Parent and Student Notices

SCHOOL COUNTRY BUS TRAVEL IN 2021

If you have a NEW or EXISTING student/s who requires travel on a rural country bus in 2021, you MUST ensure that their travel is approved.  

2021 NEW APPLICATIONS and RENEWAL APPLICATIONS open in Term 4, 2020 online via School Bus Management System (SBMS). 

This is what you need to do:

EXISTING TRAVELLERS:

If your child/ren are existing travellers in 2020, you will need to RENEW their travel for 2021.  Existing families will already have a family account in SBMS.  If you do not know your login details, please contact PTV’s Customer Help Line on 1800 800 007.

1. Log into your family SBMS account and check that all the contact information is correct and current – this is important during an emergency
2. RENEW APPLICATION:  Click on the RENEW APPLICATION tab beside the student’s name
3. Follow the prompts – be sure to select Term 1, 2021, making sure that the school and year level is correct.

NB. If your student is changing schools/school campus or residential address, please click on NEW APPLICATION, update address (if necessary) and follow the prompts.

NEW TRAVELLERS:

Do you already have an SBMS account? If yes, proceed to Step 2.  If you do not know your login details, please contact PTV’s Customer Help Line on 1800 800 007.  

If you are new to country bus travel, proceed to Step 1:

1. CREATE A NEW FAMILY ACCOUNT: New families will need to CREATE a new family account in SBMS
2. ADD TRAVELLER/CHILD:  Click on ADD TRAVELLER/CHILD and follow the prompts.  Repeat this step if you have more than one new child requiring travel in 2021
3. APPLY FOR TRAVEL:  Click the NEW APPLICATION tab and follow the prompts making sure that you select Term 1, 2021.  Repeat this step if you have more than one new child requiring travel in 2021.

1. Once you have submitted the renewal/new application request, you will need to wait for SBMS to conduct its main churn in December where your request will be processed.  New applications will be assessed against the Department of Education and Training’s School Bus Program policy’s eligibility criteria and if approved, allocate a bus stop and route to the application.

NB. To be eligible for free travel on a country bus, you must reside more than 4.8km from your nearest attending school of the same denomination (government or non-government).  If you have access to public transport within 1.6km of your residential address and it meets your school start/finish times, you are required to use it (if you reside more than 4.8km from your nearest attending school of the same denomination, you may be eligible for Conveyance Allowance – please refer to your school for more information).

1. Check your account at the end of December for your travel offer.
2. ACCEPT TRAVEL OFFER:  Select MANAGE OFFER, and then ACCEPT the travel offer.  If you no longer require travel, please DECLINE the offer.

IMPORTANT:  A SEAT ON A COUNTRY BUS IS ONLY SECURED ONCE THE TRAVEL OFFER IS ACCEPTED.

If your student/s no longer requires travel, please decline the offer, or advise your school immediately so the seat can be allocated to another student.

UNAUTHORISED TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED ON A COUNTRY BUS

It is the family’s responsibility to ensure that their child/ren are approved for travel on a country bus.  Unauthorised student travellers will be referred to their school in the afternoon, and the family will be contacted to collect him/her.  

If you require any assistance with your student’s travel renewal or new application, please check with your school or contact PTV ON 1800 800 007.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL, SCHOOL CAMPUS OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS – EXISTING TRAVELLERS

The following year level students will automatically be removed from their 2020 bus roll at the end of the year, on the basis that they have finished their education OR will be expected to move to a new school/campus:

• Year 12 students
• Year 10 students who completed their education at a junior government school ie Crusoe College, Eaglehawk Secondary College etc moving to Bendigo Senior Secondary College
• Year 9 students who attended the Coolock campus (Junortoun) of Catherine McAuley College as they are expected to transition to the St Mary’s campus (Bendigo)
• Grade 6 students who completed their education at a primary school and are transitioning to Year 7 at another school

In accordance with the Department’s School Bus Program policy, when a student moves schools/school campus or residence, and who still requires country bus travel, a NEW APPLICATION for travel must be submitted (due to the change of circumstances) and be assessed against the policy’s eligibility criteria.  This will also ensure that the student is allocated to the most appropriate route and shuttle (if application).

Josie Caruso

Bendigo SBP Administrator

Bendigo School Bus Network Office

Email: buscoord@bse.vic.edu.au

Telephone: 4433 4317