Student Transport Program

The ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services administers the ACT Concessions Program. The program aims to improve the affordability of essential services for low-income residents of the ACT.

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The ACT Government introduced the Student Transport Program on 4 February 2002. This Program provides eligible primary, high school and college students with free travel Monday to Friday during school term.

Who is eligible
When can I apply?
When can my child use the ticket?
How do I apply and how long is the ticket valid?
What happens if my child changes school or moves house during the year?
What happens if my child loses their ticket?
Applications

Who is eligible?

This program is available to ACT residents attending ACT primary and high schools; and colleges on a full-time basis.
Conditions of assistance are:

1. Students must be aged between 5 to 18 years, ACT residents and must be either:

o Primary school students living outside a 1km radial distance of their school; or

o High school, college or CIT Year 12 equivalency students living outside a 2km radial distance of their campus.

2. Each student or their parent/guardian must hold a current Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs showing the applicant's name for entitlement. The residential address on the benefit card must be the same as provided on the application.

3. School verification is required at the beginning of each school year or with the first application submitted during the year. Updated school verification is required if a student changes schools during the year.

Applicants will be required to meet both distance and benefit card criteria. The Student Transport Program will not address claims for travel based on any other circumstances, eg illness or injury.

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When Can I apply?

You must apply each term. Applications need to be received by the Student Transport Program four to six weeks prior the commencement of term to ensure delivery prior to school returning. Tickets are mailed out only by registered post. The application closes at the end of the third week of the new term.

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When can my child use this ticket?

ACTION term tickets can be used Monday to Friday during the school term.

Travel outside these periods eg weekends and school holidays will require students to purchase concession fares.

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How do I apply and how long is the ticket valid?

The school is required to verify the enrolment of your student(s) at the beginning of Term 1. If you change schools during the year, verification is required of the enrolment details. School verification is only required for Term 1 or change of school.

You must attach to each application a photocopy of your valid Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card so we can confirm that the student appears on the card and check the parent/guardian signature.

Completed forms need to be returned to the Department of Urban Services for processing, the address is provided below.

Applications are due four to six weeks before the commencement of each term.

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• Applications which are incorrectly filled out or incomplete will be returned to the sender. If this were to happen, a delay in processing will occur which may result in your child not receiving his or her ticket by the commencement of term. You would then be expected to pay for that student's fare until such time as the ticket arrives.
• Application's for tickets received after the third (3) week of each term will not be processed.
• No special circumstances will be considered for late or incomplete applications.
• Replacements for lost or stolen tickets are only issued up until week eight (8) of each term.
• Eligible students will be issued with a ticket on a term by term basis only.
• A new application is required for each term.
• Each bus ticket will be sent out to the address on the application form.

What happens if my child changes school or moves house during the year?

If your child changes school or residential address during the year you need to notify the Department of Urban Services. Your eligibility for the program may change.

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What happens if my child loses their ticket?

Replacements for lost or stolen tickets are only issued up until week eight (8) of each term. A new application will be required for each replacement.
The ticket will have a specific serial number which you need to record and keep safe in case the ticket is lost. This enables us to cancel the ticket. If this number is not forthcoming then you may not be able to apply for a new ticket until the following term.

Applications

Student transport application Word (989Kb)

Forms are also available from ACT schools , Canberra Connect shopfronts and the
ACTION web site

Applications forwarded to:
ATTN: STP Transport Policy
Department of Territory & Municipal Services
PO Box 151
Civic Square ACT 2608

Applications hand delivered to:
STP Box
Ground Floor
Dickson Motor Registry
13 - 15 Challis Street
DICKSON ACT 2602

For further information on the Department of Territory and Municipal Services Student Transport Program please call (02) 6207 7036.

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