Do you need to apply for a school bus pass?
The Queensland Government’s School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to enable eligible school students to attend education facilities.
There are two types of assistance available to students travelling on bus services to school:
- Distance based assistance
- Primary school students must live more than 3.2 kilometres from the nearest state primary school
- Secondary school students must live more than 4.8 kilometres from the nearest state secondary school
- Non-state school students must live more than the required distance from both the nearest state and non-state school of their type attended.
- Safety-net assistance
- Primary school students must live less than 3.2 kilometres from nearest state primary school
- Secondary school students must live less than 4.8 kilometres from the nearest state secondary school
- Non-state school students must live the required distances or less from either the nearest state or non-state school of type attended.
Apply for STAS online
- One form
- Up to five children
- Any device.
For more information: www.qld.gov.au/schooltransportassistance.
Need help with your application?
Email or call 1300 119 289 for technical assistance with your online application.
FAQs & handy tips to get you started
Once you are familiar with the application process and steps to get you started, you will find the ‘apply now’ button located towards the bottom of the STAS Apply for school transport assistance page.
After you’ve successfully lodged your application online, information will be generated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads to your local CDC office for processing. CDC offices include:
- Gladstone: 9 Lyons Street, South Gladstone
- Rockhampton: 274 George Street, Rockhampton
- Sunshine Coast: 11 Page Street, Kunda Park.
Please note: it is the Department of Transport and Main Roads policy that STAS applications for students placed under a Child Protection Order by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services must be made using the paper application form relevant to the transport assistance. This form can be found once you commence your application online.
Typically, you can expect your application to be processed within a few weeks however this may take longer during peak demand periods, such as the start of the school year.
It’s a great idea to get your application in early – we suggest lodging at the end of the prior school year if you’d like to avoid delays with the start of year rush.
Once we have processed your application, the Department of Transport and Main Roads will send you a letter advising you of your success, or otherwise.
CDC Gladstone: if successful, your child’s pass can be collected in person from our depot, or you may request for the pass to be collected by your child from their bus driver. If your child is ineligible for a bus pass a fare is payable. Please visit Fares & Tickets for more information.
CDC Rockhampton: if successful, your child’s pass can be collected in person from our depot, or you may request for the pass to be collected by your child from their bus driver. If your child is ineligible for a bus pass a fare is payable. Please visit Fares & Tickets for more information.
CDC Sunshine Coast: if successful, your child’s pass can be collected in person from our depot. Bus passes for the new school year are sent to their school for collection in the first few weeks of school term. If your child is ineligible for a bus pass a fare is payable and you will need to purchase and regularly top up a go card. Please visit go card | Translink for more information.
Ensure you read the Eligibility Criteria and Terms & Conditions before applying. Examples of common issues that can cause delays include residing outside the CDC bus services area; residing under the minimum distance threshold; and not possessing or disclosing a valid health care concession card.
Students without a state school in their local area may be eligible for distance-based assistance if:
- Their nearest state primary school is more than 3.2 kilometres away
- Their nearest state secondary school is more than 4.8 kilometres away
- Non-state school students must live the required distance from both the nearest state and non-state school.
All measurements are by the shortest trafficable route and are based on the nearest school which offers the required year level.
If students reside too close to their school to qualify for distance-based assistance, they may still be eligible for STAS assistance if they are listed as a dependent on the applicant’s:
- Health Care Card issued by the Department of Human Services (or hold their own Health Care Card)
- Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- If they are under a Child Protection Order by Child Safety Services.
Applications must be the name of the cardholder and require evidence of eligibility. The cardholder must also agree to data-matching being performed with the Department of Human Services.
Yes. Terms and Conditions apply, which can be found on the Queensland Government’s website.
Full details of the STAS application process is available through the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
If you require technical support with your application, please email or call 1300 119 289.
If you have received a letter stating the outcome of your application, and would like further assistance from your local CDC office, please contact us.
