Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory student fee that was created by the Australian Parliament in October 2011. SSAF is your way of contributing to making VU a better place for everyone. It’s designed to be used for non-academic things that benefit all students.
Thanks to your SSAF contribution, we have services like:
- career and financial advice
- student clubs and societies
- counselling
- orientation
- mobile charging facilities
- microwaves and fridges in your student lounges
- exam reviver stations
- campus-run events
- sport and recreational activities.
SSAF means you get a great campus experience, free support services and modern facilities, and that we can focus our funding on improving your learning and teaching experience and investing in cutting edge research.
In 'Your SSAF contribution':
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SSAF Student Experience Initiative Grant
Do you have an idea to make the VU student experience even better? Do you want $500–$10,000 to make it...
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Where your SSAF goes
Find out how the SSAF have been used to provide support services and improved facilities for all stude...
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Tell us how to invest your SSAF
Tell us which services and amenities you want your fee to go towards by completing the form.
Who pays SSAF?
Most enrolled students need to pay SSAF, either as a separate fee or as part of their tuition fees. You can also apply for a loan to pay for your SSAF.
You pay SSAF as a separate fee if you:
- have a Commonwealth-supported place (higher education HECS students)
- belong to the Higher Education and Skills Group – formerly Skills Victoria (funding for TAFE students).
You pay SSAF as part of your tuition fees if you are:
- an international student
- a full-fee student or a fee-for-service student.
You don’t pay SSAF if you are:
- a TAFE student studying fewer than 25 hours per year
- a TAFE student enrolled in the Course in Concurrent Study (code 10103NAT)
- receiving advanced standing for your entire course
- an asylum seeker (referred to the University and sponsored by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre)
- a VU employee on contract for a period of at least 12 months or ongoing on a time fraction of 0.5 or more (see instructions on the Staff Status Declaration).
2017 SSAF fees
| VE/TAFE students | Higher education (HE) domestic students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | $205.80 (government funded students with no concession, studying 541 hours or more per year) |
$147 per semester with a maximum of $294 |
| Part-time | $102.90 (government funded students with no concession, studying 25–540 hours or more per year) |
$73.50 per semester with a maximum of $147.00 |
| Off-campus | $44.10 (students studying off campus) |
n/a |
| Concession | $88.20 (students currently eligible for concession rates on tuition) |
n/a |
Payment due dates
- Semester 1 and 3: 5 January 2017
- Semester 4 and 2: 5 July 2017
When is SSAF paid?
Your SSAF, if you need to pay it, will be itemised on your VU statement of account (SOA). SSAF is charged per academic semester for HE students and on an annual basis for VE/TAFE students.
If you’re an HE student you need to pay or defer SSAF by 31 March and 31 August each year. HE students may apply to defer their SSAF payment by applying for an SA-HELP loan (find out more below).
If you’re a VE/TAFE student, your SSAF is payable as soon as your enrol to begin your studies. VE/TAFE students are not eligible to defer SSAF with a SA-HELP loan.
Applying for a SA-HELP loan
If you’re an HE student you may be eligible to defer your SSAF payment with a SA-HELP loan. You’re eligible if you:
- are an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder resident in Australia
- are a New Zealand special category visa holder who meets the long-term residency requirements
- are enrolled in an eligible course of study with a higher education provider
- meet the tax file number (TFN) requirements.
If you’d like to apply for a SA-HELP loan, please visit a VUHQ to get a copy of the Request for SA-HELP Assistance form. Submit your form at any VUHQ by the following dates:
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31 March for Semester 1
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31 August for Semester 2.
Find out more about SA-HELP loans by visiting the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.
The SSAF Consultative Committee
To make sure that your SSAF is used responsibly, VU created the Student Services and Amenities Fee Consultative Committee. The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Consultative Committee oversees the governance, management and implementation of SSAF-funded initiatives each year. The SSAF Consultative Committee meets bi-monthly to review and discuss all comments received via the SSAF feedback form, and to review submissions for SSAF Student Experience Initiative Grants.
The committee consists of an equal number of students and staff from areas that receive SSAF funding, and is chaired by Naomi Dempsey, Director, Customer Service and Student Communications. See the Terms of Reference for the current list of representatives.
Join the SSAF Consultative Committee
VU values student input into our decision making. The Committee meets bi-monthly and gives students a chance to make recommendations for the distribution of SSAF funds.
Eligibility
- The positions are open to all Victoria Polytechnic and VU students.
- Interested students should read the Terms of Reference of the SSAF Consultative Committee before writing their expression of interest.
Student representation on the SSAF Consultative Committee has been finalised for the period ending August 2017. If you'd like to join the committee in the future, please email ssaf@vu.edu.au for more details.
Feedback & questions
Your input on how you want to see your SSAF allocated is vital to this process. To provide feedback, please speak to the Victoria University Student Union( VUSU) or complete the online SSAF feedback form.
Search the ASKVU knowledge base to find answers or ask a question.
