Approximately 250 students at Red Hill Consolidated School are registered to use one of our school’s five bus services, Main Ridge, Flinders, Point Leo, Shoreham and Merricks North. This is often a convenient method of transport for families and encourages independence and responsibility for our bus travelling students.

Eligibility for free bus travel is governed by Public Transport Victoria and the Department of Education. We are mandated to maintain up to date records for all bus travellers and conduct annual self-audits. Therefore, all bus travellers are required to complete an application form every year. Application forms can be picked up from our office, or downloaded at www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/transport/Pages/schoolbus.aspx.

If Red Hill Consolidated School is your nearest government school and you live more than 4.8km from us, bus travel is free. If you live within 4.8km from school and there is an available seat, bus travel is also free. If your child does not meet this criteria, you may need to apply for a fare paying position on our buses. The cost of bus travel if you do not meet the criteria for free bus travel is $120 per child, per term. This amount will be invoiced once a term. For more information on eligibility for the School Bus Program, download the eligibility guidelines at www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/transport/Pages/schoolbus.aspx.

Once you have submitted an application form you will be contacted by the school’s bus coordinator, informing you of the outcome of this process and when your child can start using the bus.

Roles are taken every afternoon on each of our bus services to ensure all bus travellers are accounted for. In order to keep to schedule, it is important for us to have record of your child’s permanent travel schedule. If any changes are made to this schedule, the office must be contacted. Older students can complete a bus note on the day of the change, or parents can call the school and leave a message before 2:30pm on our bus hotline.

All children using our buses must adhere to the behaviour code of conduct, which is outlined on the application forms. Failure to comply with this code of conduct may result in your child being removed from this service.

If you have any further questions regarding buses, please contact Gus Wettenhall on 59892321.