MASSIVE DEMAND for the highly anticipated, inaugural National Travel to Learn and School Bus Summit – on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, in Canberra - means registrations are now open and delegates are encouraged to act fast, according to industry insiders
To be held at the National Convention Centre, the theme of the Summit is ‘Moving Students – Building a Public and Active Transport Culture’. Its purpose? To discuss travel choices to most effectively get students (no matter their age) to primary and secondary schools, TAFES and Universities – in fact, all forms of education.
It’s about looking beyond the policy outcome of providing transport services to deliver access to education and broaden the policy basis upon which governments fund these services, according to Bus Industry Confederation organisers.
“It’s to identify what other economic, environmental and societal benefits there are if we get ‘travel to learn’ transport services right,” said Michael Apps, BIC executive director.
“With the realities and challenges of massive urbanisation and rising population in Australia’s cities and growing regions, and access to education in rural and remote Australia upon us, do we need to rethink and re-design the fundamental approach to provision of free or subsidised school services and concessional student travel? Do we need to look to the longer term and make ‘travel to learn’ a policy that is about building a public and active transport culture for Australia,” he explained.
“To make ‘travel to learn’ policy as much about long-term lifestyle travel choices as access to education … can we put in place more effective student travel systems across Australia? Are the current approaches delivering a fair system and how can we improve it? Are there things that the bus industry – working with its stakeholders – can do that will deliver better outcomes for governments, educational institutions, students and bus operators?
“Where does ‘travel to learn’ to schools or universities fit when it comes to the transport network and the task of moving people as a whole?
“Is a focus on ‘travel to learn’ options part of the solution to managing traffic congestion in our cities, reducing transports greenhouse footprint, improving personal health and reducing the impacts of obesity?
“Is access to educational institutions in regional and remote areas being adequately met?” Apps asked.
The cost to attend the Summit is AUD$165 (Members, incl. GST, or $330 (Non-members, incl. GST). The Wednesday night’s Industry Dinner at the National Convention Centre costs AUD$110 (Members, incl. GST), or $220 (Non-members, incl. GST). Attendance to both the Summit and Industry Dinner is AUD$275 (Members), or $550 (Non-members).
Further information is available at www.ozebus.com.au, or by emailing enquiries@bic.asn.au. Final registrations will be accepted up to Friday 22nd June, 2018, depending on venue capacity.
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