Changes will be made to the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), effective from Term 1 of 2009.
The changes include:
- SSTS passes will be able to be used until 7:00 p.m. (extended from 4:30 p.m.), provided travel is on regular scheduled transport routes for train, bus and ferry services
- Families will be able to nominate two addresses for eligible children to travel to and from school, such as grandparents’ house, after school care or for separated parents
- Infants and primary students with SSTS passes will be required to pay $45 per child, with the fee rising to $90 for high school students, however, the total fee cost will be capped at $180 per family
- Commonwealth Health Care Card holders will be exempt from the fees.
With the exception of these changes, all current criteria for eligibility to the SSTS remain unchanged, including distanced based criteria and appeals processes.
The Department of Education will be providing more details to school principals for distribution to students and parents in relation to these changes prior to the end of Term 4 2008.
