The current delivery of supported school transport is different in each state and territory. A key challenge is to determine how best to align eligibility, supports, and quality and safety arrangements nationally under the NDIS to ensure that students have access to supported school transport, no matter where they live. To deliver a national model, current arrangements in each state and territory would need to change significantly. There are two broad options: Maintain current arrangements: While current arrangements have limited choice and control for families and equity across school systems, if a model for school transport within the NDIS is not supported, states and territories could retain responsibility. A new potential model for supported school transport in the NDIS: In developing a potential model for supported school transport in the NDIS, governments have been working to understand: how increased choice and control can be provided to students and their families in a way that is easy to understand and organise, recognising that choice and control can mean extra work for families; how existing eligibility for current school transport programs aligns with the reasonable and necessary criteria for NDIS supports set out in the NDIS Act 2013; the various approaches to service delivery to identify best practice; how to ensure appropriate quality and safeguarding arrangements and determine clear responsibilities between states, territories, families, schools and providers; and the implications of moving from current arrangements to individual funding through NDIS plans and how this funding would be passed to providers. Your feedback will inform whether and how supported school transport could operate efficiently, effectively and safely within the NDIS. Current arrangements In Australia, education is compulsory for children, who must either be enrolled in a school or registered for home education. For those enrolled in a school, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend each day. In many instances, parents transport their children to and from school using a private car, or through other private transport with family or friends. Students with the ability to travel independently are encouraged to do so, and may receive transport assistance funded by states and territories, such as public transport concessions and mainstream school buses. These services will not be replaced by the NDIS. An important principle is that school children and young people with disability should, to the extent they can, use mainstream travel options as other children do, because of the social benefits of inclusion.
The current delivery of supported school transport is different in each state and territory. A key challenge is to determine how best to align eligibility, supports, and quality and safety arrangements nationally under the NDIS to ensure that students have access to supported school transport, no matter where they live. To deliver a national model, current arrangements in each state and territory would need to change significantly. There are two broad options: Maintain current arrangements: While current arrangements have limited choice and control for families and equity across school systems, if a model for school transport within the NDIS is not supported, states and territories could retain responsibility. A new potential model for supported school transport in the NDIS: In developing a potential model for supported school transport in the NDIS, governments have been working to understand: how increased choice and control can be provided to students and their families in a way that is easy to understand and organise, recognising that choice and control can mean extra work for families; how existing eligibility for current school transport programs aligns with the reasonable and necessary criteria for NDIS supports set out in the NDIS Act 2013; the various approaches to service delivery to identify best practice; how to ensure appropriate quality and safeguarding arrangements and determine clear responsibilities between states, territories, families, schools and providers; and the implications of moving from current arrangements to individual funding through NDIS plans and how this funding would be passed to providers. Your feedback will inform whether and how supported school transport could operate efficiently, effectively and safely within the NDIS. Current arrangements In Australia, education is compulsory for children, who must either be enrolled in a school or registered for home education. For those enrolled in a school, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend each day. In many instances, parents transport their children to and from school using a private car, or through other private transport with family or friends. Students with the ability to travel independently are encouraged to do so, and may receive transport assistance funded by states and territories, such as public transport concessions and mainstream school buses. These services will not be replaced by the NDIS. An important principle is that school children and young people with disability should, to the extent they can, use mainstream travel options as other children do, because of the social benefits of inclusion.