.”
As well as supporting new residents herself, Sarah also trains the Jane Student Leadership Team to provide the warmest of welcomes to incoming residents because she believes peer support is critical to the Jane community.
“I spend two weeks with senior residents and the student club committee, training and working with them to instil belonging and connection so they can support the new students and create activities and events that will help them connect.”
Sarah is now in her 5th year at Jane, and while parents are always welcome to reach out, she makes it clear that residents can confide in her confidentially.
“Our residents are 18 and over, so unless their safety is in immediate danger and we can’t support them, at which point we’ll get parents involved; otherwise, it is just between us. We are two adults having a conversation.”
Making international students feel at home
Some of the international students have never been to Australia before they move to Jane as a resident.
“It’s a huge transition, a whole new culture in a country where they’ve never been. Then they have to hit the ground running with orientations and university, it is a really hard time for them. Food is a big issue. They come from a different culture where the food is quite often very different. Our food is not as spicy as in other parts of the world, and we have cold breakfasts; so they have to learn to adapt to new food as well. Every facet of their life changes.”
Jane has an international Senior Resident, who is trained in supporting other residents’ wellbeing and who understands this change in culture, who is employed to support them through this transition.
But Sarah is quick to add that all students support each other, “Part of the Jane culture is looking out for each other.”
“We have a wonderful Malaysian student, who voluntarily takes all the new international students under her wing. She checks in on everyone, and it is beautiful to watch.”
Wellness Week and Sport
Sarah’s love of sport has crept into her work at Jane. “I coach the Badminton team, which has one of the biggest participation rates at Jane. I played National level Badminton until 2004, and I still have the love and passion for it.
Sarah also started a footy tipping competition last year that has doubled in popularity since then.
“Sport helps with the community element – you don’t have to play sport to be involved, just go along and support Jane, it is a basic element of belonging.”
The focus on student wellbeing is one of the areas that differentiates Jane from the other student accommodation in Hobart. Sport is one element of that, as is the Wellbeing Program:
“In Wellness Week, the week prior to exams, we have a week of swot vac where we provide meaningful breaks from study each day with something that will help the residents with their wellbeing and stress levels. We have golden retriever dogs that come in, residents can schedule a 10-minute mini massage and the Miss Whippy Van, an ice cream truck, comes by.”
“We’re here to help, we genuinely care and want to make sure all our residents succeed.”