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You are here: ABSTUDY > 7
Benefits and Allowances > 7.9 Fares Allowance
This chapter contains details about Fares Allowance.9
Summary table
The table below summarises the Fares Allowance
|
Feature of Allowance |
Details |
|
Availability |
Schooling B, Tertiary, Part-time, PES and Masters and Doctorate Awards, including for Away-from-base activities. |
|
Purpose |
To cover the cost of specified travel for students to fully participate in the approved course of study. |
|
Eligibility conditions |
|
|
Entitlement |
Entitlement matched to the actual cost of most appropriate and cost-effective form of transport. |
|
Standard rate |
|
|
Provision of entitlement |
|
|
Other conditions |
Independent and pensioner students who have travelled interstate to undertake a tertiary course will be considered residents of their study location for any further studies undertaken after completing the initial tertiary qualification, thus relinquishing fares entitlement. |
|
Other conditions (continued) |
In such cases, the student may be approved to travel to the most cost-effective (ie closest) interstate location. |
|
Payment features |
|
|
Taxation status |
Non taxable income for the student. |
|
Indexation status |
Not applicable. |
*Note 1: Travel costs to school with available boarding places in the
student's home state should be compared with travel costs to the interstate
school for which ABSTUDY fares allowance has been requested.
*Note 2: Students should not be forced to go interstate, unless this is
requested by the applicant, regardless of cost.
Students on the following awards may qualify for Fares Allowance:
The purpose of Fares Allowance is to cover the cost of specified travel to enable students to participate fully in the approved course of study while maintaining contact with the home community where appropriate.
Fares allowance will normally be for travel between the student's permanent home and the location of the approved education institution.
Fares allowance will also be available to the extent that there is a need for a student to travel to participate in Away-from-base activities.
Travel officers should ensure that Centrelink’s travel provider is aware of the ages of young secondary boarding students so that appropriate travel arrangements are made. They should ensure, for example, that young students travel on the most direct route and that they are scheduled to arrive at their destination at a reasonable hour. This is particularly important where students are from remote communities.
Boarding institutions should be encouraged to provide the necessary information to Centrelink travel officers sufficiently early so that inappropriate bookings can be avoided.
A student is eligible for Fares Allowance if:
The circumstances that travel can be approved for each purpose are described in 7.9.5 Types of Specified Travel. Specified travel does not include daily travel between the term address and the education institution.
Also see 7.9.6 Approved Travellers (other than students).
Independent and pensioner students who have travelled to, and resided, interstate to undertake a tertiary course through on-campus studies, will be considered residents of that study location for any further studies undertaken after completing the initial tertiary qualification, thereby relinquishing fares entitlement. This does not include students who travelled interstate solely to participate in Away-from-base activities.
Schooling students who are eligible for boarding entitlements may be approved for Fares Allowance to attend an education institution located in their home State or Territory.
Fares allowance for schooling students who choose to study interstate will not be approved, except where:
There is no travel restriction to intrastate locations for Tertiary students.
Interstate travel generally will not be approved for:
Tertiary students undertaking certificate and enabling courses will not normally be approved for Fares Allowance to interstate locations. Interstate travel may be approved only where:
In such cases, the student may be approved to travel to the nearest most cost-effective interstate location.
The decision whether or not a course is available in a particular State or Territory is made by DEST. It is the responsibility of institutions, not students, to apply for recognition that a course is not available in (some) other States/Territories. Institutions wishing to apply for such recognition should be advised to make a written request to the:
Group Manager
Indigenous Policy Development and Coordination Group
DEST
GPO Box 9880
CANBERRA ACT 2601
or by fax to 02 6240 7667, for consideration. Centrelink Customer Service Centres will be advised of the DEST decisions.
Note: Fares Allowance does not refer to travel activities that are part of a course of study. Fares Allowance is for the beginning and end of the academic year to travel to and from the place of study.
Fares allowance entitlement for a student living away from the permanent home will normally be established by the applicant:
Where there is doubt whether or not the student was residing at the nominated permanent home immediately prior to enrolment, independent evidence of residence should be sought, eg accounts, rental receipts, FaCS records.
Similarly, a student may be considered to have established permanent residency at the study location where s/he has applied for and/or obtained rental accommodation or purchased housing through the local State/Territory Housing Authority.
Approval for travel from the place nominated as the permanent home to the course location will be given where the student can establish s/he will travel or has travelled to the term location to take up or resume study. It is expected that students will not normally need to travel more than one month prior to commencement of the course.
Except where earlier travel can be justified, if a forward journey did not take place at the outset of the course, it is assumed that the student left the permanent home and/or travelled to the place of study for reasons other than to study the approved course. Under these circumstances there has been a change of permanent home prior to the commencement of study and the student is not eligible for ABSTUDY Fares Allowance. However, where earlier travel to take up or resume study can be justified, eg to find accommodation, this is permissible.
Continuing students must travel prior to recommencement of following year studies. Students discontinuing or completing their course must travel within three months of ceasing studies.
The end-of-study journey may be taken at the time a school student returns to live at home from a board arrangement. Should such a student subsequently re-commence at the same or a different board establishment, Fares Allowance for the forward journey would normally be available only if the journey coincided with the commencement of a new term.
Note: If the student does not return to the permanent home in line with the return journey requirements, it would normally be assumed that s/he remained at the study location for reasons other than for study and, in these circumstances, has established her/his permanent home at the study location and thereby forfeited remaining Fares Allowance entitlements.
Joanna was studying in Sydney until 10 December 2002. At the end of the course Joanna was offered a job at the local shopping centre up to 20 January 2003. No employment was available at her home town. On 20 January 2003 Joanna rang the ABSTUDY office to arrange her flight, to her home town. Her 2003 studies commence on 1 March. Is Joanna eligible for this return trip? Yes. Joanna is entitled to the return journey if it is taken prior to recommencement of studies.
If special circumstances apply such that, in the opinion of the delegate, the student should not be regarded as having changed her/his permanent home, Fares Allowance for the return journey home may be approved. Examples of such circumstances would be rigid leasing or rental arrangements and illness or other circumstances beyond the student's control.
A student who is eligible for Fares Allowance may travel from, or return to, a location other than her/his permanent home. It would, however, be expected that such travel would only be required to join the family which had temporarily moved. Costs should not exceed the level of Fares Allowance entitlement for approved travel.
A dependent student's permanent home may change if her/his family moves residence. In such a circumstance the student's entitlement to Fares Allowance will be re-assessed on the basis of the new permanent home location.
An independent student’s permanent home may only change where the student has a partner who remains at the permanent home and has moved his/her permanent home while the student is away at the study location.
Should any of the following events occur during a student’s course of study, Centrelink will need to be notified and amendments or updates to the original claim made. These changed circumstances are when:
Such changed circumstances (eg. transferring from a Diploma course at an interstate institution to a Certificate course in the same institution) may result in the student becoming ineligible for Fares Allowance. In line with the Declaration on the ABSTUDY Claim Form, students have fourteen days to notify Centrelink of any changes to their circumstances.
A student is not eligible for Fares Allowance to a location outside Australia.
A student who does not use all her/his travel entitlements in one year may not accumulate unused entitlements.
Fares allowance entitlement will be assessed at the rate of the mode of travel which is:
The rate of Fares Allowance will be determined by the provisions of this section regardless of the actual mode of travel used by the student.
In determining Fares Allowance entitlements, travel is to be assessed to and from the location used as the normal travel terminal, eg a train station, bus stop or air field, servicing the permanent home community or the place of board.
Additional costs for taking an indirect route or for breaking the journey are not included in Fares Allowance
Where a student for travel by air is required to land at Sydney airport, an additional ‘noise tax’ will be added on to the cost of the ticket. This cost is payable as part of the student’s Fares Allowance entitlement.
The standard rate of Fares Allowance qualifies a student to travel at that fare.
Note: Travel booked through institutions, such as for secondary boarding students and Away-from-base activities, must use the Qantas Group Booking facility for a discount where it can be applied (see 7.9.4.18).
In circumstances where it is not practicable or reasonable for the student to travel by economy class rail or bus fare, entitlements may be set at the value of:
Note: This may include travel by chartered transport such as taxi, hire car, ferry, helicopter.
Fares allowance entitlement may be assessed at the rate of economy air travel or rail fare with sleeping berth, whichever is most applicable, if:
A student will not be entitled to Fares Allowance at the level covering economy air travel or rail fare with sleeping berth simply because s/he cannot secure a booking at the desired time.
Fares allowance entitlement may be assessed at the rate of Motor Vehicle Allowance (MVA) for officers of the Australian Public Service in line with the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business rates in the following circumstances:
Where suitable public transport is available for part of the journey, Fares Allowance entitlement will be the sum of:
Where a Motor Vehicle Allowance entitlement has been assessed, the rate will be determined on the basis of:
Travel by motor vehicle for a journey or part of a journey for which it is not necessary to travel by motor vehicle will attract the standard rate of Fares Allowance entitlement, ie the cost of economy class rail or bus (including concessional rate, if applicable).
Where a student travels by private vehicle but is not entitled to MVA, and transports as passengers other ABSTUDY students with fares assistance entitlements, ie resulting in cost savings, the rate of fares assistance may be:
Where Australian Public Service (APS) Motor Vehicle Allowance (MVA) is payable for journeys involving ABSTUDY students, the relevant MVA rate is paid plus an additional 0.63 of one cent per kilometre.
For journeys without ABSTUDY students (eg a return journey after transporting ABSTUDY students) the relevant APS Motor Vehicle Allowance is payable.
The following motor vehicle allowance rates currently apply:
|
Engine capacity |
Engine capacity |
Rate per kilometre |
|
1,600 cc and under |
800 cc and under |
49.30 cents |
|
1,601 cc - 2,600 cc |
801 cc - 1,300 cc |
59.00 cents |
|
above 2,600 cc |
above 1,300 cc |
60.00 cents |
Chartered transport is to be arranged by Centrelink, a boarding establishment or an education institution and the cost of the charter met from student entitlements in the following circumstances:
Travel by hire car should be approved only in exceptional circumstances. Where it is approved, Fares Allowance entitlement is equivalent to the rate of:
Hire car contracts are to be entered into by the approved traveller and not by the Commonwealth.
Fares allowance for transport between an air, coach or train terminal and board or accommodation location, is to be assessed at the rate of:
Where an education institution conducting a residential school arranges accommodation at an off-campus location, Fares Allowance may cover the cost of transport between the place of accommodation and the education institution provided that:
Where the student has baggage in excess of that carried free of charge by whatever means of public transport is being used, the cost of excess baggage will be regarded as part of the student's Fares Allowance for the journey up to the following limits:
Costs associated with overnight accommodation may be met if the purpose of the approved travel requires an approved traveller to stay one night or longer:
Where the accommodation provider provides reception services as part of an all inclusive charge, this may also be met.
Approved travellers are students, parents/guardians, community representatives and chartered transport drivers/pilots who are approved to provide transport for part or all of a journey.
Note: This does not apply to graduation travel, as meals and Accommodation expenses are not payable. (refer to 7.9.5.7.6)
Students, parents/guardians, board providers and education institutions should be advised that Qantas is currently the approved travel service provider for student travel and agreed Qantas procedures should be explained.
A discounted rate is available on Qantas Economy fares (subject to seat availability). To be eligible for the discounted rate, a minimum of 10 people must be travelling to a common destination.
Qantas will provide:
The travel officer will need to complete a Qantas Group Travel Services Authority form, provide a list of the students who will be travelling and take responsibility for advising the travellers of the Group Booking details.
It is expected that, unless the student is travelling by transport chartered by Centrelink, the student, parent/guardian, board provider or education institution will be responsible for booking student travel.
Fares assistance may be provided in the form of:
Where fares assistance in the form of a travel ticket is required for the student, sufficient advance time is required for the authorisation to be prepared.
Arrangements for variations to booked travel should be authorised by Centrelink first, then arrangements can be made by the Centrelink Travel Officers, student, parent/guardian, board provider or education institution directly with the travel carrier provided there is no additional cost to Centrelink.
If travel is arranged, or a ticket authorised, for a student and the student subsequently does not travel:
If, in the opinion of the delegate, the ‘no show’ was due to circumstances beyond the control of the student, the penalty will not be applied.
Note: Centrelink should ensure that the cheapest refundable fares are booked.
Any penalty charged by the travel providers as a result of the student missing booked travel is to be recovered directly from the applicant and not from an entitlement directed to a boarding establishment. This penalty should be applied for the first ‘no show’ occurrence and any subsequent occurrences. For dependent Schooling students the ‘one no show’ policy is still applicable.
Introduction
This topic explains the different types of travel available for students
To enable a student to travel to and from the study location.
Available for all full-time students approved for Fares Allowance.
One single journey at the commencement of study and one single journey at the end of study between the permanent home and the study location. The end-of-study journey may be taken at the time the student discontinues study in the course for the year.
To enable a school student to be reunited with her/his family during school vacations.
Available for all school students approved for Fares Allowance.
One return journey between the permanent home and the place of study to coincide with each of the short vacations of the school year.
Travel approved for school vacations will be in addition to a student's entitlement to travel at the beginning and the end of a study period.
In Tasmania, which still adheres to the three term year, one return trip is also payable for the Easter break.
To enable a tertiary or TAFE secondary student to be reunited with her/his family.
Available for full-time tertiary and secondary TAFE students who are:
However, this travel cannot be approved for students or their dependents where they have received Fares Allowance for dependent(s) to travel to the study location (see 7.9.6.1).
One return journey between the permanent home and the place of study, which may be taken at any time after the date on which the student commences study and before the date on which the student ceases study.
To enable a student to return home for compassionate reasons.
Available for a full-time student who is approved for Fares Allowance and is in one of the circumstances described in 7.9.5.4.4 below as compassionate reasons.
Where a student has received Fares Allowance for a dependent to travel with them to the study location (see 7.9.6.1) those dependents are also eligible for compassionate travel where it is necessary for them to return home with the student (see 7.9.6.1.3).
Students attending an Away-from-base activity are not eligible for compassionate travel but may use their return trip prior to the end date of the activity.
Similarly, secondary boarding students who are suspended from school are not eligible for compassionate travel, but may use their end of term entitlement to return home.
One return journey between the place of study and the permanent home for each approved compassionate travel claim.
Circumstances justifying travel for compassionate reasons include:
DIFFERENT TO YA/AUSTUDY PAYMENT
A maximum of two return trips per student, per year of course may be approved.
Where compassionate travel is approved because of illness of the student, and the student's illness is sufficiently serious that it would not be safe for her/him to travel alone (or at all), Fares Allowance may be approved for the return travel costs of a companion to accompany the student or for a parent, or partner or other close family member to visit the student.
Note: Where the student is suffering from a terminal illness, both parents may be approved to travel to visit the student.
Approval for compassionate travel is to be made by the delegate who must be satisfied that the request is valid and that the student's absence from study will be kept to a minimum reasonable time (see 7.9.6.2.1 about travel for a companion or a family visitor for a student with a disability or illness).
Where necessary the delegate may approve travel on the condition that documentary evidence will subsequently be provided to support the request. If evidence has been requested but not supplied, an overpayment of the cost of Fares Allowance may be raised.
Documentation to support compassionate travel requests may take the form of statements from doctors, hospitals or community authorities which confirm the nature of the circumstances requiring the student's return home.
To enable a student to participate in an approved Away-from-base activity, such as a selection test or interview program, residential school, field trip or placement.
Available for a student who is approved to participate in an approved Away-from-base activity.
One return journey between the place of study and the approved destination(s) (see Policy Manual 7.10.4). For variations to authorised travel, see 7.9.4.20.
Masters and Doctorate Award students undertaking an Away-from-base activity have a limit of $2,080 a calendar year for the total of fares and accommodation.
To enable a student to attend examinations for the approved course.
Available for a student who is:
One return journey between the permanent home and the examination centre for each approved examination or set of examinations.
Full-time tertiary students would be expected to remain at the place of study until the end of their participation in the normal examination period and would therefore only qualify for examination travel for unexpected supplementary or deferred examinations.
To enable a student to attend her/his graduation ceremony.
Available for students who:
One return journey within Australia to the place of study equivalent to the approved travel rate paid at the commencement and end of the student's study period. That is travel paid to either on campus students or those students involved in a combination of distance education and face-to-face teaching (mixed-mode).
Note: Graduation Travel is not paid under Away from base IESIP funding. This travel is paid by Centrelink.
For travel to attend a graduation, students need to meet all eligibility criteria. Those students who from 1 January 2000 received assistance with travel (fares allowance) under the away-from-base element of IESIP must also have been in receipt of one or more ABSTUDY allowances from Centrelink at the same time as they received assistance with travel under IESIP. Travel to attend a graduation must only be from the latest recorded permanent home address to their institution as recorded at the time the ABSTUDY assistance was paid. This entitlement is only for students who undertook a course of study through a combination of distance education and residential schools (mixed-mode). It is not available for students who received ABSTUDY away-from-base assistance only for residential schools, field trips or placements but did not receive fares allowance to travel between their place of residence and the institution to undertake the course of study.
Joan is attending Sydney University but her permanent home is in Dubbo. She is eligible for the away-from home rate of ABSTUDY and two return journeys to and from the University to her permanent home per year. Joan's travel is paid by Centrelink. After completing her Bachelor of Arts, Joan is eligible for Graduation Travel at the travel rate paid at the commencement and end of her study period. Joan will apply to Centrelink for this travel payment.
Bill lives in Darwin and is studying a Diploma by distance education. As part of his course he attends Curtin University in Perth for several periods during the year (mixed-mode). His travel is paid for by the University through block funding as part of the IESIP programme. After completing his Diploma, Bill is eligible for Graduation Travel at the travel rate paid from Darwin to Perth at the commencement and end of his study period. Bill will apply to Centrelink for this travel payment.
There are no meals and accommodation allowances payable for Graduation Travel.
To enable the supervision of school students while in transit during an approved journey.
Available in relation to students approved for Fares Allowance where:
The number of parents/guardians and/or community representatives to be assisted will depend on the circumstances of the travel. As a rule of thumb, a ratio of one parent/guardian or community representative to six students should be used. This allows one parent/guardian or community representative to supervise between one and six students, two to supervise seven to twelve students, and so on.
One return journey between the supervisor’s home and the student’s place of study or other designated location for a parent or community representative for each approved occasion.
Note: Entitlements for overnight accommodation, if applicable, are set down in 7.9.4.16.
To enable Masters/Doctorate students and their partner and dependents to travel to their new home at the place of study (see Policy Manual 7.4.4.3).
Available to students on Masters/Doctorate Award.
An economy or student concession airfare to the study location for the student, partner and dependents. If travelling by surface transport, the airfare equivalent, or actual costs, whichever is the less.
Orientation or Special Purpose Visit Travel is for students who are approved to live away for home. One return fare is provided to assist with travel associated with the entry, orientation or adjustment of a secondary or tertiary student to a boarding/term location, so that the boarding/away from home placement may be effective.
Serious problems of adjustment are demonstrated by any or all of the following:
Available in respect of a student approved for Fares Allowance where:
The number of parents/guardians and/or community representatives to be assisted will depend on the circumstances of the travel. As a rule of thumb, a ratio of one parent/guardian or community representative to six students should be used. This allows one parent/guardian or community representative to supervise between one and six students, two to supervise seven to twelve students, and so on.
One return journey between the student's permanent home and the place of study for the student and/or her/his parent/guardian or home community representative. For overnight accommodation of an approved traveller, see 7.9.4.16.
Introduction
This topic details when travel is available to people other than students
A student who is approved for Fares Allowance for her/his own travel is eligible for Fares Allowance for a dependent partner and/or any dependent children/students who travel to live at the place of study, where:
Note: Students are not eligible for mid year return to home location and back to school.
However, see the next block for students who are not entitled.
Students undertaking courses of more than one semester who receive travel entitlements for dependant(s) to travel to the place of study, are not eligible for travel during the year under 7.9.5.3.
Travel entitlements for dependants are the same as those indicated for students for the following types of specified travel:
The rate of entitlement for dependants' travel is set down in the Summary of Fares Allowance under 7.9.4 Entitlement to Fares Allowance.
Dependants would normally be expected to travel with the student but may use Fares Allowance to travel separately, eg to return home within one month before the student completes studies.
A companion may be approved to travel with a sick student who needs to travel home. Where the student is too ill to travel, a family member such as a parent/guardian or partner or other close relative may be approved for a return fare to visit the student. Where the student is suffering from a terminal illness, both parents may be approved to travel.
A companion may also be approved to accompany a student with a disability travelling between home and school where the disability is sufficiently serious that it is not desirable for the student to travel alone.
Travel entitlements for the student and for a companion or visitor are indicated in 7.9.4 Entitlement to Fares Allowance
Where an education institution can demonstrate that it is cost-effective for its representatives to travel to a community or communities rather than for students or parents to travel to the education institution, education institution representatives may be approved to travel to and from the nominated community or communities for the purposes set out in 7.9.6.3.2 and 7.9.6.3.3.
Travel for the purpose of student orientation may be approved for representatives from a school or hostel only if:
See 7.9.5.10 Orientation or Special Purpose Visit Travel.
Travel may also be approved for education institution representatives to conduct testing and assessment programs or residential schools in a community (see Policy Manual 7.10.4.3.5 and 7.10.4.6.4).
The rate of Fares Allowance entitlement for education institution representatives is as set down in the next section.
Entitlements for overnight accommodation, if applicable, are set down in the next section. The number of education institution representatives receiving assistance would, in normal circumstances, be limited to two.
Fares allowance is payable on submission of claims from:
Claims for reimbursement of Fares Allowance must be lodged with Centrelink before 1 April in the year after the relevant year of study.
Graduation and examination travel claims must be submitted within three months of travelling.
Claims can only be considered after this time if circumstances beyond the control of the claimant prevented lodgement within the required period and the claim was lodged as soon as practicable.
Fares allowance may be advanced to:
Advance payments are to be recovered if not satisfactorily acquitted.
Refer to Policy Manual 7.1.2 to identify the responsible payee where an overpayment of this allowance has been made:
Fares allowance is not taxable income.
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