Types of assistance available
The conveyance allowance program provides financial assistance for travel using the following transport modes.
Conveyance allowance for private car or private bus cannot be claimed if the journey to and from school can be made by accessible public transport or a government funded School Bus Program service.
Students eligible for the Students with Disabilities Transport Program should discuss with their school whether the conveyance allowance or Students with Disabilities Transport Program bus service is more suitable for the family’s travel arrangements.
The conveyance allowance rates are set out in the section on Conveyance Allowance Rates.
Public transport
To verify that public transport is available please check the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) site at . The CAU may contact PTV to determine whether the journey could be made using public transport. Public transport is considered available if PTV indicates the service is available in the hours before and after school i.e. 7 to 9am and 3 to 5pm.
The Department will only pay an allowance for the most economical ticket available.
Schools must sight confirmation of ticket/pass purchase before approving any application.
Students who are privately transported 4.8km or more to a public transport or government funded school bus stop may be able to claim a private car conveyance allowance as well to cover this distance (see multi-mode allowances).
Private bus
Where schools assume responsibility for the provision of school buses for students, either by operating their own services or by organising charter services, the student can apply for an allowance based on the distance from a student’s residence to the school/campus attended.
Rates are calculated using the shortest practicable route (measured in kilometres) from the student’s residence to the school/campus attended.
Private car
Where parents/carers drive their child to and from school, a private car allowance can be claimed based on the distance from a student’s residence to the school/campus attended.
Rates are calculated using the shortest practicable route (measured in kilometres) from the student’s residence to the school/campus attended.
Where there is more than 1 student in a vehicle, there are 2 rates claimable: ‘furthermost’ and ‘additional’. The student travelling the furthest distance to school is identified as the ‘furthermost’ student. Any other students are identified as ‘additional’ students. Each student must submit an individual application.
Multimode conveyance allowances
Multimode conveyance allowance applies when a student uses more than 1 mode of transport (for example, private car and public transport) for a journey between home and school.
A conveyance allowance may be granted at the appropriate rate for private transport or public transport where the distance travelled is 4.8km or more for each leg of the journey. This provision does not apply if the journey could have been undertaken using a single mode transport or 1 leg of the journey is less than 4.8km.
Where 2 modes of private transport are used (private car and private bus), the amount payable is based on the distance from the student’s residence to the school/campus at the private bus rate.
Rates are calculated using the shortest practicable route (measured in kilometres) from the student’s residence to the school/campus attended.
Multimode is not applicable under the 'next nearest' school allowance or to attend a more distant school.
Other transport modes
An allowance is available where a student chooses to use other modes of transport including bicycles and motorcycles. A private taxi rate may be available for students with a severe hearing impairment, severe vision impairment or with a moderate to severe physical disability.
Reviewed 08 November 2023