Permit parking

UOW has implemented an online parking permit management system (vPermit).  vPermit is available on the Wollongong campus, Innovation campus and at some student accommodation residences. 

vPermit allows UOW staff, eligible students, and other user groups to apply for and manage parking permits online (eligibility conditions apply).  

The system replaces physical paper and sticker permits, and paper-based application forms.  Physical parking permits are no longer issued. 

The vPermit system is integrated with a vCompliance system that uses vehicle licence plate recognition. Your vehicle licence plate may be checked by UOW Security when you are parked on campus or at student accommodation residences.  

The vPermit system also allows users the flexibility to have multiple vehicles linked to a virtual permit, and switch between vehicle licence plate numbers depending which car they are driving to campus that day.  You need to enter your vehicle licence plate number/s in the system when applying for a permit, and manage any changes required.  If you enter multiple vehicle licence plates, you can only have one of these vehicle's selected as 'Active' at any time (i.e. only one vehicle can be parked at any time).  

It is your responsibility to ensure the vehicle licence plate number you have selected as ‘Active’ in vPermit matches the vehicle you are driving to campus that day for your permit to be valid.  If you do not have the correct vehicle selected as 'Active' you could receive a fine. 

If you do not have a vPermit, please ensure you have an active CellOpark session or a valid ticket. Please check you have parked in the correct area by checking local signage conditions.  Permits are valid only in designated areas in P2, P3, P4, P5 and P8. 

Staff can apply for a vPermit (eligibility conditions apply) or use CellOPark for casual parking.  

Applications for vPermits are available online through the vPermit website.  Where a staff member is eligible, payment can be made through salary deductions.  Your permit is valid from the date of purchase and remains active until it is cancelled by the user (in the case of ongoing salary sacrificed permits).  If staff are not eligible or choose not to salary sacrifice, payment can be made by credit card.  Permits paid via credit card have either a 90, 180 or 365 day validity, selected by the user when choosing their permit option.   

Please note you can only have one vPermit.  If you need to change your vPermit type, you will need to cancel your current permit and reapply for the new type. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for a staff parking permit you must be a member of staff of the University, UOW Pulse, UOW College or UOW Global Enterprises. Permits are available to academic and professional staff. 

The following types of permits can be applied for by students (eligibility conditions apply):

• Motorcycle permits (all students can apply)
• HDR permits (restricted access via a ballot)
• Student accommodation resident permits – Graduate House and Campus East residents only (restricted access)

UOW Entry Permits are only available to staff and not students. The following groups of people are eligible for a UOW Entry vPermit:

• UOW, UOW Pulse, UOW Global Enterprises (GE) and UOW College staff employed on a fixed term or continuing/permanent basis.
• Casual UOW, UOW Pulse, UOW GE and UOW College employees who are not also students, where rostered employment is anticipated to be more than 20 hours per week (a letter confirming a commitment of hours may be required).

UOW Entry Permits are not able to be issued to students, iC commercial tenants, or casuals employed by UOW Pulse tenants.  

UOW Pulse retail tenants are eligible to access contractor permits, but limitations apply. Tenants may apply for two contractor or UOW Entry permits per tenancy.

vPermit options for staff

Costs and payment methods 

Staff can choose to pay for their permit via ongoing fortnightly payroll deductions or pay the full cost of the permit upfront. Eligibility criteria applies.    

Upfront payments for vPermits can be paid online through the vPermit system using credit card (Visa or Mastercard only).  

University staff who are eligible may be able to nominate payment via payroll deduction. This is a pre-tax deduction. Deductions are made fortnightly, and are not pro-rata.  If you hold a permit for part of a fortnight, then you will be charged for that fortnight.  

If you choose to pay via salary sacrifice, payroll deductions will be set up automatically.   

Please note that the salary sacrifice permit deductions are continuous.  You do not need to reapply each year.  Deductions will be continuous until your permit is cancelled by you, or your employment ends (whichever comes first).  It is your responsibility to cease deductions, when necessary, by cancelling your permit.  

If you pay upfront for your parking permit, you will receive two (2) emails: 

• One from vPermit confirming the purchase of your permit, and 
• One from the University OneStop with your payment receipt. 

Where to park

UOW Entry Permits are valid in designated bays in P2, P3, P4, P5, and P8 on the Wollongong campus.  At the Innovation campus, you can park in the P5 staff carpark.   

A limited number of designated reserved parking bays are available on campus for staff or departmental vehicles. Only authorised reserved permit holders can park in designated reserved bays.  

Reserved Permit holders are only entitled to park within their designated bay using their permit.  

If you hold a Reserved Permit for the Innovation campus, you can park in your designated bay as well as UOW Entry permit bays on the Wollongong campus. If you hold a Reserved Permit for the Wollongong campus, you can also park in the P5 staff carpark at the Innovation campus.  

Reserved permits cannot be used in UOW entry permit bays on the same campus as your reserved permit bay. Fees apply for parking in other permit areas, casual parking areas and the Short-term Parking Station.  

Please be aware that parking spaces are not guaranteed, even if you have a permit.  Only a Reserved Permit guarantees you a parking space. 

Motorcycle parking 

Motorcycle parking is available in P1, P2, P3 and P5 carparks.  Both P1 and P3 carparks offer undercover motorcycle parking.  You must park in a designated motorcycle space, not a car space.  Parking for motorcycles is paid - you can either purchase a vPermit or use CellOPark for casual rates.  Motorcycle parking fees apply between 8:30am-6:30pm, Monday to Friday. 

Motorcycle vPermits are available to staff and students only, but CellOPark is available for anyone to use.  

If staff hold a current vPermit, they do not need to purchase an additional motorcycle permit, as they can add their motorcycle registration to their account. However, It is your responsibility to ensure the vehicle licence plate number you have selected as ‘Active’ in vPermit matches the vehicle you are driving to campus that day for your permit to be valid.  

Alternatives to vPermit 

Staff can use the CellOPark app for ticketless parking or a ticket machine to pay for parking. Please see casual parking for more information.  

Permits are issued virtually via the vPermit portal – no physical paper or sticker permits will be issued. 

Note: you will need to know your vehicle licence plate number to apply for a permit, and you will need to log in to vPermit and update this if you frequently change cars to drive to UOW. 

1. Access vPermit via www.vpermit.com.au/uow  
2. Log in using your UOW account details. Please ensure you click the blue button 'Log in with your UOW Account’. 
3. On the ‘My Permits’ tab, click ‘Apply for a vPermit’. 
4. Select a permit from the pre-filled dropdown menu (only the permits you are eligible for will appear). 

If no permits appear, you are either not eligible for a permit, or you already have an active permit (if this is incorrect, please contact uow-parking@uow.edu.au). 

1. Enter your vehicle licence plate number/s. You can enter up to three, however only one can be active at any time.  
2. Click ‘next’ 
3. Review the information, and then click ‘Register’. 
4. If you are paying via credit card, provide the requested information and complete payment. If you are paying via salary deduction it will be confirmed automatically.  
5. Confirm that your permit is active by checking the ‘My Permits’ tab.  

Managing your vehicle/s in vPermit 

In vPermit, you can view and manage the vehicles against an active permit by clicking the ‘Manage Vehicles’ button on the ‘My Permits’ screen. 

 To view or edit your vehicles: 

1. On the ‘My Permits’ tab, click ‘Manage Vehicles.’ The ‘My Vehicles’ screen is displayed showing your active vehicles. 
2. To change the ACTIVE vehicle to a different vehicle that is already registered - click the vehicle you wish to activate. Your new ACTIVE vehicle licence plate number will highlight green. 
3. To edit your vehicles or add a vehicle, click 'Edit Vehicles'. The ‘Edit Vehicles’ screen is displayed. Edit the vehicle you want to change. If you have not previously filled all 3 vehicle licence plate spaces, add a new vehicle. Click 'Save' to ensure your changes are saved. 

Cancelling your vPermit 

You can only have one active permit at a time.  

If you want to change your permit or payment type, you will need to first cancel your current permit.  This includes if you are currently salary sacrificing your permit and changing employment from UOW to another UOW entity.   

To cancel your vPermit: 

1. On the ‘My Permits’ tab, click on ‘Cancel permit’. 
2. Click ‘ok’.  

Your permit is now cancelled. If you are still parking on campus, please ensure you have a new active permit, have a ticket or an active CellOPark session.