Use of the Student Services and Amenities Fee

The Vice-Chancellor has approved the allocation of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds in 2018 as recommended by SSAF Budget Advisory Committee following its consultation process with students.

The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee comprises of the following:

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) (Chair);
• President, Flinders University Student Association;
• General Secretary, Flinders University Student Association;
• Student member, nominated by the Student Council, Flinders University Student Association;
• Director, Student Services;
• Chief Financial Officer (or nominee);
• A senior academic or professional staff member at the College level, appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students);
• Manager, Student Engagement (non-voting).

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds a wide range of student services and amenities, including advocacy and welfare services, financial counselling and assistance, clubs and societies, sport and recreational activities, student media, student transition and retention programs and expanded services offered by the Student Learning Centre, Health Counselling and Disability Services, and the Careers and Employer Liaison Centre.

Further information on SSAF, including the services and amenities that are permitted to be funded under Commonwealth legislation can be found at student services and amenities fee. 

View the Procedures for the Development and Approval of the Student Services and Amenities Fee Budget.

The University is mindful that some Bedford Park-based services and amenities are less accessible to students studying elsewhere or fully online. Some SSAF funding is being expended to facilitate greater off-campus accessibility, and off-campus students continue to pay a significantly reduced SSAF.

Student Consultation on the 2018 SSAF Budget Requests

In September 2017, all students were invited to complete the 2017 SSAF Survey. The survey was open for 15 days from the 25.9.17 to the 9.10.17. 22,295 survey invitations were sent and 3,003 students participated in the survey (13.5% response rate).

The results are summarised in the 2017 Student Services & Amenities Fee Survey - Report (PDF 159KB) . The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee considered the results from this survey when deliberating on how to allocate funds for 2018. The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee would like to thank all students who completed the survey and provided feedback. 

View the final list of funding allocations for the expenditure of the SSAF in 2018.

The Committee recommended:

• $2,096,600 to FUSA to fund student advocacy and welfare ($538,000), student engagement ($1,061,150), clubs and societies ($192,000), communications and media ($295,450) and the student council ($10,000)
• $751,624 for Health, Counselling and Disability initiatives including $130,624 towards the eMental health strategy, $75,000 for initiatives to address and prevent sexual harassment and assault and $383,000 for enhanced counselling services.
• $605,800 for Flinders One sports and recreation activities.
• $535,000 for Careers and Employability programs including the Horizon award ($102,000), Ignite professional mentoring program ($116,000) and enhanced employer engagement ($121,000).
• $467,560 for the Student Learning Centre including $352,560 for academic advisors, $50,000 for a peer mentoring pilot program, and $65,000 for a 24/7 online academic assistance program.
• An allocation of $20,000 per College to support orientation, transition and retention strategies.
• $271,040 towards a range of other student support programs across Colleges and central support areas.

The Flinders University Student Association will be holding regular student forums and other consultative mechanisms during 2018 to hear further from students regarding the expenditure of SSAF funds in the future.

Please watch this space for information regarding a process for student feedback regarding SSAF expenditure for 2019.