The New South Wales Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli has announced that contract issues between the Department of Education and Communities and transport providers that have been disrupting the Assisted School Travel Program has been resolved.

 

The Minister announced increased pay rates for some drivers under the scheme had ‘significantly reduced’ the number of students affected by the disruption of the program.

 

"To address contract issues between drivers and the Department of Education and Communities, the NSW Government authorised the rate rise, which has already made a big reduction in the number of students waiting for transport under the program," Mr Piccoli said.

 

"It was clear to the Government that the new contracts, which began this year, were flawed.

 

"The NSW Government has listened to the providers on this, which is why I authorised the Department's Director-General to offer the higher rate immediately."

 

Subject to drivers passing the mandatory Working With Children check, the Department advises that this should mean all students affected by the disruption will be allocated to a driver by the end of this week.