Victorian Education Minister Mary Delahunty has received a report into school bus services for the state government's consideration.
The report was produced by an independent committee of representatives of the Department of Education, Employment and Training, the Catholic Education Office, the Association of Independent Schools in Victoria and the Department of Infrastructure.
The recommendations from the Review of School Bus Services are to be considered in the lead-up to next year's State Budget.
"The Bracks government has already implemented several measures to improve Victorian school bus services, including installing satellite or mobile phones in all buses, improved access for VCE and TAFE students, more flexible routes and a safety code of conduct," Delahunty says.
"This report proposes more ways of making Victorian students' access to free school buses fairer and safer, particularly in rural and remote Victoria."
Committee chair, Theo Theophanous, says more than 450 other stakeholders made written submissions to the panel and a series of forums on the issue were held in 18 locations across the state.
Theophanous says the report proposes:
- greater flexibility in varying routes in remote areas
- counting students from non-government schools in the number required to establish a new route
- increasing the base allowance for families of children in areas where free school bus services can't be provided, and staggering it depending on distance
- greater flexibility in transport provided to non-government school students
- offering spare seats on an existing route to VCE students wanting more choice in the schools they can attend to do the courses they want
- increased assistance for blind, deaf and severely disabled students
- further research into the implications of fitting seatbelts to new buses.
"Last year, free school buses transported 73,000 students on 1,600 routes at a total cost of $152 million. The Bracks government is determined to ensure that such a huge and beneficial system is sensitive to the unique circumstances of Victoria's students," Delahunty says.