regional apprentice student travel card

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Students, trainees and apprentices in regional nsw to receive $250 travel card for travel, kmart toy recall over fears it could cause severe injury and even death.

University students, apprentices and trainees living in regional NSW will soon have access to $250 worth of free travel as the government launches a card to cut the cost of their commute.

The card will cover the cost of public transport or fuel for students, who are already under strain from cost of living pressures, Deputy Premier and Regional NSW Minister Paul Toole said Sunday.

“Apprentices and university students in the bush often need to travel long distances for work or between training, classes and practical learning - this is about easing that burden,” Toole added.

The prepaid debit card can be used on public transport, petrol, Opal card top ups, taxi rides, electric charging stations and privately operated coaches, and will become available from next year.

Apprentices will be able to apply for the card in February, and university students will be eligible to apply in April.

The travel card is being rolled out for a two year trial period, Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway said.

To access the card, students must reside in a regional area outside Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, be between the ages of 16 and 66 and six months old, be undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW or an undergraduate university course that is full time and face to face.

They must also meet citizenship or permanent residency requirements.

The program builds on the government’s Regional Seniors Travel Card, which has been taken up by more than one million seniors, adding $200 million to the NSW economy.

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You may be eligible for a range of State and Commonwealth Government financial assistance to help you stay in your apprenticeship or traineeship.

Travel, accommodation and relocation assistance

Apprentices and new entrant trainees may be eligible for:

Apprentices and new entrant trainees may be eligible for travel and accommodation assistance if they need to travel more than 120km round trip to attend day or block release training with their registered training organisation

• Apprentices may be eligible for relocation and rental assistance if they are unemployed and need to relocate more than 60km in order to continue their apprenticeship with a new employer.

Learn more about the Travel, Accommodation and Relocation assistance package .

Travel concession card

Eligible apprentices and new entrant trainees registered in NSW are entitled to receive a Transport Concession Entitlement card . This card entitles you to an Opal Concession card and concession fares on NSW government trains, buses, most ferries and light rail within the Opal network of Sydney and surrounding areas.

With a Transport Concession Entitlement Card outside the Opal network, you pay concession fares on local bus services.

Existing worker trainees are not eligible.

Learn more about the Travel Concession Entitlement Card .

$100 rebate on car registration for apprentices

First and second year apprentices may be eligible to receive a $100 rebate on their car registration.

To be eligible for the rebate, the vehicle must be registered in NSW in the name of an eligible apprentice and due for renewal and paid after becoming an apprentice.

Find out more about the Apprentice Vehicle Registration Rebate .

Continuing Apprentices/Trainees Placement Services (CAPS)

CAPS is a NSW Government service that helps apprentices and trainees in skills shortage occupations who have lost their jobs to find an employer and complete their apprenticeships or traineeship.

Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships will assist apprentices in NSW who have demonstrated:

• hardship in their personal circumstances
• aptitude for vocational education and training to lead to successfully completing their trade training
• a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in the formal training

Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card

Applications are closed.

As part of the NSW Government’s comprehensive expenditure review, a decision has been made to close the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card trial program.

Apprentices and trainees that applied for the card prior to the program’s suspension can continue to use their travel card until it expires. The expiry date is printed on the front of the card.

More information and support with an already active card is available at Using your card .

Support from the Commonwealth Government

• Living away from home allowance
• Trade Support Loans (TSLs)
• Support for apprentices with a disability .

Phone 13 11 28 to speak to your local training provider.

Business Unit:

• Training Services NSW

Regional NSW student travel card welcome but concerns it misses first big move

The New South Wales opposition says it is "odd" the government's promised Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card will not be in the pockets of students until April.

Key points:

• The government announces plans to give all regional apprentices and uni students a $250 travel card
• The opposition says the April delivery for uni students misses the initial and most costly transfer
• NUS says students in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong miss out

The government unveiled plans for the $250 prepaid debit card in last June's budget.

Shadow regional roads minister Jenny Aitchison said handing out the card in April meant many students would miss out on using the funds for their initial move out of home in time for starting TAFE or university.

"It seems quite odd that the trial, or commencement, won't start until April 2023, which is when students will have made some of their initial and most costly transfer to university," Ms Aitchison said.

"The first couple of months of a student's life is when they have to get tools, textbooks; they have to get themselves to their university.

"That is when they should be getting the support, not months later."

While allocating $59 million to the plan, more details were not revealed till October, when the government announced the prepaid debit card could be used on public transport, petrol, Opal card top-ups, taxi rides, electric charging stations and privately operated coaches.

It was modelled on the Regional Seniors Travel Card.

On Friday, the government announced 100 apprentices in Dubbo would be the first to trial the card from April.

To access the card, students must meet the following criteria:

• be from a regional area outside Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong
• be aged between 16 and 66.5 years
• be either undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW, or
• be undertaking an undergraduate university course that is full-time and face to face

"It's a great announcement, but there is not a lot of thought in how it's been implemented," Ms Aitchison said.

Delay for uni census

Regional Roads Minister Sam Farraway defended the timeline and said the card would be available when students needed it.

"Our apprentices will have their cards in their wallet spending it on public transport, spending at fuel stations, for getting to their TAFE campuses, by early March," Mr Farraway said.

"What I can say is we're unable to launch the university students at the same time [as TAFE students] because we need the census data and the enrolment phase to be completed for the applications to start."

Ms Aitchison said she was also concerned the absence of electronic ticketing on public transport in some country areas would mean the rollout would not work very well.

"You'll have students with cards that they can't use on public transport because there is no electronic ticketing but they'll be able to catch an uber or a taxi — it doesn't make sense," she said.

Ms Aitchison was also disappointed students from metro areas who decided to study at regional universities would miss out.

"They won't be eligible because their residential address will be in Sydney or in metro Newcastle or Wollongong," she said.

"We are concerned the government hasn't thought this through."

Mr Farraway said the card was designed to support regional students.

"It's all about backing in our regional uni students, our regional apprentices and trainees because they have a greater tyranny of distance to travel to do their studies and we're going to support them in that," he said.

Helpful but too late

The National Union of Students (NUS) said the card would be helpful but come too late for the up-front costs students faced with the start of the new year.

NUS president Bailey Riley said it was a shame it was not being made available to university students now.

"It doesn't seem to actually have that impact of helping students at the moment when the cost-of-living crisis is at its worst; it is very delayed," Ms Riley said.

"I grew up in Bathurst and I know how expensive it is to move to a city or to another regional campus; at that point [April] you are two months into your semester."

She said the NUS was also concerned metro areas were excluded.

"If it excludes Wollongong and Newcastle, public transport is not really that accessible in those areas and they would benefit from the help in any way."

Asked if the opposition would support the card, Labor said in a statement that it had supported the Regional Seniors Travel Card and wanted more details on how the card would be funded into the future.

On Friday, the government announced 100 apprentices in Dubbo would begin trialling the card ahead of its roll out for TAFE students in March.

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Travel boost for apprentices and uni students

• Travel boost for apprentices and…

The NSW Nationals in the state government are boosting the budgets of regional apprentices and university students with a new $250 travel card to help with the cost of the commute to work, training or university.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the initiative will take the pressure off the hip pocket of apprentices, trainees and university students in regional NSW.

“We’re investing in the tradies, teachers and technicians of tomorrow,” Mr Toole said.

“We know apprentices and university students in the bush often need to travel long distances for work or between training, classes and practical learning – and this is about easing that burden.

“It puts $250 in their pocket to help them cover the cost of filling up the tank or catching public transport to campus.

“This builds on the Regional Seniors Travel Card, with more than one million cards making a real difference to the everyday lives of regional seniors and injecting nearly $200 million into the State’s economy.”

Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said apprentices will be the first to access the card under the two-year trial which will open to applications from February next year with uni students to follow in April.

“Whether you’re a 16-year-old mechanic apprentice or a 60-year-old university student studying teaching, if you live in the bush you may be eligible for the travel card,” Mr Farraway said.

“The prepaid debit card can be used for taxi trips, fuel, Opal card top ups, public transport and privately-operated coaches, and electric charging stations.

“Putting more money back into the pockets of apprentices and uni students is one way the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is securing a brighter future for NSW families.

“We know supporting regional apprentices and university students through this initiative will make a difference.”

To be considered eligible, a participant must:

• meet relevant citizenship or permanent residency requirements • reside in a regional location outside Greater Sydney and the Newcastle and Wollongong City Council boundaries • be between the ages of 16 and pension age (currently 66 and 6 months) • be undertaking an active apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW or an undergraduate university course. Courses must be full-time and face-to-face • be enrolled in an eligible campus. (Select campuses are still being defined).

For more information, please visit Service NSW.

Related Posts

ECEC trainees in NSW may be eligible for $250 travel card

by Freya Lucas

More than 50,000 regional trainees and apprentices can now apply for the New South Wales Government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card . 

Premier Dominic Perrottet hopes the initiative will ease budget pressures for trainees, apprentices, and university students in regional Australia.

“We know that young people in our regions are faced with greater travel costs than those in the city, often having to travel long distances to work or training,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This card will reduce travel costs by providing a $250 boost to the budgets of young apprentices and trainees in the bush, covering the cost of fuel, taxis and public transport.”

Around 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can start taking up this offer effective immediately by applying through Service NSW and save $250 on fuel, taxis and public transport to help with the cost of traveling to work or study.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the card was “a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.”

“It’s a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career,” Mr Toole said.

“This is not just an investment that is putting fuel in the tank of apprentices and trainees now. This is an investment that is fuelling the training of the workforce our regional businesses need for the future.”

The program is based on the Regional Seniors Travel Card which has proven very successful, delivering more than one million cards and injecting $196 million into regional economies since its launch in 2019.

After applying, eligible apprentices and trainees will receive a $250 prepaid debit card within weeks. Luke Prentice, who is based in the regional NSW town of Dubbo, was part of a trial roll out of the program last month, and said he’s already seen the benefits of the initiative. 

“I received my card in January which was perfect timing for me and my young family as the extra $250 help coming soon after Christmas was much appreciated,” he said.

“I have used my card to pay for fuel for my vehicle which I use to get to work and training as an apprentice electrician. With fuel prices high at present, among the other costs of living, the card is a welcome boost to our budget.”

Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed. Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.

The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024. More details about eligibility and how to apply can be found on the Service NSW website .  

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$250 ANNUAL TRAVEL BOOST FOR REGION’S APPRENTICES & UNI STUDENTS

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, right, with DeiselGas Moree diesel mechanic apprentices Caleb Simpson, left, and Blake Schwartz.

Friday, 2 December 2022

THE region’s apprentices and university students will enjoy a handy boost to their stretched budgets next year, thanks to the introduction of a new $250 travel card, according to Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall.

Mr Marshall said the new Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card would boost the budgets of the region’s apprentices and university students, with $250 each year to help ease the cost of the commute to work, training or university studies.

The MP recently visited DeiselGas Moree to share the good news with Moree-based diesel mechanic apprentices Blake Schwartz and Caleb Simpson.

“This new travel card will relieve some of the hip pocket pressure being experienced by our region’s apprentices, trainees and university students,” Mr Marshall said.

“We know apprentices and university students in the bush often need to travel long distances for work or between training, classes and practical learning – and this is about easing that burden.

“It puts $250 in their pocket to help them cover the cost of filling up the tank with fuel or catching public transport to and from the campus.”

Mr Marshall said the initiative built on success of the Regional Seniors Travel Card , which has been a wildly popular initiative over the past two years with regional seniors signing up in droves to access a practical and useful budget booster.

“It is important that access to training and tertiary education is affordable and this card will go some way to easing the budget pressure that extra travel can bring,” he said.

DeiselGas Moree apprentice Blake Schwartz said the pre-paid travel card would provide some welcome relief to his travel costs.

“It is a good idea and will help with the cost of travel to work and TAFE, especially given that Moree is pretty remote and we don’t have the same options to use public transport that people in the cities have,” Mr Schwartz said.

“With fuel costs still pretty high, every extra bit certainly helps and I’ll be applying for the card as soon as I can.”

Director of DeiselGas Moree Donna Solomon said the prepaid card would go some way toward offsetting those extra costs that regionally-based workers were faced with each day.

“Our apprentices are all valuable team members and they are committed to completing their training and gaining the skills needed to complete their qualifications,” Ms Solomon said.

“The costs of travelling long distances to undertake that training, such as Tamworth for TAFE, is a substantial cost and is an added burden on their restricted income, so the extra funding provided through the travel card, is a very practical initiative.”

The Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card will be available through Service NSW.

The new prepaid debit card can be used for taxi trips, fuel, Opal card top ups, public transport and privately-operated coaches, and electric charging stations.

To be eligible for a card, a participant must:

• meet relevant citizenship or permanent residency requirements
• reside in a regional location outside Greater Sydney and the Newcastle and Wollongong City Council boundaries
• be between the ages of 16 and pension age (currently 66 and 6 months)
• be undertaking an active apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW or an undergraduate university course. Courses must be full-time and face-to-face.

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Apprentice and Trainee Regional Travel Card Applications Open

Steph cooke | 22 feb 2023 | community roads and transport services.

Regional apprentices and trainees in the region can now apply for the NSW Nationals in government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card is a budget-boosting initiative to help ease cost of living pressures in the bush where young people face long distances to get to and from work or training.

“I’m pleased to announce that from today, more than 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can save apply to save $250 on fuel and public transport to help with the cost of travelling to work or study,” Ms Cooke said.

“From today, if you’re an apprentice or trainee, you can get down to your local Service NSW centre and apply for the $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card and it will be sent to you within weeks.

“If you’re a parent or partner of an apprentice or trainee and you take them to their work or study, encourage them to apply to help towards fuel costs.

“This initiative follows a recent announcement which will see young drivers able to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to get into a safer car.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the card was a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres, and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.

“It’s a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career,” Mr Toole said.

Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed. Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.

The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024.

More details about eligibility and how to apply can be found at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/regional-apprentice-and-university-student-travel-card

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Information for retailers

Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card

Accepting payments

The Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card can be used at Australian retailers for travel related purchases in store, online or over the phone. 

By applying for the card and accepting the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card terms , cardholders are aware that:

• the card is to be used for travel related purchases only, and 
• if a retailer does not accept the card, they will need to use an alternative form of payment.

Merchant category codes

You can accept Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card payments if your business is using one of the following travel related merchant category codes:

• 4111 – Local/suburban commuter passenger transportation – railroads, ferries, local water transportation
• 4112 – Passenger railways
• 4121 – Taxis
• 5541 – Service stations (with or without ancillary services)
• 4131 – Bus lines
• 5983 – Fuel
• 4789 – Transportation services (not elsewhere classified)
• 5542 – Automated fuel dispensers
• 9399 – Government services (not elsewhere classified)
• 4011 – Railroads– Freight
• 763 – Agricultural co-operatives
• 5172 – Petroleum and petroleum products
• 5552 – Electronic vehicle charging

Merchant category codes are used to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they provide. If you’re not sure which merchant category code you’re using, you can check with your merchant acquirer or payments provider.

Fuel payments at service stations and mixed businesses

After putting fuel into their car, the cardholder will need to swipe or tap the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card using a point-of-sale terminal. The cardholder will then need to select ‘credit’ (not ‘savings’ or ‘cheque’), and enter their personal identification number (PIN).

The transaction will be accepted if you are operating with a service station or fuel category code.

Online and over the phone payments

The card can be used for one-off payments online or over the phone. Cardholders will provide their card number, card expiry date (printed on the front of the card) and CVV number (the 3-digit card verification value found on the back of the card).

The transaction will be declined if your business is operating under a non-travel related merchant category code.

Split payments

If the total cost of the transaction is more than the card balance, you can ask the cardholder to:

• pay the outstanding balance in cash or by using a different card (if you accept split payments), or
• use an alternative method of payment for the entire purchase (if you don’t accept split payments).

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Premier Dominic Perrottet unveils $250 apprentice, uni student travel cards in Goulburn

Apprentices and trainees across regional NSW can now apply for a $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.

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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet used Divall's Haulage as a backdrop for the announcement, where he said it would ease budget pressures for those studying and apprentices and trainees in the bush.

"We know that young people in our regions are faced with greater travel costs than those in the city, often having to travel long distances to work or training," Mr Perrottet said.

"This card will reduce travel costs by providing a $250 boost to the budgets of young apprentices and trainees in the bush, covering the cost of fuel, taxis and public transport."

Mr Perrottet said it would provide tangible benefit to young regional workers who chalk up masses of kilometres in travel for work or study.

"This $250 hip pocket bonus for regional apprentices and trainees is only possible thanks to the Liberal and Nationals long-term economic plan to keep our state moving forward," he said.

Around 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can start taking up this offer right now by applying through Service NSW and save $250 on fuel, taxis and public transport to help with the cost of traveling to work or study.

Mr Perrottet was joined by Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman for the announcement along with Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway.

Mr Toole said the card was a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.

"It's a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career," Mr Toole said.

"This is not just an investment that is putting fuel in the tank of apprentices and trainees now. This is an investment that is fuelling the training of the workforce our regional businesses need for the future.

"Our Regional Seniors Travel Card has proven successful, delivering more than one million cards and injecting $196 million into regional economies since its launch in 2019, and we believe this card will be just as successful."

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said eligible apprentices and trainees who apply will receive a $250 prepaid debit card within weeks.

"The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government wants to get this $250 in the back pockets of our apprentices and trainees to help lower the costs of travel and boost their budgets," Mr Farraway said.

"Last month we launched a pilot of the card in Dubbo which allowed us to fine-tune the application process ahead of today.

"Our Government has built a strong economy so we can roll out budget boosting initiatives just like this, supporting country people with the rising cost of living will keep our state moving."

Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed. Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.

The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024.

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