Voluntary Student Unionism legislation impact study
VSU Impact Study jointly commissioned by ACUMA Incorporated and Australian University Sport
Overall, it is clear that participation in university sporting, recreational, social and cultural activities by students has reduced post VSU and unless replacement funding is generated the capacity of the sector to continue to provide services will progressively deteriorate - of particular concern are the reductions in the number of students participating in sporting, social and cultural clubs and at inter-university sport. Any further reductions in the level of funds currently being provided by universities or through the Regional University Sport Funding Program will inevitably cause further contraction in the level of student participation and further exacerbate an emerging trend towards inequitable distribution in that participation.
It is also clear the grants available from the VSU Transition Fund do not address the shortfalls in recurrent funding and provide only temporary respite from the pressing capital needs of the sector.
The full VSU Impact Study is available online, in sections and separated into individual pages, as linked to by subject heading below. The menu on the left of this page, and on each page in the Voluntary Student Unionism Impact Study section of the site, allows for quick and direct access to each section.
- Overview and key findings
- Abbreviations used in the VSU Impact Study
- Impact Study Methodology
- The higher education campus service industry in Australia
- Review and history of the VSU debate
- VSU impact on membership and finance of student organisations
- Changes in services delivery on Australian campuses as a result of VSU legislation
- Impact of VSU on governance, management and human resources
- Impact of VSU on the range of campus services in Australia: a net loss
- Impact of Voluntary Student Unionism legislation on Australian students
- Impact of VSU on student participation and engagement
- Impact of VSU at individual universities: interviews
- The effectiveness of post-VSU funding and transition funding
Receive the full VSU Impact Study by email
You may also be eligible to receive the full VSU Impact Study in pdf format; simply complete the request form below and we will review your details and, where appropriate, email the complete study to you in pdf format.
Please note, however, that the VSU Impact Study was produced as an ACUMA member resource and, whilst each request is considered on an individual basis, access is generally restricted to ACUMA member organisations and partner organisations only.
Please note: your details are collected for ACUMA reference only, and will not be added to any mailing list and will not be shared with third parties.