ABSTUDY students experiencing disrupted travel 010-02100240

Weather, transport delays, carrier maintenance or missed connections mid-journey can lead to a small number of student and non-student travellers experiencing travel disruptions. A disruption to travel can be in the form of a long delay at the transit location (for example, airport), or require an overnight stay at an in-transit location.

If a student or non-student traveller is experiencing disrupted travel, Services Australia is usually notified by the Travel Management Company. However, Services Australia may receive notification of a disruption during business hours from a student, parent/guardian, or boarding school/hostel.

A Safe Travel Plan (STP) is mandatory for all primary and secondary school travellers under 18 years of age seeking to have their travel plan pre-booked by Services Australia.

Note: in all cases where an STP is in place and the emergency contacts are unavailable, or they have been unable to manage a disruption, a period of mandatory supervision requirements will apply until 1 March of the following year for any future pre-booked travel for the disrupted student traveller.

Penalties exist in some circumstances for missed travel arrangements. To determine whether a penalty applies to the student or non-student traveller who misses a booked journey, or connection on a journey, see No show for ABSTUDY travel.

Unaccompanied students under 18 years of age experiencing a travel disruption require supervision for long wait times at a transit location, between travel connections or supervision overnight when travel cannot be completed on the same day.