Authorising and coding pre-booked Fares Allowance (FAA) entitlements for ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-02100070

Requests for fares to be authorised and booked in advance of the journey, need to be received by Services Australia within the specified time frames. The exception is where there is unforeseen and exceptional circumstances impacting travel.

This allows the ABSTUDY Smart Centre Travel and Away from Base Teams and Corporate Travel Management (CTM) enough time to:

• source travel providers
• finalise bookings, and
• provide travel itineraries for all travellers

Where possible, always book forward and return travel arrangements for ABSTUDY travellers.

When authorising travel in advance, CTM is informed of the ages of young secondary boarding students so appropriate travel arrangements are made. For example, CTM should ensure that young students travel on the most direct route and are scheduled to arrive at their destination at a reasonable time. This is important for students from remote communities who are travelling without a supervisor.

The details of the journey for pre-booked travel must be entered into TMA. Once lodged, the student and/or non-student traveller's travel request will be assessed for eligibility and the outcome recorded in TMA. A letter, where required, will be sent advising of the outcome of their claim for FAA.

For students under 18

Where a student under 18 has a supervisor and a Safe Travel Plan (STP), Travel Officers can approve weekend, public holiday and after hours travel requested by a school/board provider or a student boarding privately.

If a supervisor is unavailable due to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, travel can be approved if the boarding school/provider:

• understands their responsibility to manage risks, and
• implements the Safe Travel Plan

The emergency contact can phone CTM after-hours telephone number on the travel itinerary, where:

• weekend or public holiday travel for a secondary student under 18 is approved
• a disruption occurs, and
• the STP fails

For students over 18

There are minimal restrictions in place for students over 18 requesting weekend, after-hours or public holiday travel.

If weekend, after-hours or public holiday travel is requested by a student over 18 or non-student traveller, consider the:

• duration of travel
• flight availability
• departure and arrival times

Prior to booking weekend or public holiday travel, advise the student or non-student traveller if travel is approved and they experience disrupted travel, they are responsible for managing the disruption. This includes overnight accommodation. Students and non-student travellers experiencing a disruption may contact CTM after-hours telephone number located on the travel itinerary.

Copies of all travel itineraries are attached to the student's or non-student traveller's travel booking in the Travel Management Application (TMA).

For further information, see Travel Management Application (TMA).