Increased conveyance allowance to deliver cost-of-living relief

Regional families are set to receive cost-of-living relief ahead of the 2024 school year, with the State Government more than doubling the Public Transport Authority's (PTA) School Bus Services (SBS) conveyance allowance.

The increase was recommended in the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee's recently- released Bus Fair report (Review of Transport Assistance) and will see the base rate increase from 25.24c per kilometre to 55.6c per kilometre.

The increase represents the most significant change to the Student Transport Conveyance Allowance since it was last reviewed in 2002.

The conveyance allowance is in place to support students with special needs, and regional families who cannot access the PTA SBS.

Under the Student Transport Policy framework, eligible regional students generally have access to orange school buses contracted by the PTA. However, where it's not possible to provide a dedicated bus service, a conveyance allowance is provided to parents to help with the cost of driving their eligible children to and from school or, in some cases, to connect with the service.

It's the latest Bus Fair recommendation to be approved recently, after eligibility criteria changes were announced in mid-November.

More information can be found on the School Bus Services website.