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History of the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS)

Year	Kilometre	Fares	Conveyance allowance	Safety Net Bus	Rail	Students with disabilities
1906					Free rail travel to Grammar schools in Brisbane introduced.
1912					Free rail travel to secondary students in country centres with no grammar school introduced.
1916	Grant not exceeding 50 pounds ($100) towards the cost of conveying children by motor boat to Maroochy State School. Until May 1945, only subsidy assistance was paid to transport services.
1945	School Road Transport Services introduced where no licensed bus services were operating. Provided to primary school students over 10 years of age residing more than 3 miles from the nearest state school.
1958	Secondary school services commenced. Secondary school students to reside more than 3 miles from the nearest state secondary school.		Conveyance Allowances introduced. Class A for private vehicle. Class B for parents of children travelling by licensed bus. Parents had to pay first 5 shillings per week per student.
1959	Daily average of 9 students for institution of service introduced.
1964	School bus transport extended to primary school students under 10 years of age residing more than 2 miles from the nearest state school.		Conveyance Allowance extended to opportunity students. Sub normal students not eligible past the nearest school.			Sub normal students permitted to travel on school road transport services.
1966			Class B threshold of 50 cents removed. Non-government students only to receive refund based on nearest state school.			Conveyance Allowance extended to include students attending schools for the deaf or blind.
1967			Claims for refund of fares on public transport services extended to full approved fare to the nearest state school. Refund of fares to the nearest state school extended to non state school students.
1966						Taxi travel introduced for hearing and vision impaired students.
1981	Administrative Instructions on School Road Transport published by the Department of Education.					Petrol and Oil introduced for parents of handicapped children who travel more than 30 km to a special school.
1982			Class D and E Conveyance Allowance introduced for non state students resident outside the Greater Brisbane area.
1983	Department of Education creates Transport Officer positions in 10 regions to administer the School Transport Assistance Scheme.
1989	Responsibility for the School Transport Assistance Scheme transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Transport.
1991	Eligibility for all primary school students amended to more than 3.2 kilometres from the nearest state school. School Transport Information Management System (STIMS) started. Term Date Register introduced on STIMS.
	Standing passenger limit reduced from 32 km to 20 km.		Class A, C and D changed to a per vehicle rate.
	Fixed and variable payment introduced based on student number categories. 'Vehicle Premiums' start.	Formula introduced.	Applications for Conveyance Allowance restricted to current year of travel only.
1992	School Transport Business Calendar introduced.
1992	KM Services added to STIMS.		Conveyance Allowance added to STIMS.
1993	Vehicle categories introduced (C1 to C5). 'Operator Premiums' replace 'Vehicle Premiums'. Minimum Daily Payment abolished. 1/7/1993: KM Category Review introduced (20 month period).		Conveyance Allowance rates expanded to assist students travelling more than 50 km.			Special Education added to STIMS.
1994	Loaded and Unloaded introduced, '2 way Premiums' introduced. Relaxation of distance criteria for extensions where students live over 16km from their nearest school. 30/12/1994 'Operator Premiums' cease.		Drought Assistance introduced for families on primary producing properties from 1/7/1994.		Rail policy changes introduced on 1/7/1994: 1/3 adult fares for school students Safety Net for low income families – to school attended.
1994	Eligibility based on agriculture subjects abolished. Existing students phased out.
1995	1 July KM Category Review increased to 21 months. '2 Way Premiums' ceased on 31/12/1995.	2/10/1995: STAS Fares Policy introduced.		Safety Net on buses introduced for low income families. Low income defined as above the minimum levels of Family Payment, Youth Allowance, Abstudy, Veteran's Affairs Pensioner Concession Card and a child under a Care and Protection Order.
1996	8/1996: Guides to the School Transport Assistance Scheme first published (Version 1.1).
1996	Policy on Introduction of Subsidised Services introduced (26/7/1996).
1997	Non Government Schools Bus Fare Assistance Program 'Hot Spots' starts.
1997	Mountainous Terrain Allowance introduced. Zonal Allowance on Variable Payment introduced.	Mountainous Terrain Allowance introduced.	Drought Assistance added to STIMS.
1998	1/1998: Guides to the School Transport Assistance Scheme Version 2 published. 8/1998: Guides to the School Transport Assistance Scheme published on line (Lotus Notes). 21/4/98: Code of Conduct for School Children Travelling on Buses introduced.
1998	Payment of Fixed to operators to those schools closing one week early at end of year. Kilometric Category Review Procedures implemented.				1/7/1998: QR paid through STIMS for safety net rail students.
1999	4/10/1999: Code of Conduct for School Children Travelling on Buses – revised version introduced School Transport Procedures Manual first published.
	Isolated Package introduced. Number of students to institute a subsidised service reduced to 7 students from 3 families, includes preschool students.		Class I introduced as part of Isolated Package.
			Renewals of Conveyance Allowance, Safety Net bus and Rail outsourced.
2000	Diesel and Alternative Fuels Grants Scheme (DAFGS)/NON DAFGS payment rates introduced.	DAFGS/NON DAFGS STAS fares introduced.		Eligibility based on Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Veteran's Affairs Pensioner Concession Card introduced on 1/7/2000.
2001	6/2001: Guides to the School Transport Assistance Scheme Version 3 published. 9/2001: School Transport Safety Task Force Report delivered.
2002	School Bus Upgrade Scheme (School Bus) commenced.		Class E transferred to the Non Government Schools Transport Assistance Scheme on 1/1/2002.			Policy and Budget for students with disabilities transport transferred to Education Queensland on 1/7/2002.
2003	Assistance extended to students attending the Prep Year Trials.
2003	Seat belt trial commenced in Environment 3 areas on 12 buses throughout the state. Standees not permitted on certain very steep and long steep downgrades by Gazette notice.

Current information about the School Transport Assistance Scheme is available at the Queensland Transport website.

Library Services thanks Queensland Transport for permission to reproduce this chronology.

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Last updated: May 2006