Bus Travel
The School Bus Program is provided by the Department of Education (DET) in conjunction with Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
It enables free travel to and from school for students who live more than 4.8kms from school. They must also attend their nearest school (refer to the school-bus-program-eligibility-guide-for-families for more information).
The program is run by the Castlemaine School Bus Centre, operating out of Castlemaine Secondary College. It is available to all schools in the Castlemaine region.
Families living within the 4.8km zone may be able to access the bus service depending on whether or not there are free seats available. [These students are referred to as INELIGIBLE travellers.] However, seats for ineligible travellers are not guaranteed as they must give up their seats for eligible travellers when needed.
To apply for travel, please complete the Application to Travel and read the Conditions of Travel information included in the form. (The form is called: “Form 1: Application for Permission to Travel – School Students (DOCX)”.)
These forms are also available from Reception.
Returning completed forms for Castlemaine Secondary College students
Email: castlemaine.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Post: PO Box 57, Castlemaine, 3450
In person: CSC Reception, 2 Lawson Parade, Castlemaine.
CSC will process your application in accordance with DET and PTV policy.
Please ensure that you and your child have hand-signed the form before submitting it.
Returning completed forms for all other student travellers
Please submit your completed application form to the bus coordinator/business manager at your school.
They will then forward this to Castlemaine Secondary College for processing.
Forms for 2027 can be submitted now.
Approved bus travellers will be provided with:
- bus service name
- bus stop location
- bus stop pick up and set down times
Students will only be allowed on the bus if they:
- are included on the bus list or have a Day Pass
- are in full uniform (this is for secondary college students only – CSC Year 12 students are exempt)
**The bus program is undergoing a major audit at present. All families should have already completed the online survey. Bus timetables will be distributed to these students in Term 3 which will include the starting date of the new bus timetable.
New Timetable
A new timetable will be starting soon. All students who have completed the survey and have completed a bus travel application form will be issued new timetables later in Term 3. If you haven’t done this and aren’t on the bus list, you will need to apply for a seat.
Please keep a close watch on this so that you are aware when the changes are due to start.
Day Pass
Students who wish to travel on the bus as a one-off or to travel to sports training after school that is more than 4.8km from school need to have a Day Pass.
**Please note – this service is currently unavailable as we update the bus program.
The process for applying for a Day Pass will be published later in Term 4, 2026.
Please note: Day Passes will only be issued if there is room on the bus.
Questions?
Please refer to the DET School Bus Program Policy if have further questions or contact CSC Bus Coordinator on 03 5479 1111. Emails can be sent via the school email address: castlemaine.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Frequently Asked Questions
No, unless you have a Day Pass issued. All students requesting a Day Pass will need to be registered as a traveller. To do this, you must submit a bus travel application form.
You are only permitted to travel on the bus/es you are assigned to.
Yes but only if you are registered as a traveller, have a signed note from your parent/guardian, and have requested a Day Pass prior to the day of travel. Also, there must be a free seat on the bus that day.
We have an Adhoc Travel Application which can be used for a sports season. This allows the students to travel on particular day/s if there are unallocated seats on the requested bus route. This will become part of the Day Pass system once it is open.