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What is the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)?

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

CQUniversity introduced a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from Term 1, 2012.

Please visit the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) website for more details on the SSAF.

What can the fee be used for?

The University may spend the SSAF 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 CQUniversity’s rules
  • advocating students' interests in matters arising under CQUniversity’s rules
  • giving students information to help them in their orientation
  • helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment

What have students indicated they want?

In November 2011 a survey was sent to all active CQUniversity students as part of the consultation process. Formal consultation has also commenced with representatives from the CQUni Student Association. Feedback from the survey has indicated that students place a high importance on the following areas:

  • giving students information to help them in their orientation
  • advising on matters arising under CQUniversity’s rules
  • advocating students' interests in matters arising under CQUniversity’s rules
  • helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled
  • supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students
  • providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students
  • helping students with their financial affairs
  • helping students obtain employment or advice on careers
  • helping students secure accommodation

New projects, programs and services are currently being created to cater to these identified needs. Some services and programs will be provided through the CQUni Student Association, others will be provided by the University. All fees from the SSAF will be allocated entirely to student services and amenities at CQUniversity.

Who pays the fee and how much is it?

In 2013 students will be charged a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) to a maximum of $270 over a maximum of two terms per academic year. The fee is payable by all students in award programs; e.g. Bachelor of Business, Graduate Diploma of Maintenance Management and Doctor of Philosophy and will be charged at:

• $135 per term for full-time students (students enrolled in 0.375 EFTSL* or more per term) 

• $101 per term for part-time students (students enrolled in 0.374 EFTSL* or less per term) 

*EFTSL (Equivalent Full Time Student Load) is detailed on your Enrolment Advice in CQUcentral.

The due date for payment is Census Date of each Term (please refer to the Calendar of Principal Dates). The fee will show on your individual fee notice available in CQUcentral.

Can I defer the fee or get a loan?

SA-HELP

Eligible students who do not wish to pay the SSAF upfront can request Commonwealth assistance and defer the fee through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) known as SA-HELP.

Eligible students may choose to:

  • pay the full amount of the SSAF upfront
  • pay some of the SSAF upfront and defer the balance to be repaid through the Australian Taxation Office
  • defer the entire amount to be repaid through the Australian Taxation Office

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 program of study with CQUniversity
  • meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements, and
  • complete, sign and submit a ‘Request for SA-HELP application form’ by the Census Date of the first term that you choose to defer

Applications for SA-HELP can be made by filling out a ‘Request for SA-HELP application form’ online via CQUcentral. Forms must be submitted by the due date for your payment (Census Date each term - please refer to the Calendar of Principal Dates).

For further information about SA-HELP please access the SA-HELP information booklet for 2013 or visit Study Assist.

Student Loans

Loans are available for currently enrolled domestic students of CQUniversity to help pay your Student Services and Amenities Fee.

For information about eligibility for a student loan, related policies, conditions and application forms, please refer to the Policy website and search for ‘Special Assistance for Students – Student Loan Scheme Policy.’ If you have further queries, please contact us by filling in the Help Me eForm or by phoning 13 27 86.

Additional Information

Please note that unlike HECS-HELP, the SSAF is not refundable in situations where students are approved for Removal of Financial Liability after the Census Date.

Students do not have to apply for SA-HELP if they intend to pay the SSAF upfront. However, if a student intends to defer their SSAF via SA-HELP (either in part or full) they must submit a ‘Request for SA-HELP application form’ by Census Date. If this form is not submitted by Census Date, and an upfront payment is not received, the outstanding fee will not be deferred to be repaid through the Australian Taxation Office. The outstanding fee will be classed as an unpaid debt and will go through the University Collections process. Please refer to the Policy website and search for ‘Collections Policy’ for further details. If this occurs it may impact on your study.