On 11 October 2011, the Australian Parliament passed legislation allowing universities and other higher education providers to charge a fee for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature.

The legislation dictates that the fees collected may be spent by higher education providers on items such as:

  • sporting and recreational activities
  • employment and career advice
  • child care
  • supporting student representation
  • financial advice.

VU has been collecting these fees since 2012. This page outlines how the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) has been used to provide non-academic support services and improved facilities for all students at VU.

Watch out for the SSAF logo. Anything with this logo was funded by SSAF. That means you were a part of making it happen.

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What has SSAF been allocated to in 2022?

At the commencement of the 2022 year, VU anticipates SSAF revenue will be approximately $5.49 million. In adherence with the Student Services & Amenities Fee Governance and Management Framework, VU SSAF funds have been allocated as listed below.

  • Student Life: Student Life programs and events, Clubs, Societies and Student Volunteer Programs $1.297m
  • Student Wellbeing:
    • Student Counselling Services $1.26m
    • Student Advocacy Services $207k
    • Student Welfare Services $414k
  • Student Leadership: Student Leadership Programs and Services $96k
  • Student Experience Initiative Grants: Student Experience Initiative Grants (approved by a panel made up of student and staff members from the Consultative Committee) $40k
  • VUSU: Victoria University Student Union and affiliated student associations (external organisation funding allocation) $469k
  • VUPA: Victoria University Postgraduate Association: $70k
  • Student Representative Organisation Support: $34k
  • VU Sport: Student Sport & Health Services (including Student Facility Grant) $298k
  • Student Services: Student Success & Support Programs $858k
  • Employability and Success: VU Employ Services $569k

The University will fund internal student services where the allocation is over the anticipated SSAF revenue (e.g. student success and support programs, student media initiatives).

For the full list of reported activities, please view the 2022 SSAF priorities, grants and benefits.

Four student members of the Student Life team.

Previous years' SSAF allocation

At the commencement of the 2021 year, VU anticipated SSAF revenue will be approximately $5.54 million. The VU SSAF funds were allocated as listed below.

  • Student Life: Student Life programs and events, Clubs, Societies and Student Volunteer Programs $1.45m
  • Student Wellbeing:
    • Student Counselling Services $1.1m
    • Student Advocacy Services $199k
    • Student Welfare Services $402k
  • Student Leadership: Student Leadership Programs and Services $81k
  • Student Experience Initiative Grants: Student Experience Initiative Grants (managed by Student Life on behalf of the SSAF Consultative Committee) $40k 
  • VUSU: Victoria University Student Union and affiliated student associations (external organisation funding allocation) $454k
  • VUPA: Victoria University Postgraduate Association: $70k
  • Student Representative Organisation Support: $317k
  • VU Sport: Student Sport & Health Services (including Student Facility Grant) $333k
  • Student Communications: Student Media Initiatives $20k
  • Student Services: Student Success & Support Programs $822k
  • Employability and Success: VU Employ Services $523k
  • Office of the PVC Students: Student facility / amenity project grant $30k

For the full list of reported activities, please view the 2021 SSAF priorities, grants and benefits.

Thanks to SSAF for providing:

VU Student Unions & Associations

  • Over 150 students attended Cultural Diversity Week.
  • 247 students attended a series of online programs and events including Zumba and yoga classes.
  • Hyde student magazine reached approximately 300 students every edition.

VU Sport

Student Services

  • 664 students attended wellbeing information sessions and workshops.
  • 593 advisory 1:1 appointments for international student support.
  • 1032 individual student counselling sessions.
  • 1004 students attended Student Life engagement events delivered in person and online.
  • 329 academic progress appointments.
  • 4241 students attended orientation events.

VU Employ

  • 1696 total student engagements in workshops, programs, career cafes and events.
  • 712 online drop-in sessions to support students with job search strategies, job applications and resume feedback.
  • 163 career consultations appointments to provide detailed career advice and guidance.
  • 44 student applications for part-time or casual work after attending a Raw Talent Employer session.
  • 14% increase in VU Employ activities compared to the same time in 2020.

Student Experience Initiatives Grants

SSAF Student Experience Initiatives Grants supported the following projects.

Employability
  • Deadly Careers – VU Employ and Moondani Balluk collaboration to enhance employability for Indigenous students.
  • Celebrating Nursing Project – conference
  • Career Coaching Symposium
  • Track Ready Kit VU Motorsport – hands-on engineering experience.
VU community
  • Victoria University Postgraduate Association (VUPA) Buddy Program
  • U R VU project to celebrate diversity at VU
  • Cultural Safety Student Ambassadors.
Innovation
  • The Cocoon – VU student theatre.
Planetary Health
  • VU edible garden
  • Plastic Solutions Project.

In 2020, funds from SSAF went toward projects and benefits that included:

  • Student Life: Student Life programs and events, Clubs, Societies and Student Volunteer Programs
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Counselling Services
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Advocacy Services
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Welfare Services
  • Student Leadership: Student Leadership Programs and Services
  • Student Experience Initiative Grants: Student Experience Initiative Grants managed by Student Life on behalf of the SSAF Consultative Committee)
  • VUSU: Victoria University Student Union and affiliated student associations: (external organisation funding allocation)
  • VUPA: Victoria University Postgraduate Association:
  • VU Sport: Student Sport & Health Services (including Student Facility Grant)
  • Student Communications: Student Media Initiatives
  • Student Services: Student Success & Support Programs
  • Employability and Success: VU Employ Services
  • Office of the PVC Students: Student facility / amenity project grant

For the full list of reported activities, please view the 2020 SSAF Priorities, Grants & Benefits to Students.

In 2019, funds from SSAF went toward projects and benefits such as:

  • Student Life: Student Life programs and events, Clubs, Societies and Student Volunteer Programs
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Counselling Services
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Advocacy Services
  • Student Wellbeing: Student Welfare Services
  • Student Leadership: Student Leadership Programs and Services
  • Student Experience Initiative Grants: Student Experience Initiative Grants (managed by Student Life on behalf of the SSAF Consultative Committee)
  • VUSU: Victoria University Student Union and affiliated student associations (external organisation funding allocation)
  • VU Sport: Student Sport & Health Services
  • Student Communications: Student Media Initiatives
  • Student Services: Student Success & Support Programs
  • Office of the PVC Students: Student facility/amenity project grant.

For the full list of reported activities, please view 2019 Summary of SSAF Priorities, Grants and Benefits to Students.

In 2018, funds from SSAF went towards programs, projects, activities and services that improve the student experience at VU and offer greater support across our many diverse student cohorts. Highlights included:

  • helping students to develop skills for study
  • Delivering new student-led media to assist students to receive information and in the channels they prefer
  • supporting university teams in various competitions endorsed by the Australian University of Sport
  • delivering Orientation and Student Welcome programs
  • Helping students with their financial affairs
  • producing the Student Diary
  • Funding for the Victoria University Student Union (VUSU) to deliver activities funded by SSAF under a service level agreement with VU
  • providing professional counselling services and advocacy support
  • Offering Student Experience Initiative Grants that enable students and staff to deliver activities that improve the student experience; and
  • refurbishing the parenting room at Footscray Park campus.

For the full list of reported activities, please view 2018 Summary of SSAF Priorities, Grants and Benefits to Students.

In 2017, funds from SSAF went toward projects and benefits such as:

  • supporting university teams in various competitions endorsed by the Australian University of Sport
  • producing the Student Diary
  • providing professional counselling services
  • refurbishing the parenting room at Footscray Park campus. 

Read the 2017 Summary of SSAF Priorities, Grants and Benefits to Students.

Funding allocations

The University takes a formula approach to the allocation of SSAF funds and grants each year, which embodies flexible funding arrangements. This approach provides fixed funds as well as short-term funds to pilot initiatives and/or meet a short-term need. It accommodates both need and demand, allowing for greater flexibility in the delivery of SSAF-funded student services and activities.

This model is centrally governed, managed and administered by Students Portfolio on behalf of the University. It includes:

  • base allocation funding for all services currently approved for SSAF; the amount related to activity/service-based costings (the allocation and funding value reviewed annually via Funding Applications and in line with University budget forecasts and business planning)
  • an allocation for initiatives grants
  • capital allowance for the improvement of student amenities by Students Portfolio
  • funding to support student organisations
  • contingency for unexpected growth in usage and/or emerging needs allocation for services not currently funded by SSAF.

Applications for funding and grants each year are considered alongside feedback from students to ascertain allocation priorities. Feedback is provided through:

  • data collection
  • engagement and consultation
  • feedback from the University community.
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Funds contribute to our non-academic support services.

Feedback & questions

We gather feedback through a range of channels and in any year this may include focus groups, surveys, consultative forums, via our Student Leadership Council, online feedback, social media, meetings with student representatives and our students as staff program.

We want to know how you want to see your SSAF allocated.

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