In January 2012, the Student Services and Amenities Fee was introduced for students at all Australian universities, including UniSC. This fee is a result of the Federal Government passing the Student Services and Amenities Fee Legislation on 11 October 2011.
This legislation allows all universities to charge students for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature, such as sporting and recreational activities, employment and career advice, child care, financial advice and food services.
In 2023 the the maximum Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) that can be charged to a student will be A$326.
All of the Student Services and Amenities Fee funds will be used for improving student services and facilities, and in accordance with the funding guidelines. All students are invited annually to comment on the types of services and facilities that will be funded through the SSAF.
The University allocates Student Services and Amenities Funds in accord with the guidelines. Where Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds are allocated to University-provided services they make a contribution component to those services.
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2022 SSAF Priorities |
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Advocacy and welfare |
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Academic skills and online academic support |
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Campus amenities and comfortable study space |
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Campus life and sporting facilities |
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Career development and employability |
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Student governance and leadership |
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Student wellbeing and accessibility |
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Subsidised food and services |
| SSAF Expenditure | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (Projected) |
| Advising on matters arising under the HEP rules and advocating students interests arising under the HEP rules | $369,000 | $359,556 | $568,200 |
| Helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment | $107,000 | $309,714 | $300,000 |
| Helping students develop skills for study | $1,731,000 | $1,622,942 | $1,390,383 |
| Helping students obtain employment or advice on careers | $161,000 | $154,857 | $150,000 |
| Helping students with their financial affairs | $62,000 | $158,345 | $412,700 |
| On campus food & drink to students | $139,000 | $254,444 | $299,000 |
| Promoting the health & welfare of students | $457,000 | $380,067 | $372,999 |
| Providing libraries and reading rooms for students | $18,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Student orientation | $313,000 | $506,567 | $646,720 |
| Supporting administration of a club where students are members | $315,000 | $433,000 | $430,000 |
| Supporting student sporting activity | $67,000 | $132,856 | $244,609 |
| Grand Total | $3,739,000 | $4,352,348 | $4,814,611 |
Consultation process and schedule for 2023 SSAF priorities
All Student Services and Amenities Fee funds are used to enhance or extend student services and facilities in accordance with funding guidelines. Each year, all students, and democratically elected student representatives, will be invited to provide input about the types of services and facilities that will be funded through the SSAF. Feedback collected through the annual consultation process will inform decisions about how SSAF funds are allocated in the following year.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) is responsible for determining the annual allocations of Student Services and Amenities Fees, with consideration given to existing commitments and projected revenue. The UniSC Student Guild and the Student Representative Council are the democratically elected student representative bodies of the University of the Sunshine Coast; and the Director, Student Services and Engagement, is responsible for managing the consultation process with students and their representatives.
| Consultation process activities | Action |
|---|---|
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UniSC Student Guild, Student Senate, and other student groups invited to review current initiatives and propose new SSAF priorities. |
October |
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Student feedback reviewed by Student Guild, Student Senate, and PVC (Students) and recommendations made for 2023. |
January |
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Priorities published on SSAF information web page. |
March |
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Students and student groups are also welcome to provide views on the current year SSAF expenditure, and submit proposals, at any time via email to the Director, Student Services and Engagement. Feedback received through this avenue will be considered as part of the consultation for the following year’s SSAF allocation. |
Ongoing |
UniSC will levy the SSAF charge according to the total enrolment load of a student.
- In 2023 the maximum SSAF is A$326
For more information on the breakdown of 2023 SSAF please refer to 2023 Schedule of Fees.
All students, including international students (with the exception of the student groups listed below) enrolled in a UniSC study period will pay the SSAF.
For international students, these costs have been included within the International Tuition Fee rates. UniSC will internally transfer the SSAF amount to the Student Services and Amenities account.
In 2023 the following groups of students will not pay SSAF:
- Tertiary Preparation Pathway (TPP)
- Headstart Program
- Cross Institutional Enrolments (where UniSC is the host institution)
- Visiting students
- Executive Master of Business Administration Program
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is due by the fee due date of each study period. Refer to the Academic Calendar for key administrative dates or generate your student invoice in USC Central to view the fee due dates, your SSAF charge and payment options.
There may be some study periods where you may not be charged SSAF, as your cumulative enrolment will be under the threshold for the next SSAF increment. For more information on the breakdown of 2023 SSAF please refer to 2023 Schedule of Fees.
To check if you have been charged SSAF for the study period please generate an invoice.
You will be able to view your SSAF charges on your student invoice in USC Central. If you change your enrolment you will need to generate a new invoice to view your amended charges.
SA-HELP Loan
Australian citizens, eligible New Zealand citizens and holders of a Permanent Humanitarian Visa residing in Australia are eligible for a SA-HELP loan for SSAF charges. SA-HELP is available under a HELP scheme, similar to HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP. For more information refer to SA-HELP.
Remission of SA-HELP debts after the applicable Census date are not available.
Up-front payment
All other students, including Permanent Visa holders (other than Permanent Humanitarian Visas), are required to pay the fee directly to the University on or before the due date. Refer to the Academic Calendar for key administrative dates, or generate your student invoice in USC Central to see fee due dates.
Refunds of SSAF payments will not be available for withdrawals made after the applicable Census dates.
In 2022 the Student Services and Amenities Fee supported a range of services and initiatives across the University.
Highlights included:
- Delivery of major transition events including Orientation and Connect Week.
- On campus subsidised food scheme to support financial welfare, while providing healthy affordable food items.
- Delivery of the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Student Experience Mentor program.
- High performance Student Athlete Bursary program offering an offset to offset the costs associated with successfully balancing high performance sporting commitments with higher education at UniSC.
- Continued expansion of UniSC’s Student Senate Framework.
- Regular student engagement and events/activities across all campuses.
It is noted that from 2023, a SSAF Advisory Committee at UniSC has been established. The SSAF Advisory Committee is to function as a broad, representative, and consultative group of staff and student members that review SSAF allocations and applications on behalf of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students).
Please direct any enquiries to SSAFapplications@usc.edu.au.
Stay informed
Further information on the SSAF, including the implementation and consultation process, will be provided. Check this page periodically for updates.
Keep up to date on the SSAF by:
- checking your UniSC student emails at least twice a week
- reviewing the To Do list in USC Central for instructions on how to apply for SA-HELP or electing to pay your SSAF up front
More information
SA-HELP information booklets are available on the Study Assist website.