About the School Student Transport Scheme

Eligibility Requirements

The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) can only be used for:

• travel between home and the school campus at which the student is enrolled, and
• approved travel, Monday to Friday on school days.

The scheme does not extend to travel for activities such as:

• school excursions,
• sports events,
• work experience,
• attendance at Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools at a location away from the school/campus at which the student is enrolled,
• attendance at multi-campus high schools, Saturday schools, pre-schools, mini-schools (except for full-time geographically isolated distance education students),
• attendance at before and after school care or child minding premises.

To be eligible for the Scheme an applicant must be:

a resident of NSW
4 years and 6 months of age or older and enrolled as one of the following:

• an infant student (K-2) regardless of the distance between their home and school
• primary student (Years 3-6) who lives more than 1.6 kms (radial distance) from school, or 2.3 kms or more by the most direct practical walking route to the nearest entry point to the school
• secondary student (Year 7-12) who lives more than 2 kms (radial distance) from school, or 2.9 kms or more by the most direct practical walking route to the nearest entry point to the school
• a TAFE student under 18 years of age at 1st January of the year of application who is:
  • enrolled in a full-time TAFE course for a minimum of 20 hours a week
  • not employed
  • living more than 3.2 kms from the college by the most direct practical walking route and
  • attending the college closest to their home where enrolment is available.

How to Apply

1. Application forms are available from the school or TAFE. Forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian if the student is under 16 years of age.
2. A separate application must be lodged for each part of the trip undertaken with a different transport operator. For instance, a journey using the services of two bus operators and CityRail requires three applications. If a trip is undertaken on two separate services of the same transport operator, only one application is necessary.
3. The completed application form(s) should be returned to the school or TAFE, which will verify that the student is enrolled. Schools also do an initial check on the student's eligibility on radial distance grounds.
4. The school will forward the application form(s) to the transport operator, who will assess whether the student meets the distance eligibility criteria.
5. If eligible, the operator will issue the student with a pass, which indicates that it is solely for travel under the Scheme. In some cases (such as in rural areas) passes are not issued, as the operator knows the students.

A new application must be completed when a student:

• enrols in kindergarten
• progresses from Year 2 to be an eligible student in Year 3
• progresses from Year 6 to Year 7
• changes name, school and/or address
• applies for an additional travel pass in a joint/dual custody situation.

Unsuccessful Applications

Applicants can reapply for the Scheme through the Ministry of Transport if the operator rejects their application. They should reapply in writing to the nearest Ministry of Transport regional office setting out the reasons why the student should have access to the Scheme. These may include safety or medical issues.

If the application is also rejected by the Ministry of Transport, and the applicant believes there are special circumstances that should be taken into account (such as safety or hardship issues), they can appeal. The regional office will provide information at the time of rejection on how to appeal the decision.

Appeals are assessed by the School Student Transport Scheme Appeals Panel. Members of the Panel include representatives of the Department of Education and Training, the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations of NSW, the Council of Catholic School Parents or the NSW Parents' Council and a member with expertise in safety.

Boarding School Students

There is a range of travel assistance available to eligible students who attend boarding school. Borders may either have a pass for daily travel or for vacation/weekend travel, but not for both.

Travel by State Rail

Students can travel home at weekends or vacations using State Rail's regular scheduled services on its train and coach network.

Long distance coach travel

A refund for up to nine return journeys in a year between home and school is available. Long distance coach travel is only available for boarders who do not have access to State Rail's regular scheduled services on its train and coach network.

Regular timetabled bus services

Boarders may be carried free of charge on regular timetabled bus services for visits to and from home at weekends or vacation periods.

Country school bus services

If there is space available, boarders may travel free of charge on regular school bus services for visits to and from home at weekends or vacation periods.

Private vehicle conveyance

Where no organised public transport is available, a subsidy may be paid towards the cost of providing transport for boarders. Similar conditions apply as for non-boarders.

Student Responsibilities

When completing an application for subsidised travel under the Scheme, parents and guardians acknowledge that students have been made aware of the Codes of Conduct. The Codes of Conduct were developed in conjunction with the bus industry, CityRail, representatives of parent groups and education authorities. They aim to ensure both the safety of students and the comfort of other passengers by outlining the behaviour required of students when travelling to and from school.

The Codes of Conduct are printed on the School Student Transport Scheme application forms. Parents/guardians are asked to discuss these simple rules with their children so that they understand the standards of behaviour required of students.

Depending on the seriousness of the misbehaviour, students may be penalised if they breach the Codes of Conduct. Students may have their travel pass temporarily or permanently suspended and may be required to make alternative travel arrangements. Students misbehaving on trains and railway stations may have their travel pass confiscated for up to one year and be required to buy normal tickets for travel to and from school.

Operator Responsibilities

Bus operators conveying students under the Scheme are contracted to do so by the Ministry of Transport. The contract requires operators to meet specific conditions, such as vehicle and driver standards, access to information on services, and lost property and complaints management. For a more detailed explanation of the contract conditions for bus operators can be found in the Bus Operators Manual (PDF).