How FUSA uses the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
The Student Services and Amenities Fee, usually called SSAF, helps fund services and activities that support students outside their formal coursework.
At FUSA, SSAF funding supports independent advocacy, financial counselling, student representation and leadership, clubs, events, campaigns, student media and the day-to-day support that helps students connect with university life.
This page explains FUSA’s share of SSAF funding and what students receive through each program area. For the rest of where SSAF goes across Flinders University, visit the University’s SSAF use-of-funds webpage.
What FUSA’s SSAF funding supports
FUSA’s SSAF allocation is used across seven program areas. Each area supports a different part of student life, but together they help create a student experience that is more connected, supported and student-led.
Support - Academic advocacy, financial counselling, Emergency Financial Assistance and welfare support.
Connection - Orientation, events, campaigns, clubs and campus activations that help students meet people and feel part of university life.
Voice - Student representation and leadership, Student Council and leadership opportunities that help students contribute to decisions across Flinders.
Culture - Student media, communications, campaigns and creative student-led activity, including Empire Times.
2025 impact snapshot
What SSAF helped FUSA deliver in 2025
SSAF funding supported practical services, student-led activity and independent representation across FUSA. These highlights show how funding translated into support, connection, leadership and campus culture.
1,607
Advocacy and financial counselling support actions
including appointments, document reviews and tailored advice.
4,584
Service interactions
including appointments, document reviews and tailored advice.
$37,545
Emergency support distributed
through food vouchers, food parcels and transport assistance.
13,447
Students attended events
including Orientation, campus activations and student-led activities.
1,424
Club events and activities
registered by affiliated student clubs across the year.
$130,042
Club grants approved
to support student-led events, projects and activities.
401
Topic and Course Reps
supported and trained across all Colleges, including new cohorts at the City Campus and in the Northern Territory.
22
New clubs
Totalling 97 registered clubs, including a broad range of academic, social justice and political, cultural and special interest clubs.
$40,000
Development Grants allocated
across 77 grants supporting students to access professional and personal development opportunities.
2026 FUSA SSAF funding snapshot
In 2026, FUSA has been allocated $2.702 million in SSAF funding across seven program areas. This represents 42.2% of forecast 2026 SSAF funds. You can learn about the allocations to other university services here.
Based on approximately 22,500 currently enrolled students, this is roughly $120 per enrolled student across FUSA’s 2026 SSAF-funded programs.
Budget breakdown for FUSA
Program breakdown
Select a program area to view its 2026 allocation, impact summary and funding details.
Academic Advocacy and Financial Counselling
In 2025, FUSA supported 1,607 student matters through academic advocacy and financial counselling, delivering 4,584 service interactions. This included support with 918 academic issues, 689 financial issues, and $37,545 in Emergency Financial Assistance for students.
2026 allocation: $547,000
Approx. $24.31 per enrolled student
This funding supports independent, confidential and student-centred advocacy and welfare services.
It helps fund:
- academic advocacy, including support with appeals, re-marks, grade reviews, academic progress issues and academic integrity matters
- financial counselling, Emergency Financial Assistance, budgeting support, welfare support and grants
- practical referrals to community services and external agencies
- support for students experiencing financial hardship
- work with university staff and stakeholders to identify and respond to systemic issues affecting students
Orientation, Events and Campaigns
In 2025, FUSA events reached 13,447 students, including Orientation, campus activations, wellbeing campaigns and student-led initiatives. Fair Day activities across campuses attracted approximately 4,900 students.
2026 allocation: $909,000
Approx. $40.40 per enrolled student
This funding supports events, activities and campaigns that help students connect, participate and feel part of the Flinders community.
It helps fund:
- Orientation and O’Week activities
- campus activations and student events
- student wellbeing, inclusion and belonging campaigns
- engagement across Bedford Park, City Campus, regional, external and online cohorts
- major events such as Uni Ball
- student-facing digital content and social media campaigns
- creative student partnerships and collaborations
Student Representation and Leadership
In 2025, FUSA supported 401 Course and Topic Representatives across every College and allocated $40,000 in Development Grants across 77 grants to support student development and leadership.
2026 allocation: $365,000
Approx. $16.22 per enrolled student
This funding supports students to have a stronger voice in university decision-making.
It helps fund:
- student representation across university committees, colleges, portfolios and working groups
- recruitment, training and support for student representatives
- student leadership development
- Student-Led Teaching Awards
- Development Grants
- student-staff partnership work
- support for First Nations student leadership and culturally safe engagement
FUSA Administration and Service Desk
2026 allocation: $433,000
Approx. $19.24 per enrolled student
This funding supports the operational work that allows FUSA programs and services to run effectively.
It helps fund:
- front-line reception and student enquiries
- support for students online, by phone and in person
- staff management and program oversight
- financial management and SSAF acquittal
- work health and safety monitoring
- governance and reporting support
- continuous improvement across FUSA programs
Clubs and Associations
In 2025, FUSA supported 97 active student clubs to deliver 1,424 registered events and activities, with $130,042 in club grants approved to support student-led activity across Flinders.
2026 allocation: $349,000
Approx. $15.51 per enrolled student
This funding supports the student clubs community and the students who lead it.
It helps fund:
- grants for club events and activities
- governance, finance, WHS and event support
- training and development for club leaders
- club promotion and storytelling
- handover and succession planning
- resources and guidance for safe, effective club management
Empire Times / Student Media
2026 allocation: $55,000
Approx. $2.44 per enrolled student
This funding supports student media, Empire Times Magazine and student-led communications and creative publishing.
It helps fund:
- Empire Times Magazine production and distribution
- support for student editors, writers, contributors and creative student media activity
- student media training, mentoring and publishing support
- student-led communications, campaigns and creative content
- media activity that reflects student voices and campus culture
Student Council
2026 allocation: $44,000
Approx. $1.96 per enrolled student
This funding supports FUSA’s elected student body and student-led governance.
It helps fund:
- Student Council meetings and representative work
- student-led decision-making and oversight
- portfolio activity across student issues
- consultation and accountability processes
- support for elected student representatives
What about the future?
Each year, students are invited to provide feedback on SSAF priorities. That feedback helps inform future planning and gives students a chance to say what services, programs and activities matter most to them. To learn more about that, please visit the SSAF Schedule webpage.
FUSA supports clearer information about SSAF so students can better understand what is currently funded before they are asked about future priorities.
| FUSA program/area | 2026 allocation | Approx. per enrolled student |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Advocacy and Financial Counselling | $547,000 | $24.31 |
| Student-focused Orientation, Events and Campaigns | $909,000 | $40.40 |
| Student Representation and Leadership | $365,000 | $16.22 |
| FUSA Administration and Service Desk | $433,000 | $19.24 |
| Student Clubs and Associations | $349,000 | $15.51 |
| Student Media, Empire Times Magazine | $55,000 | $2.44 |
| FUSA Student Council | $44,000 | $1.96 |
| Total FUSA SSAF allocation | $2,702,000 | $120.09 |
Have feedback or ideas?
Thanks for taking the time to read about how FUSA uses SSAF funding. If you have feedback, questions or ideas about SSAF, student services, or what FUSA should prioritise in future, let us know through the feedback form.
