- What is the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS)?
- The School Student Transport Scheme Eligibility
- IMPORTANT
- How to Apply for Free Travel
- New Applications
- Do I need to reapply each year?
- Appeals Process
- Use of Pass Issued to eligible Students
- Conditions of Use of Subsidised travel
- I've separated from my child's mother/father. Can my child get a pass for subsidised travel from both parents' addresses?
- Replacement Passes
- TAFE Students
- School Students Behaviour on Buses
- Any Questions Concerning Subsidised Travel
What is the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS)?
It is a scheme run by Transport for NSW in conjunction with schools and transport companies to enable eligible students to travel to and from school at no cost to the parents or guardians.
The School Student Transport Scheme Eligibility
The table below summarises the eligibility criteria for free travel under SSTS.
| K - Year 2 | All Eligible | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Than | |||
| Years 3 - 6 | 1.6 km Radius | 2.3 km Walking | Health or Safety |
| Years 7 - 12 | 2 km Radius | 2.9 km Walking | Health or Safety |
The eligibility criteria are applied in sequence. That is, the year that the student is in is examined first.
- If the student is in Kindergarten to Year 2 they are eligible regardless of any other factors.
- If the student is in a year greater than Year 2 the Radial Distance is then examined.
- If the Radial Distance exceeds that shown in the table, then the student is eligible.
- If the Radial Distance is less than that shown in the table, the Walking Distance is then examined.
- If the Walking Distance exceeds that shown in the table, then the student is eligible.
- Health or Safety criteria only need to be examined when the age or distance criteria are not satisfied.
- If free travel is denied on the above criteria there is also an appeals process. There are also special rules governing students who are temporarily resident in Australia (28 kb PDF).
Click Here to see a more detailed explanation of the School Student Transport Scheme from the Transport NSW
Click Here to obtain a printer friendly version in PDF format (255 kb)
Click Here to print the Medical Certificate in PDF format
Click Here to print the Overseas Student Eligibility in PDF format.
IMPORTANT
Do not be overly concerned about whether you qualify on the distance criteria since the Company has sophisticated software to check this. The best thing to do is complete the Application Form and if after we have checked, you don't qualify on the distance criteria, we will contact you to explain the other alternatives.
How to Apply for Free Travel
- Application forms are available from all schools or TAFE and must be completed by a parent or guardian. TAFE students should complete and sign their own forms.
- The completed form is then returned to the school or TAFE the student is enrolled at.
- The schools will forward the application onto Busabout who will assess that the students meet the distance eligibility criteria.
- If eligible, Busabout will issue the student with a bus pass.
- Conditions of travel are printed on the back of all passes.
New Applications Must be Completed When a Student...
- Enrols in Kindergarten,
- Progresses from Year 2 to 3,
- Progresses from Year 6 to 7,
- Changes name, address or school.
Do I need to reapply each year?
No!
A new application is only required if there is a change of
- school, or
- home address, or
- name of the student.
A new application is also required at the start of year 3 and year 7.
Passes will be sent to the school prior to the start of the new school year.
Appeals Process
- Parents/guardians of students deemed ineligible by their school or local transport operator may apply to the Transport for New South Wales for a review of that decision.
- Should the Transport for New South Wales not approve subsidised travel and the applicant(s) considers that there are special circumstances, such as safety and/or hardship issues associated with their case, they may appeal the Ministry's decision. Appeals are heard by an independent SSTS Appeals Panel, which considers each case on its individual merits.
Use of Pass Issued to Eligible Students
- Students must abide by the Code of Conduct.
- School travel is only available between home and school for school attendance and is available on school days only.
- Passes are to be used for only one forward and one return trip per school day.
- Passes are not transferable and must be shown on demand.
- Travel by bus is subject to the conditions laid down by the Transport for New South Wales governing the carriage of passengers on public transport.
- No child will be denied travel in circumstances where they have lost or forgotten their subsidised travel pass.
- Journeys must commence and finish only at the points nominated on this application without a break of journey.
Conditions of Use of Subsidised Travel
- You agree to the Transport for New South Wales and its auditors contacting the school attended to confirm the details provided in this application from time to time.
- The Transport for New South Wales reserves the right to withdraw subsidised travel:
- If investigation shows the student to be ineligible. Following notification to the parent/guardian any issued pass must be surrendered to the school principal, or the bus proprietor, and subsidised travel cease forthwith.
- Subject to breaches of the Code of Conduct and following notification to the school and parents/guardians.
I've separated from my child's mother/father. Can my child get a pass for subsidised travel from both parents' addresses?
If parents have dual custody, the child is eligible for subsidised travel from both addresses subject to the normal eligibility criteria. A copy of the Family Law Court ruling should be forwarded to the nearest Transport for NSW Regional Office for assessment. If the matter has not gone to the Family Law Court, a statutory declaration from each parent that specifies time share arrangements for the child residing at both addresses should be submitted. Applications for subsidised travel for Friday afternoons and Monday mornings only (to cover weekend access visits) are not eligible under the Scheme.
Replacement Passes
Parents or guardians should apply for a replacement bus pass. Cost is $10.00. Replacement passes can be purchased from our depot at 185 Fifteenth Ave, West Hoxton during office hours or by completing an application for replacement form (downloadable below) and sending it with a $10.00 Money Order to PO Box 158 Hoxton Park 2171.
Click here to download replacement bus pass form.
Privacy and Personal Information
- The school or TAFE college, the transport operator, the NSW Board of Studies, the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Transport for New South Wales collect and hold personal information contained in this form and in connection with the student’s use of the SSTS.
- (ii) These entities will exchange and use that personal information for the purposes of administering, and planning future use of the SSTS. It may also be used for internal and external audit purposes.
- If this information is not able to be collected, exchanged and used as described above, the student may be refused subsidised travel under the SSTS. If you believe that this information needs to be kept confidential, please contact your local Transport for New South Wales office on the number provided on this form.
- All information that you provide will be dealt with in accordance with applicable privacy laws. Individuals have the right to access and correct personal information about them held by the school or TAFE College, the transport operator, the NSW Board of Studies, the DET and Transport for New South Wales.
- If you wish to access or correct any of your personal information you may contact your school or TAFE college, your transport service provider and/or:
| Transport for New South Wales GPO Box 1620 Sydney NSW 2001 |
DET GPO Box 33 Sydney NSW 2001 |
NSW Board of Studies 117 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000 |
Explanatory Notes
(vi) In relation to (i) the Department of Education and Training (DET) does not hold the personal information of students attending non-government schools. The NSW Board of Studies holds the personal information of some secondary students 10,11 and 12 -attending both government and non-government schools.
(vii) In relation to (ii) each of the organisations named may exchange the personal information of the student for purposes connected with the SSTS.
(viii) In relation to (v) you should contact your own school or TAFE in the first instance. Contact details for Transport for New South Wales, the DET and the NSW Board of Studies are provided above for your convenience.
TAFE Students
To be eligible a TAFE student must be under 18 years of age on 1 January of the year of application, and
- enrolled in a full-time TAFE course for a minimum of 20 hours per 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.
School Students Behaviour on Buses
Travel by bus for all students is subject to them conforming to the Code of Conduct. This information is also available in a printer friendly version (42 kb PDF). If you are interested in the Guidelines for Managing School Student’s Behaviour on Buses (68 kb PDF), this is also available.
Any Questions Concerning Subsidised Travel
The initial point of contact for any inquiry should be the school.
Inquiries regarding routes and timetables should be made to the relevant operator.
In instances where inquiries cannot be answered at the school parents/guardians should contact their local Transport for New South Wales office.
| Parramatta Office Level 1,16-18 Wentworth Street Parramatta NSW 2150 Locked Bag 5085 Parramatta NSW 2124 Tel: (02) 9891 8900 1800 227 774 |
Newcastle Office Ground Floor, 239 King Street Newcastle NSW 2300 PC Box 871 Tel: (02) 4929 7006 1800 049 983 |
Wollongong Office Level 6, NRMA Building 221-229 Crown Street Wollongong NSW 2500 P0 Box 5215 Tel: (02) 4224 3333 1800 049 961 |
