Rollover

While the ASTP will endeavour to make transport arrangements for the start of the 2026 school year, we cannot guarantee applications received after 17 October 2025 will be assessed in time. It is recommended that those parents have an alternative plan [seek to make other arrangements] for their child’s transport for the start of the school year.

• 25 August 2025 - first day that schools will have access to ASTP Online to verify current student transport needs and confirm whether they will require transport to your school from Term 1 2026.
• 25 August 2025 - last day for schools to submit Year 12 program options and advice of finish dates for school leavers in 2025.
• 5 September 2025 - last day that schools will have access to ASTP Online to verify current student transport needs and confirm whether they will require transport to your school from Term 1 2026.
• 12 September 2025 - the last day the ASTP will accept new student applications or transport variations for the remainder of Term 4, 2025.
• 14 November 2025 - the last date the ASTP will accept changes to permanent residential addresses and contact details for the remainder of Terms 3 and 4.

2026 Applications for Assisted School Travel

• The ASTP is now accepting new student applications for 2026.
• 17 October 2025 is the last day that the ASTP can guarantee that 2026 student applications will be assessed in time and school transport arrangements made for the 2026 school year.

Appeals

If your child's application is unsuccessful or their variation is declined you may submit an appeal. Appeal requests must be submitted to the ASTP by close of business (5pm AEST) on the below appeals form due date.

** Please note that dates do not include any school holiday panel meetings.

** Exception for January appeals will not be reflective of the 10 working day response rule due to outcomes applied in December.

** December panel date brought forward from the previous year to ensure that parents are advised of the outcome before the Christmas break.

ATSO training schedule

If you are an Assisted Travel Support Officer (ATSO), please check your Departmental email address (i.e. @det.nsw.edu.au) regularly for training invitations and important notices about mandatory training requirements.

Please note that ATSO training is by invitation only and is limited to a number of participants per session on a planned schedule. Individual arrangements may be considered for ATSOs in regional/remote areas.

The following dates and locations are tentative and subject to change depending on venue and trainer availability.

Learn more about ATSO training.

Term 1, 2026

Term 2, 2026

Contractor and ATSO pay ending

ATSO safety vest orders

Last day to submit safety vest orders (PDF 147KB):

• 27 March 2026
• 26 June 2026
• 18 September 2026
• 11 December 2026

Contractor applications

Last day to submit a new/amended ASTP Scheme contractor application, including novations, requests for increased transport area and requests for increased run capacity:

• 9 March 2026
• 11 May 2026
• 20 July 2026
• 14 September 2026
• 9 November 2026

Please note: Depending on the number of applications, the panel dates may vary.

NSW public school holidays and term dates

Please note: School development days occur at the beginning of Terms 1, 2 and 3 and the last two days of the school year. Check with your school, as schools may vary some of these dates.

School speed zones apply on all school days, including school development days.

Visit our calendar page for a complete list of term and vacation dates, test and exam dates and more.

NSW non-government school holidays and term dates

A comprehensive list of non-government schools that the Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP) services.

ASTP non-government school website list (PDF 320KB).