Tasmanian Student Transport Concession
This page is a direct rule-based guide for AU_TAS_STUDENT_TRANSPORT_CONCESSION (rule version 2025-26, effective 1 July 2025). It explains the Tasmanian Student Transport Concession — free travel for under-18 students between home and school, and half-fare public transport for adult students.
Don't want to read the full rule? Get a personalised report on every Australian government benefit you may qualify for in under 3 minutes.
Quick Answer
You may qualify if you are a full-time student or apprentice in Tasmania. Students under 18 travel free between home and school, and adult students get half-fare public transport.
It produces no cash — the value is free or discounted travel. In the questionnaire it is reached when state = TAS and full_time_student_or_apprentice = true.
Outcome summary: free bus travel to and from school for under-18 students, and half-fare bus and ferry travel for adult students, with a further discount when paying by smartcard.
What Is This Payment?
This concession brings together Tasmania's student travel arrangements into one entitlement covering school students and adult students on public buses and ferries.
The rule database tags this as a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. It does not pay money; it provides free or reduced travel depending on the student's age and situation.
Under-18 full-time students travel free between home and school. Adult students pay half-fare on public bus and ferry services, with an additional discount of around 20% when paying with a smartcard. A child-fare pass is available in special circumstances.
How Much Can You Get?
The amount block is eligibility_only with period: none. There is no direct cash payment; the value is free or discounted travel.
- Free travel for under-18 full-time students between home and school.
- Half-fare bus and ferry travel for adult students.
- A further smartcard discount of around 20% on top of the adult-student half-fare.
Eligibility Conditions
The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition must pass.
- Tasmanian resident:
state = TAS. - Full-time student or apprentice:
full_time_student_or_apprentice = true.
The exact benefit depends on age and situation: free home-to-school travel for under-18 students, half-fare for adult students, and a child-fare pass in special circumstances.
Paying by smartcard adds a further discount for adult students, so registering a smartcard is worthwhile. The Department of State Growth (phone 1300 135 513) administers student travel.
How To Apply
The channels are email and form.
- Apply through the student travel process by form or email as directed.
- Confirm the student's full-time enrolment or apprenticeship.
- Use a smartcard where possible to gain the extra adult-student discount; contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 for help.
Read the official Tasmanian Student Transport Concession guidance
Rule-Based Scenarios
Scenario 1: a school student
Charlie, 14 and in full-time school, travels free on the bus between home and school under the under-18 concession.
Scenario 2: an adult TAFE student
Aisha studies full time at TasTAFE and pays half-fare on the bus, with a further discount when she taps a smartcard.
Scenario 3: an apprentice commuting
Liam, a full-time apprentice, qualifies for the student transport concession on his public transport journeys.
Scenario 4: special-circumstances pass
A student whose situation warrants it can be issued a child-fare pass, applied for through the student travel process.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming it is a cash payment: the concession provides free or discounted travel, not money.
- Thinking all students travel free: free travel is for under-18 students between home and school; adult students get half-fare.
- Skipping the smartcard: adult students gain an extra discount of around 20% when paying by smartcard.
- Not confirming enrolment: you need to confirm full-time student or apprentice status.
- Confusing it with the conveyance allowance: the conveyance allowance pays per kilometre for rural travel; this concession is for bus and ferry fares.
- Overlooking the child-fare pass: a child-fare pass is available in special circumstances, applied for through the same process.
Related Benefits
- Tasmanian Student Conveyance Allowance — $0.28 a kilometre for rural students' travel.
- Tasmanian Student Accommodation Allowance — $1,472 a year for Year 11-12 students living away.
- Tasmanian public transport concession — cheaper bus and ferry travel for card holders.
- Tasmanian Apprentice and Trainee Travel Allowance — travel help for off-the-job training.
- Youth Allowance for students — federal income support for eligible students living away to study.
- ABSTUDY Fares Allowance — federal travel help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this concession pay me money?
No. It provides free or discounted bus and ferry travel; it is not a cash payment.
Who travels free?
Under-18 full-time students travel free between home and school.
What do adult students get?
Half-fare on public bus and ferry, with a further discount of around 20% when paying by smartcard.
Do apprentices qualify?
Yes. Full-time students and apprentices are eligible.
How do I apply?
Through the student travel process by form or email; the Department of State Growth can help on 1300 135 513.
Is there a pass for special circumstances?
Yes. A child-fare pass is available in special circumstances, applied for through the same process.
Find every Australian government benefit you're entitled to
Benefit Check uses the same rule engine behind this page to scan all 272 federal and state benefits. Answer a short questionnaire and get your full eligibility list with calculated amounts.