Brought to you by your SSA Fee

This SSAF allocation contributes specifically to the provision of advocacy services for students on a broad range of academic and welfare matters and also provides representation funding for members of the JCU Student Association to sit on various panels and committees, to ensure the student voice is heard in institutional decision making.

In 2020, SSAF funded a Student Wellbeing Counsellor within the Student Equity and Wellbeing Service. Student Wellbeing Counsellors, including the SSAF-funded position, supported 720 students, provided around 3000 appointments to students and conducted 461 intake calls. Appointments are provided via telehealth (phone and Zoom) and face to face to ensure the service is accessible to students, including those who are studying externally.

Student Wellbeing Counsellors also developed and delivered a number of resilience-building and health promotions workshops and events for students. In 2020, the Service introduced Intake calls for all new presenting students as a way to connect students with a Counsellor with minimal delay, and also to provide students with more immediate support, information and referrals.

JCU is committed to enhancing students’ access, participation and success through a ‘whole-of-institution’ approach to widening participation, learning, teaching and the student experience, including appropriate facilities and access to learning technologies.

The SSAF allocation continues to include funding for key support service personnel such as Student Welfare Officers, Academic Language and Learning Advisors, and a Career Development Learning Officer to support those studying on campus, in remote study centres and externally.

SSAF funding is always made available to both the JCU Student Association and to other JCU student groups and bodies for a range of orientation, induction and student belonging events across the academic year. For example:

• The Student Life Team host a comprehensive JCU Orientation and Transition Program on the Townsville and Cairns campuses through a five-week schedule of preparatory courses, inductions, information sessions, course introductions, social events, drop-in sessions, special interest group activities and pre-census retention activities.

This program has again been SSAF funded in 2020. Infohelp Rovers can help you to develop study skills and guide you through a range of services; for example, LibGuides and search skills, helping with IT issues, basic software support, connecting to the JCU Eduroam wireless network, printing and photocopying issues, use of online JCU services such as LearnJCU and finding information on the JCU website, helping with referencing and the like. In 2019, Library Infohelp Rovers dealt with 2,965 individual enquiries.

After approval of a competitive bid process in 2017, the Estate Directorate conducted minor works on the informal peer spaces in Building 27 on the Townsville, Bebegu Yumba Campus and in the foyers of buildings A1 and A2 on the Cairns, Nguma-bada Campus. These projects were completed in 2018.

The SSAF funding also contributed to the establishment of the Indigenous Education and Research Centre on the Cairns, Nguma-bada Campus. The Centre provides a place of belonging and brings together research, teaching and support staff who were previously located around the campus.  It provides space for students to study, collaborate and socialise.

In 2018, SSAF funding was approved for the following improvements to indoor and outdoor spaces:

• Cairns: Boatshed Precinct outdoor peer space (Bldg A23)
  • Project paused - may form part of a broader project.
• Townsville:  Veterinary Precinct indoor peer space (Bldg 97)
  • Project was delivered for student use during O Week Teaching Period One 2019.  
• Townsville: Medical Precinct outdoor peer space (Bldgs 39-42)
  • Project was planned for delivery in late 2018, but deadline shifted to ensure minimal impact on students during construction.  Work is scheduled to begin in May 2019.  Completion by mid-2019.

After approval of a competitive bid process in 2019, the JCU Estate Directorate were tasked with delivering several projects to improve indoor and outdoor student spaces:

• Mackay: Multi-purpose student space
  • Single use computer spaces, a booth for group work, table and tub chairs for small group work and bean bags for a more relaxed student space were installed by November 2020 in Mackay Mater Hospital Clinical Training Centre Room MMH005 to accommodate up to 14 students.
• Mount Isa: Multi-purpose student space
  • The existing computer lab (Room 027, Centre for Rural and Remote Health) was refurbished in 2020 with single use computer spaces, a group work booth area and tables and chairs for small group work and a larger group space.  A more relaxed area with a high bar table was also created in Yacca Library Room 002.
• Cairns: End of Ride facility, Crowther Theatre
  • Did not progress due to COVID-19.
• Townsville: Outdoor fitness stations circuit
  • Did not progress due to COVID-19.
• Townsville and Cairns: Eddie Koiki Library indoor peer space furniture upgrade
  • Furniture solutions were delivered to replace the training room space, and fill the gaps left by removing the pink corral desks on the second (Silent) floor.

SSAF supports services available to Off-Campus students:

• Thanks to SSAF funding, the Student Life Team were able to develop resources for Off-Campus Students including a dedicated website and Off-Campus Information Guide.

In 2019, SSAF funding was used to support research students in delivering supportive group activities such as: seminar days, research student conferences, cohort activities for off campus research candidates, disciplinary-relevant career workshops and social events. This program was approved to continue into 2020.

In 2020, SSAF funding contributed to a range of activities being delivered or supported by the Indigenous Education and Research Centre including Welcome Events, Awards Night, Health and Wellbeing Program and the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Games

In 2020, the International Student Support Team continued to hold Free Lunch Fridays three times every semester on both Cairns and Townsville campuses.  Free Lunch Fridays encourage international and domestic students to interact and create friendships and connections.  It's not all about the free food, activities run as part of this event include indigenous weaving, spear and boomerang throwing, traditional arts, crafts and dancers.

This project continues into 2020 and delivers a series of interactive workshops and activities assisting students with their information needs, the finding and evaluation of information, effective reading, essay planning and writing, and referencing and learning skills.

• Maintaining a healthy and active life is made easier and more affordable with support provided through SSAF. Recreational and cultural activities, together with a range of supporting services and amenities, are also provided across campus with this SSAF allocation. Find out more at the JCU Student Association.
• Sports Facilities on Townsville and Cairns campuses are supported by SSAF through an annual allocation towards field maintenance and improvements, contributions to water rates and for cleaning common area bathrooms in gym and football ovals.

The JCU Student Association held a number of activities during 2020 where free food was provided courtesy of SSAF, particularly during O Week and Exam Periods, on both Townsville and Cairns campuses. Free tea and coffee was provided in kitchenettes on both campuses throughout the academic year.

Clubs and societies play an active role in the University community by providing students the opportunity to meet people with common interests and to pursue those interests. The JCUSA offer funding from SSAF for financial and administrative support to these organisations and students interested in forming their own. Contact the JCU Student Association to find out more.