Determining the appropriate mode of transport for ABSTUDY Fares Allowance (FAA) 010-02100090

Expenditure amount

Delegation level

Up to $5,000

APS4

Up to $10,000

APS5

Up to $50,000

APS6

Up to $100,000

EL1

Up to $500,000

EL2

Subject Line

Email body

{Urgent} Chartered Transport Expenditure Approval Required

We are seeking approval for the cost of chartered transport.

• Travel dates:
• Travel type:
• Mode of transport:
• Travel from:
• Travel to:
• Number of approved travellers:
• Total cost of chartered transport:
• Cost per approved traveller:
• Is an alternative mode of transport available for all or part of this journey? Yes/No
• If yes, why has chartered transport been deemed the most appropriate mode?
• Provide details of cost comparison completed:

For help to assess this request, see Operational Blueprint Determining the appropriate mode of transport for ABSTUDY Fares Allowance (FAA) 010-02100090 Table 2 > Step 11.

Item

Scenarios

1

FAA for journey home on completion of studies

Ted, a tertiary student, is entitled to ABSTUDY FAA for travel between a home address in Toowoomba and a university in Queensland. Ted makes a claim for FAA for the journey home on completion of studies in November. Ted uses private vehicle for this trip.

The journey planner shows that there are regular train and bus services available for a substantial part of the trip that do not exceed reasonable travel time. There are no reasons provided to advise why public transport would be unreasonable or impractical.

A cost comparison is completed, and it is found that travel by private vehicle is not cost-effective.

Ted is reimbursed the cost of the economy rail and bus fares for the journey, plus the standard rate of Motor Vehicle Allowance (MVA) for the legs between the study location, permanent home and transport terminals.

2

FAA for journey to permanent home at completion of studies

Carly's permanent home is in Maryborough and is undertaking studies in Brisbane. On completion of studies, Carly travels by rail to Nambour and then takes a bus to visit a family member in Noosa for a day before continuing on the journey to Maryborough by rail. Carly makes a claim for the travel home.

Carly is entitled to ABSTUDY FAA for travel between the educational provider and home and is paid FAA at the rate of economy rail for the direct route from Brisbane to Maryborough, only.

3

FAA for travel by private vehicle where there is no public transport

At the start of studies for the year, Bill travels 60 kilometres from home by car to the nearest railway station to connect with the rail service to the educational provider. Bill makes a claim for this journey to commence studies.

It is determined there is no public transport service available for the journey from Bill's home to the railway station and that the journey made is the most direct to the provider. Bill is paid FAA at the standard rate of motor vehicle allowance for the trip from home to the railway station plus the economy rail fare from the station to the education provider.

4

FAA to attend testing and assessment exercise

Rhiannon's permanent home is in Albany. Rhiannon is undertaking a testing and assessment exercise at a university in Perth.

The testing program involves a written test and an interview and takes approximately 4 hours. The normal mode of transport for a tertiary student between Albany and Perth is an economy class bus journey that takes 6 hours each way.

It is unreasonable and impractical to expect Rhiannon to travel by bus for 6 hours each way to undertake a testing and assessment activity of only 4 hours. In this circumstance, an economy air ticket is approved for Rhiannon to undertake the journey to participate in testing.

5

FAA to attend scholarship interview

Jenny's home address is in Narrogin. Jenny has been short listed for a scholarship at a boarding school in Perth. Jenny is required to undertake an interview at the school.

The appropriate mode of transport from Narrogin to Perth is an economy class bus journey. Due to the bus schedules, Jenny would have to travel the day prior to the interview and then return the day after the interview. This would require meals and accommodation for 2 nights in Perth. Due to Jenny's age, a supervisor or family member would need to also travel to supervise Jenny for the 2 nights.

It is more cost-effective to approve a flight for Jenny to travel to and from the interview on the same day. Whilst the flight is more expensive than the bus ticket, it is more cost-effective when considering the additional costs associated with supervisor or family member travel and 2 nights of meals and accommodation costs.

6

Unreasonable travel schedule

Olivia is 16 years old and lives in Katherine. Olivia boards away from home in Darwin. Olivia normally travels to Darwin by bus. Changes have been made to the bus schedule which now means it departs Katherine at 4:30 am. This is considered an unreasonable departure time for a secondary school student.

There is a regular economy air service available for this trip. To ensure Olivia does not undertake travel at an unreasonable time, a flight is the most practical, reasonable and cost-effective mode of transport in the circumstance.

7

Health issues requiring alternate mode of transport

Michael is 15 years old and lives in Halls Creek. Michael boards away from home to study in Sydney. Michael's travel normally involves a charter flight between Halls Creek and Darwin and then a commercial flight between Darwin and Sydney. Michael has provided a medical certificate from a doctor outlining that Michael becomes airsick in small planes and has asked for an alternate mode of transport instead of the charter flight.

An alternate mode of transport can be approved for a bus between Halls Creek and Kununurra and then a commercial flight between Kununurra and Darwin. The alternate mode of transport is cost-effective and reasonable in relation to Michael suffering airsickness.

However, depending on flight arrival/departure times in Kununurra, sometimes the connecting bus service arrives/departs from Halls Creek very early in the morning (3:00 am). The bus arrival/departure time is considered unreasonable for a 15 year old student.

Motor Vehicle Allowance (MVA) may be payable as an alternate mode of transport for the parent to drive between Halls Creek and Kununurra to connect with the commercial flight when the arrival/departure time of the bus is unreasonable. Use of MVA in this circumstance is considered an appropriate mode of transport which is reasonable, practical and cost-effective for Michael's circumstances.

8

Additional living and/or study items that are needed to be transported to the study location at the beginning of the course in the year of study

Balan lives with family in Sydney and is entering into the first year of a Bachelor degree at a university in Armidale.

Balan has been approved to undertake the journey from Sydney to Armidale by train.

After packing everything needed for the move to the residential college in Armidale, even after reducing it several times, Balan has too much luggage to take on the train.

As it is the start of the first year of the course, and these items are necessary for Balan to live at the university, alternative transport services can be approved.

9

Public transport or regular air service will result in an unreasonable number of missed days of school

Tim and Tom are 15 years old and live in Cairns. They board away from home in Rockhampton. Their travel normally involves a commercial flight between Cairns and Rockhampton at a cost of $500 per ticket.

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) contacts to advise:

• that due to demand for commercial flights following the school holidays, the students are unable to travel until Tuesday (Day 7) of Week 2 of the school term
• there are 2 charter flight options available that would enable the students to start school on Tuesday (Day 2) of Week 1 of the school term:
• a 4-seater charter flight costing $8,000, and
• an 8-seater charter flight costing $12,000

Although the charter flight options are more costly than the usual commercial flight, it is considered reasonable to approve a charter for the 2 students in order to prevent missed days of school. It is cost-effective to approve the 4-seater charter rather than the 8-seater charter.

10

Charter flight to minimise number of missed days of school not approved

Cheryl resides in Townsville and boards away from home in Brisbane. Cheryl has been approved to undertake the journey from Townsville to Brisbane by commercial flight.

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) contacts to advise:

• that due to lack of seat availability, Cheryl is unable to travel on a commercial flight until Wednesday (Day 3) of Week 1 of the school term
• a charter flight is available that would enable Cheryl to start school on Monday (Day 1) of Week 1 of the school term, costing $3,000

Although the charter flight option would enable Cheryl to attend the first day of the school term, waiting 3 days for a commercial flight is not considered unreasonable and so the charter flight is not approved.