GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUS TRAVEL

INTRODUCTION:

Free School bus services are set up under a set of guidelines to ensure that a fair and equitable service is available. It is the policy of the Department of Education that a parent may choose to send their children to any school they wish.

Free travel is provided only to t5he nearest appropriate school. Furthermore free travel is provided only when a student resides 4.8 kilometres or more from the school (front gate to front gate).

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE?

Under normal circumstances government school students in years prep to 10 will be eligible for bus transport only to their nearest school. For students in years 11 and 12 access to comprehensive curriculum may be considered to determine the nearest appropriate school.

Non government school students will be granted permission to travel to the nearest registered school of the appropriate denomination offering a program at that level.

The principal of the bus coordinating school is responsible for coordinating all applications for permission to travel on a school bus service, including students attending both state and registered schools.

It is recognised that there will be circumstances, which warrant special consideration where a student does not meet the rules for eligibility to travel, In such cases the parent must seek the approval of the Regional General Manager, to travel on the school bus service. If the approval is given, such students would be treated as eligible in future decisions about that bus service.

WHAT IF MY CHILDREN ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FREE BUS TRAVEL?

The current policy is that spare capacity on a school bus can be used for fare paying passengers. Permission to travel is subject to stringent conditions including the requirement of parents to make alternative arrangements if at any stage there is insufficient capacity on the relevant bus.

Thus arrangements for fare payers can only be made on a term to term basis. Final approval to travel is only granted when the appropriate documentation is completed and fares for the next term have been paid.

The Public Transport Directorate determines fares, and they range from approximately $65 to more that $150 per term depending on the distance traveled.

HOW DO I ARRANGE SCHOOL BUS TRAVEL FOR MY CHILDREN?

1. Contact the Bus coordinator at the relevant coordinating school to determine if your child is eligible for free transport on the school bus. Phone our Regional Office (03 57612100) if you are not sure which is the coordinating school in your area.
   
2. If your child is eligible, complete an 'Application to Travel'. Your child will then be allocated a seat on the relevant school bus.
   
3. If your child is not eligible for free bus travel, you will need to check with the bus coordinator to see:
   If there are seats available on the relevant bus.
   The cost of the fare for travel on that bus.
   
4. Once an application for travel as a fare payer has been completed and the fare for the next term has been paid in advance, your child will be allocated a seat on the relevant bus for the next school term.
   

UPPER OVENS VALLEY ARRANGEMENTS:

Schools in the Upper Ovens Valley are coordinated by the designated coordinator based at the Bright P -12 College in Park Street Bright, 3740. (phone: 03 57551166)

Schools in this cluster are: Harrietville, Wandiligong, Bright and Porepunkah, with the relevant registered schools being St Mary's Primary and Marion College in Myrtleford.

Local enquiries may be directed in the first instance to Mr Bill Scott the deputy principal at the Bright P - 12 College.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Department of Education
Goulburn North Eastern Region
PO Box 403 (Arundel Street)
Benalla, 3672
Phone: (03) 57612100
Fax: (03) 57625039