Where your SSAF goes

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.

What has SSAF been allocated to in 2024?

All funds were allocated in adherence with the Student Services & Amenities Fee Governance and Management Framework.

Student Services & Amenities Fee Governance & Management Framework (PDF, 929.56 KB)

: At the commencement of the 2023 year, VU anticipates SSAF revenue will be approximately $5.86 million. VU SSAF funds have been allocated as listed below:
Student Life: Student Life & leadership programs and events, Clubs, Societies and Student Volunteer Programs $1.58m
Student Wellbeing:
Student Counselling Services $949k
Student Advocacy Services $197k
Student Welfare Services $368k
Student Experience Initiative Grants: Student Experience Initiative Grants (approved by a panel made up of student and staff members from the Consultative Committee) $59k
VUSU: Victoria University Student Union and affiliated student associations (external organisation funding allocation) $471k
VUPA: Victoria University Postgraduate Association: $70k
Student Representative Organisation Support: $34k
VU Sport: Student Sport & Health Services $678k
Student Services: Student Success & Support Programs $370k
VU Careers Hub ( previously known as Employability and Success) $543k
For the full list of reported activities, please read the 2023 Allocation Report.
2023 Allocation Report - VU SSAF (PDF, 256.32 KB)
: 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.
2022 SSAF priorities, grants and benefits (PDF, 284.45 KB)
: 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
24 VU student teams were at the University Basketball League.
815 students participated in weekly on–campus social sports.
92 students were inducted into VU’s Elite Athlete program.
300 students participated in sport clubs.
205 students expressed interest in the Unisports Nationals.
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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Where your SSAF goes

What has SSAF been allocated to in 2024?

VU Student Unions & Associations

VU Sport

Student Services

VU Employ

Student Experience Initiatives Grants

Employability

VU community

Innovation

Planetary Health

Funding allocations

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