More NSW tertiary students will get transport concessions following changes to eligibility criteria announced last week
February 25, 2013
More New South Wales tertiary students will get transport concessions following changes to eligibility criteria announced late last week.
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian says under long standing rules, full time tertiary students had to be attending day classes and could not be employed to be eligible for transport concessions.
But last week the scope for travel concession
eligibility widened.
The following groups of full time university, TAFE and private college students will now become eligible for transport concessions:
- Students
employed or otherwise receiving an income - Students
enrolled in evening classes - Students undertaking postgraduate research at universities.
“The eligibility criteria for travel concessions have been around for many years and simply did not reflect how people live and study today – we need a common sense approach,” Berejiklian says.
Students will still need to meet other criteria to be eligible for a concession, such as being internally enrolled at university full-time or taking part in 20 hours or more of face-to-face classes per week at a TAFE or private college.
Students with a disability who, because of their disability, have to study part time or on an external basis, will be eligible for a transport concession.
Transport for NSW estimates the impact on revenue from today’s announcement will be minimal and can be absorbed within existing budget allocations.
Registered institutions will be contacted to ensure they are aware of the changes, which apply immediately.