At the Student Guild we field a lot of questions about the Guild and the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). This post is designed to explain the basics and help you get your head around the terminology and the relationship between the Guild, the SSAF and the University.
What is the Student Guild?
In short, the Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild provides a range of services that are not directly academic in nature but are designed to enhance your experience and promote your well being at university.
These services include recreational activities including clubs, sport and campus events, as well as employment services, scholarships and assignment help. They also provide essential services such as student advocacy and legal advice. The Guild also helps you prepare for post-university life by providing personal and professional development opportunities including volunteering programs, courses and workshops, and networking through professional clubs. On the Gold Coast campus, the Guild oversees the majority of the food and beverage outlets and manages the Uni Bar, sports facilities and the Uni Fitness centre.
You can browse the Guild website here for a full list of Guild services.
What is the SSAF?
The SSAF is a compulsory student services and amenities fee charged to most students who are studying on campus. At Griffith University, the fee is determined by the number of credit points you are enrolled in and is capped at $290 for 2016.
The SSAF is used to support student services and amenities of a non-academic nature such as those detailed above. In 2011 the Australian Government legislated that the SSAF could be spent on support services and amenities such as sporting and recreational activities, employment and career advice, financial advice and food services. All higher education providers around Australia are entitled to charge a SSAF.
The SSAF is embedded into your tuition fees. For more information on how to pay your fees or when they are due please see Paying your fees on the Griffith website. You can view more details on the pro rata breakdown of fees per credit point and the list of SSAF exempt courses here.
Your SSAF at work
You can see your SSAF at work every day in the events, facilities and services provided by your Student Guild. The activities and direction of the Student Guild are determined by a student board and supported by a team of professional staff. If you want to have a say in how your SSAF is spent make sure you get in touch with a board member or consider joining the student board yourself. To get the most out of your SSAF, make sure you utilise the great range of services available to you from the Guild. From clubs, sporting and social events to bike lockers and help completing your tax, there is no doubt that the Guild has something on offer that will make your life at university easier or more enjoyable. Just take a look at our website to find out how the Student Guild will be helping you get the most out of your university experience. If you would like to drop in and say hi we are located The Link building (G07).
