Student services and amenities fee

On 11 October 2011, the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 was passed by the Australian Government.  This legislation allows universities to charge a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee.

Under the legislation the fee may be used to provide students with non-academic support services and amenities such as advocacy, counselling, legal services, orientation, careers advice, employment, child care, financial advice, sporting and recreational activities, as well as independent student representation.  The fee cannot be used for political purposes and/or to support a political party.

The legislation also requires that Universities consult with democratically elected student representatives and representatives from major student organisations on how funds generated by the fee will be allocated and spent.

All students will be given the opportunity to comment and provide feedback on any proposed areas of funding and specific uses of the proceeds from the fee.

The SSAF will apply to all domestic undergraduate and postgraduate students with the exception of students in the following categories:

• Chisholm Institute of TAFE partnership
• ACN Sydney
• La Trobe Melbourne
• APESMA
• Off-shore internationals
• Outbound exchange for the period of off-shore study
• William Blue (Sydney)
• Pure distance education/online (i.e. no on-campus teaching)
• Enabling program
• On-shore internationals

A student is considered to be full-time if, in the SSAF Period in question, they have an aggregate Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL) of 0.375 or more.

A student is considered to be part-time if, in the SSAF Period in question, they have an aggregate Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL) of less than 0.375.

To calculate the aggregate EFTSL for a SSAF Period divide the total credit points for all subjects having a census date within the period by 120. For example 45 credit points is equivalent to 0.375 EFTSL.

Please note: Distance education (i.e. no on-campus teaching), on-line and exchange-out subjects will not be included in the calculation of the aggregate EFTSL for a SSAF Period.

For example:

Peter is enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at the Bendigo Campus. In the first SSAF period Peter is enrolled in four 15 credit point subjects (with an aggregate EFTSL of 0.500), two of which are on-line (with an aggregate EFTSL of 0.250) and two are on-campus (with an aggregate EFTSL of 0.250).

In the second SSAF period Peter is enrolled in four 15 credit point subjects (with an aggregate EFTSL of 0.500), all of which are on-campus. Peter is full-time across the year.

In the first SSAF period Peter will be charged $102 (in 2013), the part-time rate for the SSAF as his aggregate on-campus enrolment is only 0.250 EFTSL.

In the second SSAF period Peter will be charged the full-time rate of $136.50 (in 2013). Peter's entire Student Services and Amenities liability for 2013 will be $238.50.

Australian citizens and holders of Permanent Humanitarian Visas will be eligible to take out a loan for the fee under the SA-HELP scheme, similar to HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP.  All other students will need to pay the fee directly to the University.

Eligible students will be able to fill in an SA-HELP form, which must include a valid Tax File Number, and on 30 June and 31 December each year the debt for the SSAF will be liable to the Government. These are known as the incurral dates.  All students deferring their debt will be issued a Commonwealth Assistance Notice within 28 days of these dates.

SA-HELP forms will be available from local Student Administration Offices.

The SSAF will be charged in two SSAF periods per year: 1 January – 30 June and 1 July – 31 December. The calculation of the fee relates to the aggregate amount of EFTSL a student is enrolled in within the period.

The date that the payment of the SSAF will be due is linked to subject census dates. These dates will also appear on the Statement of Account against the individual subject enrolments.

There are strict rules regarding the distribution of the SSAF. The proceeds from this fee can only be used for the provision of the following services:

• Providing food or drink to students on a campus of the University
• 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 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
• Support 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 the University's rules (however described)
• Advocating students' interests in matters arising under the University's rules (however described)
• Giving students information to help them in their orientation
• Helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment

Universities can choose to deliver the services and amenities themselves or contract a third party to deliver the services and amenities on their behalf. The major third party providers are the La Trobe University Student Union Inc, the Bendigo Student Association Inc. and Wodonga Student Association Inc.

The legislation prohibits the use of the fee to support a political party (a group which has, as one of its objectives, the election of a candidate endorsed by the group or by an organisation of which the group forms a part, to the Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government body).

The University will consult with students and democratically elected student representatives to ensure that they have a proper say in how the SSAF is allocated and spent. At La Trobe, this primarily occurs through student involvement on the Student Services Committee, where elected students from the La Trobe University Student Union Inc., the Bendigo Student Association Inc., the Wodonga Student Association Inc., a representative of the Postgraduate Student Committee and university nominees recommend to senior management of the University on the uses of the fee.

The University also regularly conducts surveys (such as the INSYNC Student Services Surveys) on students to gauge their satisfaction with support services and to identify priorities for future service delivery.  These surveys are administered by the Division of Student Services.

After consultation with students and student representatives the following priorities have been identified for 2013. The priorities are in no particular order:

• Providing substantial funding for independent student advocacy
• Promoting the health and welfare of students
• Provision of personal counselling services
• Establishing new Mental Health Initiatives
• Assisting and helping students obtain employment and/or advice on careers
• Provision of information and support to students experiencing financial difficulties
• Improving sports facilities on-campus
• Supporting Sports Programs including funding for sporting clubs
• Supporting the administration of student clubs and societies
• Providing on campus Child Care and subsidised child care fees for students
• Provision of legal services
• Supporting student media including the student newspaper Rabelais
• Providing student accident insurance
• Supporting an Orientation Program for students
• Supporting student artistic and creative activities such as Student Theatre and Film production
• Providing social, cultural and recreational activities and events
• Supporting student organisations and bodies
• Capital renewal and maintenance of student facilities and amenities

All students are welcome to provide their views, comments or feedback on the proposed SSAF expenditure priorities by e-mailing student-services@latrobe.edu.au

The list of proposed expenditure priorities are listed above.

Further information about the SSAF is available through our FAQ site and via the Government's Study Assist site.

For general administrative information (e.g. how is the fee calculated), please contact the La Trobe University Student Hub on (03) 9479 2005 or email fees@latrobe.edu.au