School Free Travel

Most students residing in New South Wales are eligible to apply for free bus transport to and from school. Such transport is provided only after presentation of an appropriate travel pass to the driver upon boarding the bus.

Application for Travel by Eligible Students

Parents/Guardians must apply for a new travel pass in any of the following circumstances:

When the student has changed schools
When the student has changed residential address
When the student is moving from Year 2 to Year 3 at the same school
When the student is moving from Year 6 to Year 7 at the same school
When the student repeats a school year

An "Application for Travel by Eligible School Students" form is obtainable from your school or our office. After obtaining the signatures of a parent/guardian and the principal of the school, the completed application is processed by Red Bus Services on behalf of The Ministry of Transport. A Travel Pass is then issued by Red Bus Services to the appropriate school for distribution.

Eligibility Conditions

To be eligible for subsidised travel under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) students should:

Be 4 years 6 months of age or older.
Be an infant student i.e. attending kindergarten. Year 1 and Year 2 classes, irrespective of the distance from home to school.
Be a primary student (year 3-6), and reside more than 1.6 kilometres (radial distance) from the school attended measured on a radius from the centre of the school site, or 2.3 kilometres or more by the most direct practicable walking route to the nearest point of physical entry to the school.
Be a secondary student (year 7-12), and reside more than 2.0 kilometres (radial distance) from the school attended, measured on a radius from the centre of the school site, or 2.9 kilometres or more by the most direct practicable walking route to the nearest point of physical entry to the school.
Be enrolled at a registered day school.

Use of Free Travel Pass

School travel is only available between home and school for school attendance and is available on school days only.

Passes are not transferable and must be shown on demand. Therefore all students are advised to carry their Travel Pass with them on all school days. Students must present their Pass to the driver upon boarding or to a driver or inspector when requested.

Withdrawal of Free School Pass

The Department of Transport reserves the right to withdraw a Travel Pass 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 Red Bus Services and subsidised travel cease immediately.

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