Students with disability who are unable to travel to and from school under the Transport for NSW's School Student Transport Scheme may be eligible for transport assistance under the Department of Education and Communities' Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP).
The ASTP plays a significant role in meeting the needs of eligible students with disability by providing free specialised transport to and from school where parents and carers are unable to provide or arrange transport for the student either fully or in part.
The program provides around 2,300 individual transport services daily through our contracted service providers, free of charge to over 10,500 students across NSW.
Is your child eligible for transport services? Guidelines and application forms
The ASTP Guidelines provide information about the services provided. Application forms and other important information can be accessed via the links on the right hand side of this page.
Our guidelines provide clear information about the eligibility criteria for assisted school travel. This includes details on the roles and responsibilities of parents, schools, contractors, Assisted School Travel Officers (ASTOs) and Assisted School Travel Program staff in supporting the program.
Application process
All applications for assisted school travel are assessed in accordance with the program's eligibility criteria based on the individual travel support needs of students.
Please contact your school principal to discuss eligibility and to complete an application form. A student must be enrolled in a government or non-government school before an application for assisted school travel can be processed.
Application forms for transport should be completed by both you and your child's school, so that we get all the information we need to meet your child's needs. It also ensures that we receive the completed forms in plenty of time to make arrangements for your child.
We will consider your application on the basis of your child's transport needs, and according to the eligibility criteria outlined in the guidelines.
Our service providers
The safety and wellbeing of your child is our top priority. All our service providers and their vehicles are carefully screened and vetted to ensure that they are capable of providing the high quality, safe service that you, as a parent or carer, expect for your child.
Our planning for 2013
We have already begun allocating approved service providers to students for runs to commence for the start of the 2013 school year.
Our first priority is to ensure that we have up-to-date information on students who will continue with us next year. We have already written to parents and carers telling them what information we hold, and asking them to confirm to us and the school that it is correct.
In mid-January 2013, we will contact parents and carers again to provide details of their child
In recognition of the importance of providing stability in a student may change. This is because we regularly have to review and re-organise runs taking into consideration:
- the travel support needs of each student
- new or changing enrolments at schools
- the changing number of students on a run
- the minimum distance necessary to transport a student to and from school/home
Before the start of the 2013 school year, the service provider allocated to your child will contact you before 5.00pm Tuesday 22 January 2013 to tell you the pick-up and drop-off times for your child. They will also advise the name of the driver, including his or her contact information, as well as details of the vehicle that will provide the child. If the service provider has not contacted you by 5.00pm Tuesday 22 January 2013 please contact the operator or call 1300 338 278.
Circumstances can change over the school holiday period e.g. moving house or deciding on going to a different school. This may require a new application for assisted school travel services to be completed. Parents will need to discuss this with their child parents.astp@det.nsw.edu.au or by phone on 1300 338 278 to clarify the application process.
We are here to help you - so if you need any further information on how the ASTP works, or whether your child is eligible, please contact as follows:
For enquiries regarding eligibility and applications for access to transport, please contact your school principal.
Information is also available from ASTP, by calling 1300 338 278 or by email: generalenquiries.astp@det.nsw.edu.au or use the following email addresses:
New phone call distribution system
A new distribution system has been introduced to handle calls to the ASTP. This enables us to direct your enquiry to the right staff member so that you are answered as quickly as possible without being transferred around the office.
Please note that the existing number has not changed - 1300 338 278 (toll free). An emergency contact option has been added to the new phone system for use in the case of a genuine emergency. Please press 0 on the menu options.
Mid-January 2013
Parents provided with information about their child details for 2013
Mid-January 2013
Contractors/drivers provided with a copy of the transport run card(s) for 2013
30 January 2013
Government school students return to school progressively from this date (please check for students attending non-government schools)
