ACUMA Incorporated and Australian University Sport
Joint Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation impact study
The main text of the ACUMA & AUS VSU Impact Study is available for browsing online via the links below. Where appropriate, pdf files have been provided containing sections or additional information.
Notes and appendices have not been included in the online distribution; however, the full ACUMA and AUS VSU Impact Study, complete with all notes and appendices, can be received by email.
Study Methodology
Aim of the study
Financing and conduct of the study
Scope of the study
Overall study design
On-line survey design and composition of respondents
In-depth interview design and composition of interviewees
Terminology to describe VSU impact at the in-depth interview sites
Valuation of campus services infrastructure
Overview of the Campus Services Sector
Broader tertiary education sector setting
Overview on the university sector
Campus services sector structure and student union revenues
Extent to which students were using campus services pre-VSU
Background to the VSU Legislation
Review of source materials and the history of the VSU debate
Key features of the VSU legislation
The ESOS provisions under the VSU legislation
Impact on Membership and Finances
Compulsory amenities and services fees levied prior to VSU
Student membership models pre and post-VSU
Estimates of post-VSU income from student membership fees
Sector best practice for student membership income
Estimates of post-VSU income from university grants
Extent of ‘in kind’ support from universities post-VSU
Impact on Range of Services Provided
Sporting services and facilities
Student unions and commercial services
Student representative councils including postgraduate associations
Financial Impact on Students
Impact of VSU on prices for campus services
Net financial gain/loss to students from VSU
Impact of concurrent HECS increases
Student Participation Impact
Overview of evidence on levels of engagement and participation
Students involvement in clubs
Inter-university sport
Impact at the In-depth Interview Universities
Overall conclusions from the in-depth interviews
Case by case conclusions from the in-depth interviews:
- Curtin University of Technology
- Flinders University
- Macquarie University
- Queensland University of Technology
- RMIT University
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of New England
- The University of New South Wales
- The University of Newcastle
- The University of Sydney
- University of South Australia
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Tasmania
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- University of Western Sydney
- University of Wollongong
