School responsibilities
The ASTP takes a collaborative approach with government and non-government schools, in the aim to create a safe, reliable transport assistance program for eligible students with disability.
Assessing parents and student eligibility for ASTP
- providing information to staff, parents and other interested parties related to the ASTP Guidelines and eligibility criteria for access to services under the ASTP
- assessing parents' capacity to provide or arrange transport for students
- assessing the students' travel support needs
Monitor and report Health and Safety issues
- monitoring and reporting all Health and Safety issues related to the safe travel of students including vehicle condition, safe seating, student health care needs and behaviour, seeking further support from the department's regional personnel and ASTP where necessary
- ensuring that a risk assessment is undertaken for students with a history of behaviour concerns or health care needs
- temporarily withdrawing travel assistance from students who pose a risk of any type to themselves, other students or staff, or contractors and forwarding copies of incident reports to the ASTP
- promptly notifying ASTP should the outcome and recommendations of the risk assessment indicate that travel assistance should be resumed, modified or cancelled
Supervision arrangements for the arrival and departure of students
- ensuring appropriate supervision arrangements are in place at school for students accessing the program at agreed arrival/departure times and arranging for staff to be available to assist with the transfer of students into and out of the vehicle, ensuring all seatbelts and other restraints are correctly fitted
- Ensure a safe location for pick and drop off of students
Support the drivers and Assisted Travel Support Officers (ATSOs)
- providing ongoing support, training and relevant information to drivers and ATSOs for all students with student behaviour support plans and/or individual health care plans that include strategies appropriate for implementation during transit
- checking that wheelchairs are properly secured within the vehicle (a minimum four anchorage points are required)
- ensuring that the wheelchair restraint system includes a seatbelt which is secured directly to the vehicle or to parts which are themselves secured to the vehicle (this is separate from any postural restraint attached to the wheelchair)
- ensuring that wheelchair brakes are on
- certifying the accuracy of driver and ATSO payment claims by checking the forms to ensure they detail the daily journeys travelled and the names of students who did not travel have been recorded appropriately
- working in partnership with parents, the ASTP and (for government schools) regional personnel to support students who have been identified as having the potential to develop the skills necessary to travel independently to and from school safely
- working in partnership with parents, regional personnel (for government schools) and the ASTP to identify alternative options to assist students to travel to and/or from school safely
Review and audit of travel support needs for students
- notifying ASTP of any change in student travel support needs or any change in the student's or family's circumstances which may impact on the nature of travel assistance required or the student's eligibility
- re-assessing at least annually (or more frequently, if required) the travel support needs of students who are currently accessing assisted school travel
- informing parents of the availability of alternative forms of travel assistance through TfNSW, specifically the SSTS (for students capable of independent travel) and the SDS
- checking the identity of any unfamiliar driver or ATSO
For more information please see the ASTP Guidelines.