School Travel Update

Term 4 2022

Applications for student travel in 2023 opened from Monday 10 October 2022.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2023 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if applying for the first time, or if requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4.

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4.

This will ensure that the school transport administrator can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2023 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student's distance eligibility has changed based on their grade, the Transport system will automatically update the entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, transport will send an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification from Transport advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out by Transport from January 2023.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. 

Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Application Endorsement – School Travel

Occasionally, applicants completing the online form make mistakes, school administrators can only endorse applications with correct information matching school records. The school can only amend the first name, date of birth or grade of a student’s travel application.

If a student’s details cannot be confirmed or are incorrect and cannot be adjusted by the school administrator, the application will not be endorsed and the applicant will be informed. A new application will need to be submitted.

Transport Concession Entitlement Cards (Senior Students 16yrs+)

To be eligible for a concession card students must be 16 years or over and enrolled at Cooks Hill Campus. Senior students are advised to submit their application form at least four weeks before the end of Term 4. This will allow time for processing and delivery to the school before the holiday period commences. Applications scheduled for delivery during the holiday period will be held and delivered when school recommences from January 2023. Ensure the grade the student is in this year is entered, not the grade they will be in during 2023. E.g., Year 11 students who have commenced Year 12 studies are still considered as being in Year 11 until the end of 2022.

The school form to request a concession card can be collected by students from the administration office or downloaded from our websites Location and Transport page.

Travel from Term 1 2023

Transport ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and have a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.

Applications for 2023 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel open at the start of Term 4 2022, so parents/students can   apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year.

The start of the year is a busy period for local transport operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations difficult. Transport recognises that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, Transport strongly encourages these families to have their children travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. 

Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support operators Transport encourages all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.

Students using School Opal cards are also reminded that they must tap on and tap off in line with the  Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use. This is important to ensure correct patronage data is recorded, which is used to plan school specials and regular route services.