“That ICPA (WA) requests that the Department of Transport – On Demand Transport review the transport hub policy criteria for the Student Subsidy Scheme (STSS) - Road Travel Subsidy. The criteria should state that the nearest transport hub should travel to the nearest appropriate government school with boarding facilities.”
The official criteria are as follows:
The Student Travel Subsidy Scheme provides travel assistance to school and tertiary students who are geographically isolated. The two main types of travel support are:
- Subsidised fares for air, bus and train travel for eligible students who live within the defined remote area of Western Australia (see map)
- A road travel subsidy for eligible students who live anywhere within Western Australia but who must be driven in a private vehicle more than 56km from home to the nearest:
- Appropriate government school with boarding facilities offering classes in the grade or level in which the student is enrolled, or
- Regular passenger transport (bus stop, airport, or train station- please visit the TransWA-plan your journey website for regular passenger transport hubs and routes), or
- A school bus service operating between the student’s home and the school they are attending.
Families are continuing to be refused STSS Road Travel Subsidy when the nearest transport hub is more than 56km away, for the 2021 school year and/or fails to support the needs of rural students.
Examples have previously been provided and yet still there remain as issues for our members.
Example 1:
Hyden is 192km from Narrogin Senior High School, our nearest appropriate government school with boarding facilities. There is no direct bus route from Hyden to Narrogin, so the transport hub criteria are unsuitable for our demographics.
Example 2:
A member enquired why their family application was rejected and she was advised that if you look at the TransWA map they could get their child from Kulin to Narrogin. This is only possible on two different bus routes and it may take a day and a half to make the journey. This would include a night stay in Perth with no adult supervision. The closest boarding facility (Narrogin) has no direct bus on a daily or weekly basis.
