Families affected by the ongoing closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass will receive additional support through a temporary amendment of the School Drive Subsidy Scheme, alongside further improvements to school bus services which have been in place since the start of Term 3.
While Transport for NSW has worked to improve public transport connections, for some impacted families, current detours and extended journey times mean driving children to school is the preferred or only option for parents.
The School Drive Subsidy Scheme is in place to help families cover some of the costs of driving children to school when public transport isn’t available. Payments are calculated based on the approved distance between home and school or public transport drop-off, the number of days the student attends school, and the applicable subsidy rate.
The NSW Government will provide a targeted, temporary amendment to the Scheme to assist families whose school journeys have been significantly disrupted by the closure and who are facing increased travel times and costs.
The assistance will be back dated to the start of the closure, from 8 March 2026, until the road reopens. This means eligible families will be able to apply retrospectively, with payments covering the period since the closure began.
Students who travel to and from school by private vehicle may be eligible if they:
- Live in Hartley, Little Hartley, Hartley Vale, Kanimbla or Oberon.
- Attend Mount Victoria Public School, Blackheath Public School, Mountains Christian College, Katoomba High School, Katoomba Public School or Blue Mountains Grammar School.
- Obtain confirmation from their school principal that the Victoria Pass closure has increased their travel and that they are travelling by private vehicle.
- Continue to meet all existing School Drive Subsidy eligibility requirements, including age, NSW residency and minimum distance criteria.
This measure recognises the significant and unique impact the Victoria Pass closure has had on a number of families and is aimed at reducing transport disadvantage for students whose journeys to and from school have been substantially affected.
For general information about the School Drive Subsidy, please visit: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-fares/eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel/guide-to-school-drive-subsidy-payments.
Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education, Prue Car said:
“Families have been doing an incredible job navigating this disruption, and we want to support them to ensure their children continue to access their education.
“Alongside the improved school bus services this financial support will help ease pressure on families in the area.”
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
“We understand how challenging this closure has been, particularly for families and students facing longer journeys to and from school. For these families, it has meant a complete change in routine, with earlier mornings, longer drives and extra costs that add up.
“The temporary amendment to the School Drive Subsidy Scheme will help ease that financial pressure, and it applies retrospectively so families aren’t out of pocket.
“With a clear timeline in place and works underway, parents and students can plan ahead knowing this support will be there for the remainder of the closure.”
Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:
“Parents, carers and particularly our students have struggled while dealing with the impacts of the Victoria Pass closure. It’s been a genuine challenge for these families and their schools, so this amended subsidy will be a welcome bit of relief.”
