Student Services Amenities Fees (SSAF) and you
What is SSAF?
At the beginning of October last year (2011), the Australian parliament passed through legislation a new fee that universities and other higher education providers would be able to charge their students. The legislations allows for the fee to be collected to fund student services and amenities of a non academic nature.
Why is it being introduced?
The legislation aims to reverse the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation, introduced by the Howard Government in 2006. VSU took away the ability for universities to charge fees that funded non-academic services such as student unions, sporting, medical and arts programs and other areas viewed as 'non essential'. Its introduction lead to a significant decrease in campus life and the loss of many important welfare, health and social services - for example, RMIT lost its on-campus FREE doctor and nurse service! The introduction of SSAF, while not a full reversal of VSU, should increase access to and improve the quality of current services as well as fund the introduction of new ones.
Who will be charged the SSAF at RMIT?
While no university or higher education provider is being forced to charge the fee, there will be very few (if any) that will choose not to. Universities understand the importance of the services and areas this extra money can be used to fund and so are not likely to refuse to collect the extra revenue.
As to which students will be charged, in theory any student currently enrolled or planning to enrol as of the 1 January 2012 can be charged the fee. Each university can decide at its discretion how different students (i.e. post grad, part time, TAFE) will be charge and how much. This means that institutions can choose to charge students the fee who are studying via distance or externally from the campus. International students are not exempt, as there is nothing in the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS), that prevents them being charged along with local students, assuming notice is given and they are advised in their written agreement with the institution.
RMIT has stated that all students studying at RMIT University Campuses within Australia will be charged however they note there maybe some exceptions.
RMIT have recently indicated that for 2012 only:
- domestic onshore undergraduate students and
- domestic onshore postgraduate HD course work and HDR students will be charged.
However in 2013, RMIT has indicated that they plan to charge all students except
- RMIT English World Wide students and
- Students of RMIT offshore partners
In 2012, many universities including Monash, Deakin and Melbourne are choosing to charge everyone but Latrobe and ACU are choosing not to charge off-campus and international students (this may change in 2013).
How much is the SSAF?
An amount of up to $263/student/year can be charged in 2012, and no more than this in any given year. The amount will be indexed annually based on the Higher Education Grants Index. Part time students can not be charged more than 75% of this amount. At this stage, RMIT has indicated that they will be charging the full amount, as per the legislation.
When will RMIT start to collect SSAF?
RMIT have stated that they plan to levy the fee as of September 2012, so expect to see it on your financial statements as of Semester 2. RMIT is required under law to publish its schedule of fees for Semester 2 by the 1st of April 2012.
How will it be collected?
Most likely you will receive an invoice or it will be listed as part of your liability statement. Whether or not RMIT will choose to charge the full amount at the beginning of every year or spilt the amount over two semesters hasn't been advised at this point.
What if you can't afford to pay it?
Unfortunately it's hard to avoid fees at the best of times; that said the SSAF can be added to your accumulating HELP debt. There is a new SA-HELP loan scheme that has been created to help students who can't afford the upfront payment, or simply wish to defer it until later. Unfortunately not everyone will be eligible for this option. The basic eligibility is;
- be an Australian Citizen or permanent humanitarian visa holder resident in Australia
- be enrolled in a course that leads to a higher education award, enabling course or bridging course for overseas-trained professionals, and
- meet the Tax File Number requirements
This means international students will not be eligible and must pay the SSAF upfront. There is more information available about SA-HELP, how to apply and eligibility at; http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/studyassist/helppayingmyfees/sa-help/pages/sa-help
How can the SSAF be spent?
The fee may be spent by higher education providers on items such as sporting and recreational activities, employment and career advice, child care, financial advice and food services from 2012. There is a long list of exactly what the fee can be spent on according to legislation;
- providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
- 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 the higher education provider's rules (however described);
- advocating students' interests in matters arising under the higher education provider's rules (however described);
- 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.
And only one stipulation on what it can't be spent on;
- Providers must not allow fee revenue to be used to support political parties, or to support the election of a person to a Commonwealth or State or Territory Parliament or local Government body.
NB: There is more on what this means for RUSU Political clubs further down.
The money is meant for students, does this mean students will get a say?
The government certainly hopes this will be the case and has released a draft guideline for how it would like universities or higher education providers to conduct consultation. The guidelines state that institutions will be required to have formal process of consultation with both democratically elected student representatives (in your case RUSU reps) and representatives from other major student organisations at the university about the specific uses of the funds gained from collected the SSAF. RMIT University must also publish the proposed fee expenditure and allow for comments on this from the student body, associations and organisations.
At this stage RMIT has asked for initial comment, feedback and submissions prior to organising and announcing the time and details of its formal consultations and comment period.
RUSU so far has sent an initial submission to the university outlining areas that it thinks they should consider in its funding plan. However the process has just begun and so all students still have opportunity to be part of the decision. We recommend that you contact RUSU via email, Facebook or Twitter with any suggestions, concerns and ideas so that your elected representative can speak as accurately as possibly as the voice of the student body. Go to www.su.rmit.edu.au
How would RUSU like to see the SSAF spent?
In addition to continuing our current services, RUSU will be negotiating for some NEW and exciting SSAF funded projects in 2012 including:
- More Compass Drop-In Centre welfare services and a NEW Compass Lounge area
- More student rights officers on more campuses
- More on-campus child care places for student parents
- A NEW "At Risk" Student Support Program
- NEW volunteer programs such as an O'Week camp
- More money and resources for student run clubs and societies
- On campus services such as a campus function centre and merchandise shop
- A NEW RMIT student events and special offers mobile app
- More resources for free face-to-face counselling and careers advice for students
- More on-campus part-time paid jobs and training for students
What does the legislation mean for RUSU political club funding?
"Providers must not allow fee revenue to be used to support political parties, or to support the election of a person to a Commonwealth or State or Territory Parliament or local Government body. "
Well it's a little unclear the full extent of the clause in the new legislation will have. The one thing we do know is that no clubs grant money will be able to go to directly supporting a political party or person running for election. This means that fundraisers for campaigns, candidates or parties are off the cards, as is paying to have candidates and politicians in to speak during an election period. But whether this means that we can't financially support the club existing at all on campus, well that's different. Most university political clubs are not officially affiliated with the larger entities they champion. Nor is it generally a requirement (and certainly can't be now) that club members are also signed up and paying members of the larger political organisation. A lot of what will be funded through RUSUs Clubs and Societies grant will come down to a case by case look at what the grant application is for. Generally though if you planning on holding an on campus event you shouldn't have to many problems, producing badges with Tony Abbot in budgie smugglers or Julia Gillard's face leading up to an election, probably not.
The NUS has advised that ultimately we won't know the full extent of the clause until some challenges in court and a precedent in law is established. It is best if you do have further queries to direct them towards Jacqueline Out, the RUSU Clubs and Societies Officer (Phone: 9925 3706 or jacqueline.out@rmit.edu.au).
Further information about fees can be found at RMIT's fee page at www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=8i8oqohfyhgk.
