Parent or guardian and supervisor responsibilities

When a child gets ABSTUDY Fares Allowance, there are different responsibilities for the parent or guardian and supervisor.

Parent or guardian responsibilities

As a parent or guardian, there are some things you need to do if your child gets ABSTUDY Fare Allowance.

You must contact your child’s boarding school or hostel either:

• when travel is required and if you or someone else will travel with them
• as soon as possible if they’re travelling for compassionate reasons.

You must also:

• not tell someone to collect your child mid-trip, as they could miss travel
• check if you need to take your child to their travel arrangements and collect your child when they return
• call your child’s school as soon as possible if you’re not sure that travel arrangements have been booked.

As the parent or guardian, you should know your child’s travel arrangements and their itinerary. If they need extra baggage or you’re unsure of the baggage limits, discuss this with the boarding school or hostel.

If your child is private boarding, you must call ABSTUDY at least 10 days before your preferred travel date.

You should also make sure your child does all the following:

• knows their responsibilities as a traveller
• packs only the clothes and personal items they need and wears suitable travel clothes and shoes
• knows their travel plans and brings their itinerary and emergency contacts with them
• has photo identification that matches the name on their ticket
• follows the travel carrier’s rules at the transport terminal, including getting there early
• understands they shouldn’t leave the transport terminal for any reason.

Supervisor responsibilities

As a supervisor, you are responsible for the safety of students when travelling. You should also know each student’s travel arrangement and their itinerary.

As a supervisor, you must do all the following:

• carry your itinerary with you always
• have photo ID that matches the name of your ticket
• bring any medications you need
• have a contact number for the school, including one for after hours.

You must travel at the booked time with the student unless changes have been approved by us. You must also report any travel changes or delays to the student’s school straight away.

You must meet the rules of the travel carrier. This includes all the following:

• baggage weight and size allowances
• transport terminal rules including getting there early
• behaviour standards and expectations.

You’re required to travel non-stop during your trip, unless there’s special circumstances pre-approved by us. If you’re travelling on a connecting trip, you need to stay at the transport terminal.

If there is a problem with your travel

A travel plan change can occur to you, the student or anyone travelling with the student. Changes can include any of the following:

• missed flight, bus, or train
• affected by significant travel delays
• unable to travel as booked.

If your travel changes, depending on how your booking was made, you need to contact the boarding provider, hostel or ABSTUDY team.

If your travel plans change outside of business hours, call the travel company number. You can find this on your travel itinerary.

Student’s must follow the instructions on their Safe Travel Plan when a disruption occurs.