Bus Services & Travel Assistance
There are two school bus services that operate within the Cassowary Coast region, Calypso Coaches (Tully, Mission Beach & El Arish) and Trans North Bus & Coaches (Innisfail, Babinda and surrounds). Families must contact the applicable bus company to book their children on their service. Their contact details are as follows:
Trans North Bus & Coaches
www.transnorthbus.com.au
Contact: Kerry Norman, Innisfail Depot Manager
Address: 14 Dickson Road, Innisfail 4860
Email: Kerry.norman@transnorthbus.com.au
Phone: 07 4061 7944
Mobile: 0437 231 505
Calypso Coaches Pty Ltd
www.calypsocoaches.com.au
Contact: Linda Wildsoet, Accounts Manager
Address: 20 Jackey Jackey Street, South Mission Beach 4852
Email: accounts@calypsocoaches.com.au
Phone: 0418 154 470
Bus Fare Assistance
Families using bus transport may be eligible for one of the following two bus fare assistance schemes:
Bus Fare Assistance Program (BFAP)
The purpose of the BFAP is to provide financial assistance to families who pay more than a nominated weekly threshold in bus/ferry fares to transport their students to a non-state school located outside the Brisbane City Council boundary.
School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS)
The Department of Transport and Main Roads provides assistance under the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) in situations where access to education is impeded by distance, income or isolation.
Generally, students who travel on Calypso Coaches or from the Babinda area fall under BFAP, and students within the local Innisfail catchment area who travel on Trans North buses will fall under STAS.
Families must contact their bus company provider to determine their eligibility and complete the application form.
Please note, as of 2021, the STAT application form must be completed online. This week, students travelling on Trans North buses were issued with information regarding this change and how to lodge their application. If you are having difficulties, please contact the bus provider.
If you are eligible for BFAP, you will also need to complete paperwork through the school. Some families may have already completed this paperwork at the enrolment interview. If not, please contact the BFAP Coordinator Mrs Julie Nicolau at Good Counsel College on 4063 5330 or email gcc.accounts@cns.catholic.edu.au
BFAP Semester 1 2021 Family Thresholds
For families who are part of the Bus Fare Assistance Program, we wish to advise that the NSSTAS Reference Committee has ratified that the weekly family threshold for Semester 1 2021 will be:
$40/week for non-concession card holders and
$30/week for concession* card holders
This cost will be charged each term to the family school account.
(* Health Care, Pensioner or Veterans)
If you have any queries regarding this program, please contact your
Bus Provider and/or our BFAP Co‐Ordinator, Mrs Julie Nicolau.
Phone: 4063 5300 (Option 2) or email gcc.accounts@cns.catholic.edu.au