RUSU Club Resources

Finance & Grants

Finance & Grants

This section is all about money. How to get it, and how to best look after it for your club. From applying for grants to getting, and managing a bank account and sponsors, to understanding your budget and getting tax invoices with the correct info, finance is a big part of running your club. This page also includes info about clubs and insurance.


RUSU Club Grants

Clubs Grants information is distributed directly to all Club Leaders and Club emails as per their completed annual online details forms.

Club Grants are only available to Clubs that have finalised all aspects of their RUSU Clubs annual affiliation (registration). 

All RUSU club grants are funded through the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) collected by RMIT from RMIT students.

Clubs Grant funding (including Clubs Department staffing) depends upon the amount of SSAF funding RMIT provides to RUSU (Student Union). 

Proudly supported by RUSU Poster - if your event is supported through RUSU funding or other RUSU resources, please download and print out this poster to display prominently at your event. 


Annual Administration Grant (AAG)

All Fully Affiliated Clubs are eligible for this grant – it is paid directly to your Club’s bank account.

Complete Form


Annual Program Reimbursements (APR)

All Fully Affiliated Clubs are eligible for this grant – it is paid directly to your Club’s bank account.

Complete Form

Info needed to apply for APR:
(1) a copy of the event/activity budget approved by your club's Executive leadership team (2) proof of event (poster, Facebook event page/photos, etc.), and (3) proof of payments (receipts, online payment transfers to suppliers, linked invoices etc).

If you have lost receipts or only received an invoice and have no proof you paid cash, you can submit a completed Statutory Declaration (Stat Dec) explaining what you purchased, what for (the event name and date) how much it cost, and the fact that you have misplaced the proof of payments. Make sure you also include your club name and your role in the club.

Statutory Declarations are legal documents that must be signed by an authorised witness. You can download a blank copy and instructions about Stat Decs below.

Stat Decs


Special Program and Event Grants (SPEGs) - closed for 2023! 

SPEG provides financial support for:


Important SPEG information


How to apply for SPEG

SPEG applications have closed for 2023. 


Finances

Club Bank Accounts

Learn about managing your RUSU Club bank account (and the money in it!) by reading our guide. Info about developing budgets is two sections down

Read Guide


Insurance

Ony Club events/activities that have received the Club Event Risk Management Approval (ERMA) are covered by RMIT Public Liability Insurance. The link to apply for ERMA and additional risk management information can be found in the Risk Management section of Clubs Resources.

Individual club leaders open themselves to personal liability where ERMA is not gained. 

Find out how to obtain insurance through RMIT.

RMIT Insurance


Budgeting

Use this Budget Template worksheet to develop your budget plan.

Spreadsheet

Read through our example activity budget to get a better idea of how to work your budget.

Example


About Invoices

Australian Tax Invoice Requirements

For SPEG grants and just generally, when your club makes a significant order/purchase, it should receive a Tax Invoice from your seller/suppliers. If your seller/supplier does not have an Australian Business Number (ABN), they must complete a Statement of Supplier. The info sheet below has the details you need to make sure the invoices you receive are 100% correct.

Tax Invoice Info

About Club-issued Invoices 

If your club needs to issue an invoice (for example to a sponsor or industry event participant), clubs do not issue a "tax invoice" unless the club is registered for GST (Goods & Services Tax). Instead, just issue an "invoice" with no reference to tax or GST.

Clubs only need to register GST if the club's annual income is over/is likely to be over a certain amount. It is unlikely that any RUSU Club will ever reach this threshold!

For more information about GST thresholds, please see the Australian Government web page  https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/GST/Registering-for-GST/

About Invoices issued to Clubs 

If your club orders something, the club leader who places the order may need to provide their personal Melbourne address for the invoice (for billing purposes). This is especially important for booking on-campus event costs/services (RMIT Security, cleaners, RMIT Venues Staff, Insight AV etc.).  DO NOT provide the RUSU or RMIT address - these are not RUSU or RMIT's invoices to pay.  


Borrowing an EFTPOS machine

RUSU affiliate Clubs may request to borrow a RUSU EFTPOS machine for certain types of club events held on the City Campus (not for Clubs Day etc.). RUSU Clubs Department can't guarantee all requests will be approved. Please contact your RUSU Clubs Officer for a link to the booking form. 

You can also talk to the Commonwealth Bank about hiring electronic terminals. Payment square systems (such as can be bought at Office Works etc.) generally require the user to have an ABN (Australian Business Number) or to be linked to an individual. 


Clubs and Sponsorship 

RUSU Clubs are encouraged to find people, companies, and other organisations (including RMIT University Departments) to support the club as sponsors.

Sponsorship might be financial ($AUD) or "in kind" - discounts (for the club and/or its members), free things for the club to use or give to members, guest speakers or performers, etc.  

Info about clubs and sponsorship 

Read this  "About Sponsorship Guide" if you want to know more about what's involved in clubs and sponsorship. 

The premise of the Guide is to help identify "best practices" around clubs and sponsorship - types of sponsors and the process of getting and keeping sponsors. 

RUSU invoicing of Club Sponsors

RUSU  is able to invoice a club sponsor on behalf of clubs. There are some conditions and it can take some time.

Use this RUSU Clubs Sponsor Invoice Request Form to read about the conditions and submit a request to RUSU.


Funding Rules and Political Interests

It's important to understand the rules around funding and political interests to ensure you are not in breach of Commonwealth Government, RMIT, and RUSU Club rules.

Read Now


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