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Appropriate school
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In the case of Government schools, one that provides an appropriate year of study for the student concerned.
In the case of non-Government schools, one that provides the appropriate year of study for the student concerned and is of a religious denomination or ethos appropriate to that student.
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Approved route
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A route approved by SBS along which a contract school bus travels to pick-up and drop-off approved students.
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Approved students
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Students who have been approved as eligible for and entitled to transport assistance – the term is usually used in reference to students approved for transport on contract school buses or education support vehicles.
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Complimentary passenger
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A student who is not eligible for transport assistance but who has been granted conditional approval to use a vacant seat or space on an contract school bus or who would be eligible for transport assistance but is travelling to a school which is not their nearest appropriate school.
The report of the Morrell Review of Transport Assistance for Students used the term ‘additional passenger’.
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Contract/orange school bus
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A vehicle approved by SBS for use under contract to transport eligible students to school.
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Contract service
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A service to transport eligible students through the use of vehicles under contract with the PTA, and administered by SBS.
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Conveyance allowance
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An amount paid to parents/carers to help meet the costs incurred by them in conveying eligible students to their nearest appropriate school (eg by private vehicle).
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Coordinator
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A person approved by SBS to act as coordinator for the purposes of facilitating the provision of transport assistance (eg receiving and considering applications for transport assistance).
With respect to rural students, the role of coordinator is often undertaken by the principal of a school serviced by a contract school bus service or a person who has local knowledge of the community in which the service is to be provided.
With respect to education support students, the coordinator’s role is usually carried out by the TLAO responsible for the district in which the student lives or in which the relevant education support facility is located.
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DET
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The Department of Education and Training (WA).
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Education support facilities
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‘Education support facilities’ is the collective term for education support schools, centres and units.
These facilities are dedicated to the education of students with intellectual disabilities,
‘Education support schools’ and generally cater for students with the greatest level of disability and support requirements.
‘Education support centres’ are usually located on the same campus as a mainstream school but usually operate independently and under separate administration. Students attending centres may be integrated into the mainstream school for some programs.
‘Education support units’ are usually located within a mainstream school and are under the control of the principal of that school. Education support units generally cater for students with lower levels of support requirements and who are capable of integrating with mainstream students for some parts of their educational program.
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Education support student
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A student enrolled at an education support facility.
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Education support vehicle
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A vehicle approved by SBS for use under contract to transport eligible students to education support facilities.
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Eligible student
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A student who meets the eligibility criteria for transport assistance.
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Mainstream school
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A Government or private school that has not been classified as an Education Support Facility. |
| Mainstream student |
A student enrolled at a Mainstream School. |
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Transport Minister
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The Minister to whom the administration of the Public Transport Authority Act 2003 (WA) has been committed by the Governor of the State of Western Australia.
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Nearest appropriate school
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The appropriate school closest to a student’s normal place of residence as measured by the shortest practical road route.
Where relevant, the measurement of distance from a student’s residence is taken from the gate or point of entrance/exit on the property on which the residence stands that is nearest to the school or bus route.
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Non public transport areas
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Those areas of the State of Western Australia not classified by the PTA as Public Transport Areas – essentially: rural areas.
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Physical mobility disability
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A permanent physical impairment of the lower limbs which restricts a person’s mobility to the extent that they are unable to move independently from one place to another without some form of physical assistance or the use of equipment (eg a wheelchair).
A student will only be considered to have a physical mobility disability for the purpose of assessing their eligibility if their disability is likely to persist for more than six months.
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PTA
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The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.
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Public Transport Areas
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The areas surrounding major metropolitan centres (such as those around metropolitan Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and Perth) in which the Government has established, operates, controls and subsidises a developed public transport system.
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Regular attendance
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To be eligible for transport assistance, a student must intend to travel to and from their school every day on which the school requires student attendance, and actually attend on at least 60 percent of those days (eg at least three days in a five-day school week).
Students attending education support facilities are normally expected to travel to and from their education support facility (ie to and from the one address) at least three full days per week (ie three mornings and three afternoons).
What constitutes acceptably regular travel may vary according to the circumstances of the student or their school.
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Residence
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A student's permanent residence or home whilst they are attending school full-time.
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Rural Student
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A student who lives outside the designated Public Transport Areas.
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SBAC
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School Bus Advisory Committee.
SBACs act in an advisory role to SBS, and provide recommendations relating to the delivery of transport assistance to rural students.
SBACs provide advice and recommendations relating to:
· Applications for student transport assistance;
· Applications for route alterations, spurs, extensions;
· Approval for students to travel as complimentary passengers.
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SBS
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The School Bus Services branch of the Public Transport Authority.
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School
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An educational facility as defined and approved by Department of Education and Training.
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Spur
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A section of an approved route that branches from a main route and along which a contract school bus travels and returns in order to pick up and drop off students.
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Student
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A child or young person enrolled in an educational program at a school in a pre-compulsory, compulsory or post-compulsory education period as defined in the School Education Act 1999 (WA).
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Terminus
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On the approved morning route of a contract service, the first pick-up point for an eligible student; on the approved afternoon route of a contract service, the last drop-off point for an eligible student.
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TLAO
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Transport Liaison and Administration Officer.
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Transport assistance
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The forms of transport assistance for students which are managed by SBS.
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