Applications open for regional school bus transport in 2019

They’ve been operating in WA for a century this year, and parents keen to ensure their child has a seat on an orange school bus in their 101st year in operation are being urged to register now for 2019.

The Public Transport Authority’s School Bus Service (SBS) orange buses – founded as a horse-and-cart service back in 1918 – are provided free of charge to eligible children in regional Western Australia.

Children who are starting school for the first time, changing schools or moving address need to have their details registered with SBS before they can use the bus. Children who already use an orange school bus and are not changing their arrangements do not need to re-register.  

SBS spokesman David Hynes said that, if school children weren’t registered before November 9, they might not be able to access the service in the first week or so of school next year.

“SBS receives thousands of applications each year from parents of children who need to catch an orange school bus to and from school,” he said.

“The SBS team needs time to process these applications, plan routes and allocate resources to make sure all the eligible kids can be picked up and dropped off as required.

“Parents who leave it too late to register their child may find that we can’t service their stop until later in the term, after the route and timetable have been amended.”

Where it isn’t possible to provide a dedicated bus service, SBS offers a conveyance allowance to help manage the cost of taking children to and from school each day.

Parents can fill out applications either online at www.schoolbuses.wa.gov.au, or by contacting the SBS team on 9326 2625 for an application form.

Further details about the service, including eligibility requirements, are also available on the website.