Use of the Student Services and Amenities Fee

The Vice-Chancellor has approved the allocation of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds in 2020 as recommended by SSAF Budget Advisory Committee following its consultation process with students.

The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee comprises 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 mental health and wellbeing 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 2020 SSAF budget requests

In September 2019, all students were invited to complete the 2019 SSAF Survey. The survey was open from 10.9.19 to 20.9.19.  21,641 survey invitations were sent and 2,524 students participated in the survey (11.6% response rate). The results are summarised in the 2019 Student Services & Amenities Fee Survey.  

The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee considered the results from this survey when deliberating on how to allocate funds for 2020.  The SSAF Budget Advisory Committee would like to thank all students who participated in the survey and provided extremely valuable feedback, in addition to ranking the bids for 2020 SSAF funds.  Careful consideration will be given as to how the feedback will guide services into the future.

View the list of funded applications in 2020 and previously approved allocations for 2019.

The Committee recommended:

• $2,191,000 to the Flinders University Student Association to fund student advocacy and welfare ($415,000), student engagement ($1,341,000), clubs and societies ($176,000), communications and media ($182,000) and the student council ($77,000)
• $925,000 for Health, Counselling and Disability initiatives including $130,000 towards the eMental health strategy, $79,000 for initiatives to address and prevent sexual harassment and assault, $216,000 for Oasis student wellbeing programs and $470,000 for enhanced counselling services.
• $601,000 for sports and recreation activities coordinated by Flinders Sport and Fitness.
• $458,000 for Careers and Employability programs including the Horizon award ($102,000), a graduate skill development program ($107,000), and enhanced employer engagement ($124,000) and 24/7 access to LinkedIn Learning for all students ($125,000).
• $298,000 for the Student Learning Centre including $149,000 for student learning skills programs and $149,000 for a 24/7 online academic language assistance program.
• $226,000 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 2020 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 2021.