Well, its a personal opinion type thing based on whatever situation you might be in. Some people try to include everything in one package, which, is ideally, the ideal way to go. Problem is for a gamer laptops are limited in upgrading them. if you can afford to buy a new and better gaming laptop each year for power and performance to play the latest games then laptop is the way to go. However, how many of us can afford that? IMO a seperate SFF is better mainly because you can upgrade it as needed just like a desktop ATX gaming rig. Obviously a SFF rig is harder to transport than a laptop (because you have a case and screen whereas a netbook/laptop is all in one) but if you drive back and forth to your college dorm and home then its not so bad. They travel well in a automobile. Planes on a different problem. SFF can be transported by plane but there are restrictions as to how big the SFF can be. A laptop is easier to transport by plane.
You dont say what exactly your living arrangements are going to be so that obviously needs to be taken into serious consideration but If you are going to be in Melbourne for a couple of years or more nonstop I'd say get a SFF rig for gaming and a netbook/laptop for the school work and keep the SFF in your dorm, apartment, rental house, etc., But thats just what I'd do if it were me. I play games though that require lots of performance and power.