Concession travel on public transport in Australia
As shown above, access to student concession travel varies for each state and territory in Australia. The Northern Territory has the most equitable approach to student concessions in the nation, closely followed by South Australia and Tasmania. At the bottom of the list are New South Wales and Victoria, where postgraduate and international students are denied the level of access to concession travel enjoyed by other students.
We hope that this information will serve as a useful tool in establishing your eligibility for concession fares for each Australian state and territory.
As a general rule, all passengers travelling on a concession fare are required to present proof of their entitlement at the time of purchase or when requested.
CAPA believes that all tertiary students should have access to concession travel on public transport, regardless of their location, enrolment type or residency status. If you agree, you can sign our online petition to help support improvements in access to travel concessions for students Australia-wide.
Find out your eligibility for concession travel (by State)
Welcome to CAPA's handy 'self assessment tool' for navigating your way through the often arcane eligibility criteria for student concessions on public transport across each state and territory in Australia.
To start, simply select the state in which you intend to travel:
Northern Territory
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements All Northern Territory-based and visiting interstate students are eligible to FREE travel on NT bus services. Tertiary students are also eligible for concession travel on ferry services unless they belong to one or more of the groups below: |
Institutions
- Charles Darwin University
- Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
Conditions
All full-time and part-time NT University students (as well as tertiary students from interstate) are eligible for free bus travel on the Territory bus system upon presentation of their University Student ID card (according to the Northern Territory Government FREE package, 27 January 2009). The NT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to provide free public bus travel for all University students. Ferry travel concessions are available to full-time students only.
Health Care Card holders
Helath Care Card holders are eligible for concession travel on public transport.
No separate ID card required for concession travel
Students need to present their Student ID Card when boarding or purchasing ticket.
Please refer to the links below for further information.
South Australia
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements Eligibility for concession travel on public transport anywhere in South Australia is straightforward, unless you belong to one or more of the groups below: |
Institutions
- The Flinders University of South Australia
- The University of Adelaide
- University of South Australia
- Tabor College Adelaide
- Australian Lutheran College
- Carnegie Mellon University
Conditions
All full time students are eligible for concession fares on public transport in South Australia. Tertiary student rates apply for holders of approved SA University student ID cards. Students who meet any of the following criteria are eligible for concession travel in South Australia:
- Full-time SA tertiary student
- SA student enrolled in an interstate School/University
- Interstate student visiting SA
- SA Student seeking a replacement student ID card during semester break
- International Students enrolled with a recognised institution (student needs to present proof of full-time status and period of study).
Health Care Card holders
Health Care Card holders need to apply for a Transport Concession Card. Instructions on how to apply and additional information can be found here.
Separate ID card not required for student concession travel
Eligible students (other than tertiary students visiting from interstate) do not require a separate ID card for concession travel.
Tasmania
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for concession travel on public transport anywhere in Tasmania is straightforward, unless you belong to one or more of the groups below: |
Institutions
- University of Tasmania
- Australian Maritime College
Conditions
Full-time students aged 19 and over (inclusive) attending any of the following institutions are eligible for concession fares:
- The University of Tasmania
- Australian Maritime College
- Australian Technical College
- TAFE Tasmania
Health Care Card holders
Health Card Card holders are eligible for concession fare travel on public transport.
Separate ID card
A Separate ID card is not required for concession travel.
ACT
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements Eligibility for concession travel on public transport anywhere in the ACT is straightforward, unless you belong to one or more of the following groups: |
Institutions
- Australian National University
- University of Canberra
- Australian Catholic University
Conditions
Full-time students of an approved/registered education provider are eligible for a concession fare travel with ACTION Bus service (the local bus service in Canberra) upon the presentation of a Student ID card issued by one of the following institutions:
- Australian National University
- University of Canberra
- Canberra Institute of Technology
- Australian Catholic University
Student ID card should have "Full time" clearly marked in order to travel at concession rates.
Full time international students are also eligible for ACTION Bus service concession fares.
Eligible ACT students may be issued with a concession travel sticker for use in NSW (eligibility criteria are the same as for NSW students).
Health Care Card
Health Care Card holders need to apply for the ACTION Concession Card; only those classified as low income earners by Centrelink are eligible. For more information click here or call ACTION on 13 17 10.
Separate ID card required
No separate ID card is required, except for Health Care Card holders (need to apply for an ACTION Bus services Concession Card).
A separate ID card is not required for NSW students visiting the ACT where their Student ID card bears a sticker issued by their institution.
Western Australia
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for concession travel on public transport anywhere in Western Australia is straightforward, unless you belong to one or more of the groups below: |
Institutions
- Curtin University of Technology
- Edith Cowan University
- Murdoch University
- The University of Notre Dame Australia
- The University of Western Australia
Conditions
All full-time WA tertiary students (international or domestic, undergraduate or postgraduate, internal or external) are entitled to a Tertiary SmartRider concession pass. Pass holders are entitled to concession travel on Transperth, TransWA and regional services. The process for obtaining a Tertiary SmartRider varies for students attending participating or non-participating institutions. Tertiary students enrolled in an interstate institution but residing in WA are not entitled to concession travel.
Health Care Card holders
Health Care Card holders are eligible for concession fare travel. Concession is available only to WA residents; only cardholders are eligible for concession (dependants listed on the card are not eligible).
Separate ID card required for concession travel
Concession travel is only available to holders of a Tertiary SmartRider concession pass. Click here for information on how to apply.
Queensland
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements You may be ineligible for concession travel if you belong to any of the following groups: |
Institutions
- Queensland University of Technology
- Bond University
- Central Queensland University
- Griffith University
- James Cook University
- Southern Cross University
- The University of Queensland
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Australian Catholic University
- Christian Heritage College
- Brisbane College of Theology
Conditions
Full-time internal postgraduate students and undergraduates enrolled in a course approved by Centrelink for Austudy or Youth Allowance are eligible for tertiary transport concessions. International students enjoy the same eligibility for concession travel as domestic students. Eligible students are able to travel at all times on QR Citytrain rail services, Brisbane City Council bus and ferry services and all other urban bus services throughout the state for half the regular fare.
Separate ID card required for concession travel
Students in south east QLD need only a current student card bearing a QR Identifier from their education provider.
For the purposes of concession travel, "south east Queensland" is defined as "the area stretching from Gympie in the north to Coolangatta in the south and west to Helidon" (see Transport concessions for tertiary students, Queensland Transport).
To be eligible for concession fares, students outside south east QLD must go through the process of completing a Tertiary Transport Card Application form, have it verified by the education provider administration and forwarded to QR's ticketing services so the tertiary transport card can be issued.
Health Care Card
Health Care Card holders are not eligible for concession fares on public transport.
New South Wales
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements You may be ineligible for concession travel if you belong to any of the following groups: |
Institutions
- Charles Sturt University
- Macquarie University
- Southern Cross University
- University of New England
- University of New South Wales
- University of Newcastle
- University of Sydney
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of Western Sydney
- University of Wollongong
- Australian Catholic University
- The College of Law Pty Ltd
- Sydney College of Divinity
- Australian College of Applied Psychology
Conditions
Full-time domestic tertiary students who attend day classes and are not in paid employment or otherwise receiving an income are entitled to half fare concessions for travel on government rail and ferry services. International students are not eligible for concession travel except those on approved Australian Government exchange or sponsorship programs (Study Abroad and Exchange Program or Australian Development Scholarships i.e. AusAID).
For the purposes of accessing concession travel, students receiving Commonwealth income support (such as Austudy, ABSTUDY or Youth Allowance) or who are on approved scholarships, living allowances or bursaries (such as scholarships for full-time research students: Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), APA (Industry), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) PhD Scholarship or any scholarship of equivalent value and nature to an APA) are not considered to be "earning an income" (and are therefor eligible).
Students engaged in part-time work are therefore ineligible for concession travel on public transport. This disadvantages postgraduates in particular, as they have very limited access to student income support.
Tertiary students visiting from interstate
Eligible students enrolled in ACT-based institution are eligible for transport concessions in NSW (the same eligibility criteria apply as with NSW students).
Service covered
The NSW Student Identification Card (Form 204) provides for concession travel at all times:
- Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan bus services (both government and privately operated)
- Sydney Ferries services
- Newcastle Ferries services
- CityRail services (including AirportLink)
- CountryLink services
- Great Southern Railways services.
It does not apply to special and premium services, charter services, Special Event services or privately operated tourism services.
Health Care Card
A Health Care Card provides no entitlement to transport concessions in NSW. Eligible applicants need to apply to Centrelink for a "Half Fare Entitlement" card which can be used for travel concession purposes.
Separate ID card not required
Eligible students require only a sticker from their education provider to be placed on their Student ID card.
Victoria
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Summary of Eligibility Requirements You may be ineligible for concession travel if you belong to any of the following groups: |
Institutions
- Deakin University
- Monash University
- RMIT University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- University of Ballarat
- Univeristy of Melbourne
- La Trobe University
- Victoria University
- Australian Catholic University
- Melbourne College of Divinity
Conditions
Eligible students include: domestic (Australian citizen or permanent resident), students with refugee status, or international students on an Australian Development Scholarship (i.e. AusAID). Eligible students also must be either full-time undergraduate or attending their education institution as a part of an approved overseas exchange program.
All domestic postgraduate students, overseas full-fee paying students, part-time and distance/external students are ineligible for concession travel on public transport in the State of Victoria.
Health Care Card holders
Only holders of the Health Care Cards showing a Victorian address are eligible for concession travel on public transport. Concession fares only apply to the cardholder and do not extend to any dependants listed on the card.
Separate ID card required
Eligible students need to present a Victorian Public Transport Student Concession Card to be eligible for concession fares.
Want to help support equal access to concession travel for students? Sign our peitition!
Definitions and additional resources
We have included additional information and links to online resources to help you navigate your way through the eligibility criteria in each state or territory for student concessions on public transport.
Domestic and international students
Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Those students who hold a visa of a humanitarian sub-class as determined by the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) are also Australian Permanent Residents.
International students are those students who are not citizens or permanent residents of Australia. International students normally have to pay international student full course fees, unless they are in receipt of the Australian government scholarship.
Full time and part-time enrolment
Full-time enrolment is normally determined to be a study load of at least 18 credit points (or at least 3 out of 4 possible subjects) per semester. Part-time enrolment is defined as a study load of less than 18 credit points (or less than 3 subjects) per semester.
Definitions of full-time enrolment may vary for different higher education providers, therefore you should consult your University administration for the definition used by your education provider.
Internal (on-campus) mode of study
A study mode that requires a student to attend classes at the University on a regular basis. A course is classified as on-campus when it is offered via face-to-face delivery. The majority of full-time students study via this mode.
External (off-campus/by distance) mode of study
A study mode that does not require a student to be on campus. External students usually study on a part-time basis. External study may be online-based or correspondence/print based. Courses are classified as external when course materials and assignments are delivered to students by post, CD or online and any associated attendance at the University is of an incidental, irregular, special or voluntary nature.
Commonwealth income support
New South Wales in particular includes Commonwealth income support as an important criterion in determining student's eligibility for concession travel. For the purposes of accessing concession travel, students receiving Commonwealth income support (such as Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance) or who are on approved scholarships, living allowances or bursaries (such as scholarships for full-time research students: Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), APA (Industry), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) PhD Scholarship or any scholarship of equivalent value and nature to an APA) are not considered to be "earning an income." Therefore these students may be eligible for the concession travel given that they satisfy other relevant criteria.
Study Abroad and Exchange students
Study Abroad and Exchange students are those who study at the Australian host institution for maximum 2 semesters while continue being enrolled at their home institution and paying tuition fees to their home institution. These students are normally eligible for concession travel on public transport.
Australian government approved exchange or scholarship programs
International students who are in receipt of Australian government approved scholarship are normally eligible for concession travel on public transport. Australian scholarships provide educational, research and professional development opportunities to support growth in the region and to build enduring links at the individual, institutional and country levels. These programs include award programs managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), such as Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) and Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) as well as Endeavor program manager by DEEWR.
Some useful resources are also included via Related Links below: