SSAF funding allocation
See how your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) supports services, activities and opportunities for students.
How SSAF benefit students
The Australian Government legislates that the SSAF support non-academic services and amenities that benefit students. The SSAF funds services, programs and initiatives that enhance student life and help students succeed during their studies.
These include:
- Student representation, advocacy and support services
- Health, wellbeing and financial assistance services
- Careers and employability programs
- Orientation and transition activities
- Sport and recreation opportunities
- Arts and cultural programs
- Childcare support initiatives
- Student-led projects funded through the SSAF Grant Program.
Major funding recipients include:
- University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU)
- Graduate Student Association (GSA)
- Melbourne University Sport (MUS)
- Student and Scholarly Services initiatives and programs.
Catalogue of SSAF-funded services
Explore the 2026–2028 catalogue to learn what SSAF-funded services and activities are available to you across our campuses.
Catalogue of SSAF Funded Services and Activities
SSAF-funded grant program
The SSAF also goes towards grants, which funds ad-hoc projects that support student-focussed initiatives or contribute to meeting the needs of our diverse student community. Applications for this program open twice a year. Find out how to apply.
Help shape SSAF funding
Every two to three years, we ask students how they’d like SSAF to be spent, usually through a survey sent to all students. We use your feedback to help decide how SSAF funding is allocated in agreements with student organisations for the next three years.
For example, in 2022, we surveyed students and held workshops with UMSU and GSA to agree on how to allocate SSAF funding for 2023 to 2025. Each year, UMSU and GSA submit a proposed budget to the University, along with audited financial and acquittal reports showing how they’ve spent the funding.
Read the 2022 expenditure report for more details about the consultation process.
Historical reporting
Recent allocation reports
See a detailed breakdown of how SSAF funding was used in previous years. These reports were introduced in 2022 to provide greater transparency and consistency in SSAF allocations and expenditure.
2019 to 2021 distribution summary
Between 2019 and 2021 $56,062,418.55 was distributed.
| Recipient | 2019 expenditure (actual) | 2019(%) | 2020 expenditure (actual) | 2020(%) | 2021 expenditure (projected) | 2021(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne University Sport | $4,289,752.00 | 22% | $3,850,261.00 | 23% | $4,890,051.33 | 24% |
| Children's Services | $360,400.00 | 2% | $320,942.68 | 2% | $370,500.72 | 2% |
| UMSU | $7,394,291.26 | 38% | $6,353,783.00 | 38% | $8,401,722.73 | 42% |
| GSA | $2,856,947.00 | 15% | $2,546,537.00 | 15% | $3,248,669.84 | 16% |
| Theatre Board | $0.00 | 0% | $65,000.00 | 0.4% | $65,000.00 | 0% |
| MU Sport: Equity programs | $400,000.00 | 2% | $173,050.00 | 1% | - | - |
| University Student Services (Student Connect, Students @ Work, Wellbeing) | $0.00 | 0% | $2,298,562.23 | 14% | $1,847,530.85 | 9% |
| SSAF Grants | $3,230,613.78 | 17% | $309,238.09 | 2% | $294,243.36 | 1% |
| Chief Operating Officer Portfolio (Business Services) | $863,000.00 | 4% | $761,645.00 | 5% | $870,676.69 | 4% |
| Total expenditure | $19,395,004.04 | 100% | $16,679,019.00 | 100% | $19,988,395.51 | 100% |
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