School Bus Program
2023 Travel Applications:
- All existing travelers should have received a travel offer for 2023. Please log in to your SBMS account to confirm the details and accept the travel offer.
- NOTE: If you need to change your address and/or your child’s school for 2023, you will need to decline the travel offer, update your address and submit a new travel application (with the new school details if required).
- If the address and school are correct but the bus stop/bus route is incorrect, please accept the travel offer first and then email: schoolbus@education.vic.gov.au with the requested change.
- If you no longer need to travel, please e-mail: schoolbus@education.vic.gov.au
- If you do not have a travel offer for 2023 but your child requires travel in 2023, you can renew travel (if traveled previously) or submit a new application.
- Once an application is submitted, it is processed overnight and if a seat is available, a travel offer will be emailed the following day. Travel offers expire 14 days after the offer is made.
- Bus passes can take up to three weeks to be received from when you accept the travel offer.
Current school bus networks managed by the SBMS;
AXEDALE BENALLA BENDIGO CASTERTON DELEGATE DROMANA EMERALD GOORNONG HAMILTON
HUNTLY MONBULK OUYEN PAKENHAM PYRAMID HILL RAYWOOD STAWELL TRARALGON
UPWEY HORSHAM HAVEN BIG HILL EAGLEHAWK NORTH ELMORE
The above school bus networks are the only ones currently active on the School Bus Management System (SBMS).
Should you wish for your child/ren to access a school bus service to and from their school located in one of these areas, please register an account via the School Bus Management System (SBMS) and make an application online. The system will provide you with information on whether your child is eligible for government funded transport assistance and, if there is a seat available on the school bus, allocate them a service.
Should your child be ineligible for government funded transport assistance you may be approved for travel where a seat is available, and upon payment of the applicable term fare.
If your school is not part of one of the above networks, please contact your school for further information.
For further information on government funded transport assistance please access the following links;
Who can travel on the School Bus Program?
The School Bus Program is an extensive school bus network that provides free travel to eligible students. Students must be attending government and non-government schools and living in rural and regional Victoria. Students deemed ineligible to travel for free may access a school bus service upon payment of a fare, provided there is space available on the bus.
* * Students are expected to use public transport where a service is available within 1.6 km (measured by shortest practicable route) of their home or closer to their home than the nearest school bus service. This applies to both students applying to access the SBP at no cost and to fare paying passengers. * *
Students at government schools
To be eligible for free school bus transport, the student must attend the nearest government primary or secondary school and must live at least 4.8 kilometres from the school.
Students at non-government schools
For students to be eligible for free travel to and from school by bus, they must attend the nearest non-government school according to denomination, and may be permitted to travel on an existing school bus service, provided there is space available on the bus.
Fare Paying Travellers
Ineligible students (those not attending their nearest government or non-government school) and the general public who wish to access a SBP service are required to pay a fare prior to being approved for travel.
The current fare is $125 per student per term.
Bus Passes
Bus passes are sent out to travellers via Australia Post. In some instances, bus passes may take up to 4 weeks to arrive.
Whilst waiting for your bus pass to arrive, families may login to the School Bus Management System and print a Temporary Bus Pass to access their school bus service.
In the event a bus pass has been lost, families may login to the School Bus Management System and order a replacement pass. Once the new pass has been ordered, it will be sent to the address nominated.
Bus passes must be presented to the bus driver when boarding the vehicle.
Applications to Travel
Renew Application – If a traveller is currently approved to travel on a school bus and their circunstances have not changed (e.g. home address and school), select ‘Renew Application’. Selecting this option will renew the travellers existing travel conditions.
New Application – A ‘New Application’ must be created for travellers that have never travelled on a school bus, or have changed school or home address. Selecting this option will create a new travel application.
When will I receive my travel offer?
Current Term - Applications for current term travel are processed by the School Bus Management System on a daily basis.
Next Term - Applications for next term travel are processed prior to the end of the current school term.
Next Year - Applications for next year travel may be submitted at the start of Term 4 and will be processed by December.
What happens when I receive my travel offer - Once you have submitted your application, a travel offer will be sent to you via email or post. Once you receive your travel offer notification, please log back in to the School Bus Management System to manage your offer.
When can my child travel on the bus - Once you have accepted your travel offer and paid the fare (where required), this completes the application process and ensures your child is approved to travel.
Terms & Conditions
Before travel access is granted, each applicant/traveller must agree to the terms and conditions of the School Bus Management System which is in accordance to the School Bus Program Policies and Procedures 2016. To view, please select the Terms & Conditions link.
Emergency Closures
The role of emergency management relating to school bus services (i.e. disruptions to school buses due to bushfire, flood, road closures, etc) is lead by the Department of Education and Training.
For information relating to emergency management and school buses, please contact your school in the first instance or alternatively, click the link below which will take you to the Department of Education and Training website's list of school bus closures.
Emergency Closures - School Buses
Disclaimer : Private Bus or Public Transport
Some School Bus Program (SBP) services provide a connection with private school bus services and/or public transport school bus services. They are indicated in the School Bus Management System as PRIVATE BUS or PUBLIC TRANSPORT as part of their service names. These services are not part of the SBP, and the information provided cannot be relied upon, as it may not be not accurate. The information advises existing travellers what service they will use to complete their journey to and from school as part of using SBP services. PTV strongly advises users of these services to contact their school for more information.
Under the SBP, PTV and DET are not responsible for the management of private school bus services and/or public transport school bus services. This includes timetable changes and any issues relating to the provision of the private school bus service and/or public transport school bus service (including, but not limited to service reliability, behaviour management).
If you require more information