Student Services Amenities Fee (SSAF)

Background
Liable student types
SSAF charges and due dates 2012
Expenditure of SSAF and consultation with students
SSAF Funds distribution 2012
SA-HELP
Refunds

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Background

In October 2011, the Australian Parliament passed the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill, allowing universities to charge students a compulsory annual fee to fund services and amenities of a non-academic nature.

ACU introduced the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from Semester 1, 2012.

Visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website for more details on the SSAF.

Liable student types

In 2012, the following categories of students are liable for the SSAF:

• All Commonwealth supported students
• Fee-paying undergraduate students enrolled in an award course

In 2012, the following categories of students are not be liable for the SSAF:

• Postgraduate fee-paying students
• Students enrolled in non-award units or cross-institutional units
• Research students
• International students.
  

SSAF charges and due dates 2012

Student Load	Fee
Full-time students	$131 per half year ($262 annually)
Part-time students	$98 per half year ($196 annually)

The SSAF is calculated on each half-year enrolment.

• All unit enrolments with census date between 1 January and 31 March were charged in Semester 1.
• All unit enrolment with census date after 31 March and before 31 December will be charged in Semester 2.

The SSAF is shown on your fees invoice. Payment of the SSAF is the same as the due dates published for Semesters 1 and 2.

Visit Billing Cycle 2012 for further information.

Expenditure of the SSAF and consultation with students

The SSAF may be spent on activities of a non-academic nature, such as:

• providing food or drink to students on campus;
• supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students;
• supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students;
• caring for children of students;
• providing legal services to students;
• promoting the health or welfare of students;
• helping students secure accommodation;
• helping students obtain employment or advice on careers;
• helping students with their financial affairs;
• helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents;
• supporting debating by students;
• providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students;
• supporting an artistic activity by students;
• supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students;
• helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled;
• advising on matters arising under ACU's rules;
• advocating students' interests in matters arising under ACU's rules;
• giving students information to help them in their orientation; and
• helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment.

A formal consultation process with representatives of the student body (ACUNSA) took place in late 2011 and all students were invited to participate. The feedback from this survey and the list of priority expenditures have now been published. Students will also be given the opportunity to comment on the priorities and services during 2012.

SSAF Funds Distribution 2012

To view the funding priorities, visit Funds Distribution 2012.

SA-HELP

Eligible students may choose to defer the SSAF to the Australian Taxation Office.

Your application for SA-HELP must be made by the payment due date of that particular study period.

To be eligible for SA-HELP you must:

• be an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder resident in Australia;
• be enrolled in a course of study (including bridging study for overseas-trained professionals) with a higher education provider;
• meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements, and
• complete, sign and submit a Request for SA-HELP assistance form by the fee payment due date.

Applications for SA-HELP can be made via the 'My Fees' tab in Student Connect, and must be submitted by the due date for your tuition fees.

Refunds

If you withdraw from unit(s) after the due date for payment, you may still be liable for the SSAF. Amounts deferred to the ATO through SA-HELP will not be refunded.

For further information, access the SA-HELP Information for 2012 booklet or visit Study Assist.