- Changes to eligibility for regional School Bus
Services to be made for 2024 school year
- Improvements follow the release of the Bus Fair
report
- Changes will provide greater flexibility and
choice for regional families
The State Government has today announced changes to the State's School
Bus Service eligibility conditions ahead of the 2024 school year.
These eligibility changes were recommended in the Parliamentary Public
Accounts Committee's Bus Fair Report conducted in 2023 and followed extensive
community consultation.
These changes broaden the eligibility of families able to receive
transport assistance, giving families more flexibility and choice in planning
for their children's schooling.
Key changes to the eligibility requirements include:
- allowing
students to attend either their nearest district or senior high school,
rather than just their closest school;
- more
flexibility for social and community factors to be considered in an application
for transport assistance; and
- allowing
eligible students to receive transport assistance to travel to a regional town
to attend their selected school.
Further consideration is also being given to other recommendations
emanating from the review. The results of these considerations will be released
over coming months.
On advice from the Department of Education, the rollout of the new
eligibility allowing students to choose either their closest district or senior
high school will be rolled out in 12 months' time for a small number of select
schools.
The 12-month deferral for these schools will provide the Department of
Education time to assess the long-term impacts of the change on those
particular schools. The Department of Education will be communicating directly
with those schools.
Parents with children who are starting school for the first time,
changing schools, or changing their home address should complete the
application online before 25 November.
All relevant information about the application process, and the changes
to eligibility conditions, will be made available on the School
Bus Services website.
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The State Government receives thousands of applications each year from
parents of children who need to catch an orange school bus to and from school,
and it's important we listen to these parents when it comes to how we can best
meet their needs.
"Following extensive community consultation as part of the recent
Student Transport Assistance Policy framework review, changes will be made to
eligibility conditions in time for the 2024 school year.
"This will help give regional families more flexibility when considering
schooling options for their children."
Comments attributed to Education Minister
Tony Buti:
"School buses are an important and valued
service for students and their families.
"These changes are designed to ensure
regional school bus services continue to meet their needs, so that every young
person in our State can access a high-quality education."
