Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Grant Program

SSAF Eligibility

For full applicant and project eligibility consult the SSAF Guidelines and full details below.

• Applications Open Date

  Applications for the 2023 SSAF grant round are closed. The next grant round will be in February 2024.

  Funding Available u to $20,000 maximum may be awarded per project.

  SSAF Grants are one-off funding, with no repeat funding available in subsequent rounds.

• Eligibility and Guidelines

  The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Grant Program supports projects that address one or more of the areas detailed in the Australian Government's Higher Education Legislation.

  Specifically, SSAF Grant funding must be spent on one or more of the following:

  • Provide food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
  • Support a sporting or other recreational activity by students;
  • Support the administration of a club most of whose members are students;
  • Care for children of students;
  • Promoting the health or wellbeing of students;
  • Provide legal services to students;
  • Help students secure accommodation;
  • Help students obtain employment or advice on careers;
  • Help students with their financial affairs;
  • Help students obtain insurance against personal accidents;
  • Provide libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students;
  • Support an artistic activity by students;
  • Support the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students;
  • Help students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled;
  • Advise on matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described);
  • Advocate for students’ interests in matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described);
  • Give students information to help them in their orientation;
  • Help meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment.

  Download 2023 SSAF Grants Program Guidelines (PDF 329.2 KB)

• Selection Criteria

  In making its decision, the Selection Committee will consider:

  1. The benefit for students and degree of reach of project
  2. The extent to which the project addresses a service gap
  3. Proposed project outcomes and success indicators
  4. The extent to which the project involves collaboration across the   University
  5. Alignment with key principles of SSAF, see below:

  • Alignment with University strategy and student experience goals (including the Advancing Melbourne 2030 Plan).
  • Commitment to consultation with student-related groups and engagement of students as partners in decision making.
  • Commitment to addressing equity and diversity goals. Equity and diversity goals can be found in the Advancing Melbourne 2030 Plan.
  • Commitment to the representation of student groups, cohorts and campuses.
• Reporting Requirements

  If you are successful in your SSAF Grant Program application, the reporting requirements will typically be a two-step process and includes a:

  • Progress Report:
    • A brief SmartyGrants form is sent to Project Leader/Applicant requesting to date expenditure and highlighting of any challenges, during the course of the project (refer to Guidelines). For projects with an expenditure $7000>.
  • Acquittal Report:
    • An in depth SmartyGrants form sent to the Project Leader/Applicant requesting full expenditure, qualitative and quantitative information proportional to the spend of the project. This must be completed at the conclusion of your project (refer to Guidelines).
  • Variation Request Form:
    • An brief SmartyGrants form available to the Project Leader/Applicant to apply for a change of direction or expenditure required if there are major variations to the successfully funded project/activity (refer to Guidelines).
• Previous Recipients
  • 2023 SSAF Grant Program Recipients
  • 2021 SSAF Grant Program Recipients
  • 2020 SSAF Grant Program Recipients
  • 2016-2019 SSAF Grant Program Recipients - Chancellery
• Resources
  • SSAF Grant Program FAQs
  • SSAF Grant Guide To Assist Mentors
  • SSAF Grant Applicant Budget Template
  • SSAF Grant Timeline Milestone and Tasks Template
  • SSAF Grant Partner Organisation Support Letter Template
• Contact and Accessibility Queries

  For any further clarification, assistance and/or advice on the current SSAF Grant rounds, application support; please contact the Student Engagement Team: ssaf-grants@unimelb.edu.au

  For any queries relating to projects funded prior to 2020, please contact Chancellery (Academic)