Covenant College

What are the current bus routes?

• Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Little River.
• Shelford, Inverleigh, Teesdale, Lethbridge, Bannockburn and Batesford.
• Grovedale, Newcomb, Waurn Ponds, Belmont, Highton and Newtown.
• Lara, Norlane and Lovely Banks.
• Moolap, Leopold, East Geelong and Geelong.

What is the cost of the bus service?
The cost is reviewed annually and in 2008 the Bus Levies are:

• Metropolitan Bus Levy - $990 per student, per annum. The Metropolitan Bus Levy applies to students travelling from the Wyndham shire.
• Regional Bus Levy - $810 per student, per annum.The Regional Bus Levy applies to all students other than those travelling from the Wyndham shire.
• A pro-rata cost applies to part-time travellers.
• Casual bus travellers are charged $2.50 per trip.
• Bus Levies are invoiced together with College fees at the beginning of each month.

Does the government subsidise the cost of bus travel?
There is a Conveyance Allowance available for eligible families. Eligibility depends on two main criteria firstly, the student must live more than 4.8kms from the College; and secondly, if there is another school of a similar classification to Covenant College closer to the address of the student, then the family is not eligible. Families are encouraged to contact the College Bursar to confirm eligibility.

How are bus routes developed?
Each year, families are surveyed and asked if they intend to use the bus service. The responses are used to develop the various bus routes. Families are clustered and grouped together on the same bus based on the students addresses.

Does the bus route change?
Yes it does. As students join the bus service and stop using the service, the various pick up times change accordingly. Generally, the pick up and drop off locations do not change.

How is the service regulated?
The College’s bus service must comply with the State Government’s Department of Infrastructure regulations. Stringent regulations regarding safety, administration and general operations need to be complied with. Annual audits are conducted and the College must comply to maintain its accreditation.

What responsibilities lie with the parents and guardians?
Covenant College is committed to providing a safe and reliable service to all bus travellers. Parents and guardians are required to:

• Communicate with Transport Co-ordinator in a timely manner regarding their child not using the service on particular days. This is usually done via the Bus Message Form or through the Administration office.
• Communicate any concerns regarding the service to the Transport Co-ordinator.
• Be at the drop off and pick up locations if they have primary school children (Prep to Year 4).
• Support the drivers by encouraging their children to adhere to the bus rules.
• Participate in the annual Bus Satisfaction Survey each year.

What happens in the case of emergencies?
There are established procedures guiding emergencies. Individual drivers will contact the Co-ordinator who will then contact the office, informing them of the situation and then instructing them accordingly - this usually involves informing parents of the situation.