STUDENT SERVICES AND AMENITIES FEE 2016
SUBMISSIONS FOR FUNDING AND FUNDS MANAGEMENT
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Steering Committee is inviting staff to make
submissions for available SSAF funds.
Responsibility for the overall management of CSU SSAF funds rests with the Office for Students.
This document provides:

an overview of Government requirements associated with these funds;

the University processes for submissions for new initiatives;

an overview on the 2015 student survey results; and

the University processes for management of SSAF funds.
GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the Student Services, Amenities, Representation and Advocacy Guidelines is to
specify the requirements for student services and representation as contemplated at section 19-67 of
the Act. From 1 January 2012, higher education providers can charge a fee for student services and
amenities of a non-academic nature. In 2016 CSU will be charging $36 per 8 point subject with a
maximum annual fee capped at $288 per student. Students can pay the student and services
amenities fee upfront if they wish.
Eligible students who are unable to pay the fee upfront, can request assistance from the
Commonwealth and defer the fee through a new element of the Higher Education Loan Program
(HELP) known as SA-HELP.
Universities who receive funding through the Commonwealth Grant Scheme need to ensure they
meet the Student Services, Amenities, Representation and Advocacy Guidelines. The Guidelines
ensure students are provided with information on health, welfare, financial and other services and
have opportunities to participate in democratic processes for student representation. This
legislative instrument came into effect on 1 January 2012. For more information, please see the link
below.
https://education.gov.au/student-services-and-amenities-fee
UNIVERSITY PROCESSES FOR SSAF PROJECT SUBMISSIONS
New initiatives for 2016 will be considered in a formal process involving the SSAF Steering
Committee. The process will be conducted across November/December 2015 (see below for
timelines).
06/10/2015
Call for staff proposals
13/11/2015
Proposals for 2016 close
December 2015
SSAF Steering Committee review proposals and allocate funding
December 2015 January 2016
Project Proposers notified of submission outcomes and Budget allocation
It is important to note that the attached template (appendix A) must be used to construct and submit
proposals for SSAF funding. This will assist with the assessment of submissions.
The SSAF steering committee is keen to see proposals that lead to a long-term effect, i.e., are
sustainable beyond funding. The committee will also be seeking to allocate funds in ways that
ensure an equitable impact for the diverse student body at CSU. For instance, when drafting a
proposal it is important to remember that 60% of our students study in distance models of
education, and 14% in mixed mode.
If your initiative incorporates a significant Information Technology component then it is possible
that the activity will be undertaken as part of the Initiatives and Strategy Implementation (ISIP)
Plan. This is particularly the case if implementation requires the involvement of project delivery
and technical staff and whilst SSAF may fund the project, it may be treated as an ISIP project and
overseen by the ISIP Governance Committee. The ISIP prioritsation and planning process ensures
that ICT-related projects, that have an enterprise impact, are approved and scheduled such that the
use of project delivery resources are optimised and priority is given to those activities that secure
the most strategic benefit.
If SSAF funding is secured, and the initiative qualifies as an ISIP project, you will still need to
submit an ISIP initiative. This information provides further detail regarding ISIP.
Infrastructure proposals/ideas may also be submitted as a part of this submission round. Please note
that several projects are currently identified and under discussion with the Division of Facilities
Management and therefore resubmission is not required. If you wish to get further information on
this, please contact ssaf@csu.edu.au
2015 STUDENT SURVERY RESULTS
In July 2015 a wide scale student survey was designed and implemented. The survey was opened
to all SSAF paying students across CSU. The survey sought to assess student need (as measured
against the 19 areas of expenditure, set out by the Government’s criteria), as well as understand the
levels of awareness of SSAF and student sentiments regrading SSAF.
Key recommendations from the survey included:
1. People interested in studying at CSU and applicants should be made aware of the
requirement to pay Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF), and that this is a
government requirements with all Universities required to charge this fee.
2. All students receiving an invoice for SSAF should also receive a brochure outlining the use
of SSAF at CSU.
3. A communication plan should be in place to ensure that each year students are informed of
the use of SSAF, and the way in which SSAF expenditure is determined.
4. A campaign targeted at Distance Education students should be used to ensure that these
students are aware of SSAF projects focussed on their experience.
5. Projects in 2016/17 should focus on students leading preferences, and this ranking should be
reassessed in 2018.
6. All SSAF projects should be branded in order to ensure that students are able to see personal
impact of these funds.
Student preferences for SSAF expenditure were ranked as a part of this survey. The top 5 were:
1. Careers Advice
2. Developing Study Skills
3. Health and Welfare Services
4. Library Facilities
5. Orientation
For further information, please contact ssaf@csu.edu.au
UNIVERSITY PROCESSES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SSAF FUNDS.
Projects successfully funded under SSAF will have funds transferred to:




FUND code A318 which identifies the source of funds as SSAF. A318 should be used for
all expenditure associated with a SSAF funded project.
ORGN code that relates to the unit managing the program and as agreed by the Office for
Students.
ACCOUNT 640 will be used to identify the income. Funds will be allocated at the start of
each year as per the standard budget load process.
PROGRAM. A specific program code will be provided (i.e. not a pre-existing general
program code) as advised/agreed with the Office for Students. The program code should be
used for all expenditure associated with the SSAF funded project.
If expenses are incurred on any other combination of codes, project managers will require
authorisation from the Office for Students to journal expenses to the SSAF codes.
Regular staffing costs for individuals (as agreed in the project budget submission for 2016)
identified for the project can be expensed directly to the FUND, ORGN and program codes by
request to hr@csu.edu.au. Requests should include staff details and relevant timelines. Please note
that this detail will need to be rectified with Human Resources once the project has ceased, if the
person is to remain employed by the University.
SSAF funds are allocated to specific SSAF projects and their associated accounts. This means that
funds may not be transferred from one project to another project or to other accounts without prior
approval from the Office for Students.
Budget Management & Reporting Responsibilities
Please be advised that:
 SSAF funds are absolute. This means that any overspend will need to be covered by funds
from other sources (i.e.: from the funds allocated to the unit/division or faculty in which
that project resides). If a project exceeds the allocated SSAF funding, the project manager
is responsible for securing unit/division/faculty funding for any amount overspent.
 Whilst roll-over of SSAF funds is allowed, the Office for Students seeks to ensure that there
are not large amounts in surplus at the end of the year. The purpose of regular half yearly
reporting is to identify possible surpluses to enable the University to appropriately expend
the full amount of SSAF funding in a timely fashion. Close monitoring of the SSAF budget
vs actual spent will enable early identification of potential SSAF surpluses and action
including roll up to assist the University to achieve this outcome.
 If a project does not expend all the SSAF funding allocated, any remaining monies that have
been allocated to that year will be transferred back to central allocations at year end unless
other arrangements have been authorised by the SSAF Steering Committee. The critical
point in budget/actual monitoring is a mid-year review that will take place in July 2016
For any questions with regards to the completion of this submission, please contact
ssaf@csu.edu.au
Appendix A
SSAF - SUBMISSION FOR FUNDING
Title
<<name of project>>
Proposer
<<name of person responsible for project>>
Proposer’s affiliation
<<location of proposer’s work unit, campus etc>>
Endorsement by portfolio
Lead
Yes
Project Description
<< project overview – max 400 words>>
No
Project Outcomes
Student outcomes <<identify anticipated types of student outcomes (see below) by mode
of study and / or location/course>>
Strategic impact <<identify in what way the project will directly impact on CSU’s
strategic plan>>
Strategic enabling <<identify in what way the project will enable CSU’s strategic plan>>
Organisational impact <<identify the types of impact the project will have on the
organisation>>
Evaluation
<<identify how achievement of project outcomes will be determined>>
Alignment with Government
requirements
<<identify in what way the project aligns with the Government
guidelines for SSAF (see below)>>
Alignment with existing
initiatives
<<identify, if any, existing 2015 services/projects that this project
augments >>
Previous SSAF Projects
<<identify any previous SSAF projects, budgets and any amendments to
the proposal if this proposal is similar>>
Budget and milestones
Milestones and Timelines
<<list the milestones and key timelines for the project>>
Budget (Salary/Non-salary)
<<provide a project budget, including salary and non-salary expenditure.
Include notes to identify how these link to the student outcomes. If
possible, it would be useful to include an approximate $ value per
student.>>
Sustainability Statement
<<indicate what occurs post funding e.g., project ceases; project
initiatives absorbed into standard operating processes and funding etc>>
APPENDIX B
SSAF EXPENDITURE – GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS
(Accessed here: https://education.gov.au/student-services-and-amenities-fee#spending-revenue-fromthe-fee )
A provider that charges a student services and amenities fee will only be able to spend the fee on
the provision of the following services:
a.
providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
b.
supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students;
c.
supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students;
d.
caring for children of students;
e.
providing legal services to students;
f.
promoting the health or welfare of students;
g.
helping students secure accommodation;
h.
helping students obtain employment or advice on careers;
i.
helping students with their financial affairs;
j.
helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents;
k.
supporting debating by students;
l.
providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for
students;
m.
supporting an artistic activity by students;
n.
supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided
by students;
o.
helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study
in which they are enrolled;
p.
advising on matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described);
q.
advocating students’ interests in matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules
(however described);
r.
giving students information to help them in their orientation; and
s.
helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare,
accommodation and employment.