Regional apprentices and trainees across the Dubbo electorate can now apply for the NSW Government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card is a budget-boosting initiative to help ease cost of living pressures in the bush, where young people face long distances to get to and from work or training.
“I’m pleased to announce that from today, more than 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can apply to save $250 on fuel and public transport to help with the cost of travelling to work or study,” Mr Saunders said.
“From today, if you’re an apprentice or trainee, you can get down to your local Service NSW centre and apply for the $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card and it will be sent to you within weeks.
“If you’re a parent or partner of an apprentice or trainee and you take them to their work or study, encourage them to apply to help towards fuel costs.”
This follows the successful trial of the card in Dubbo over the past month.
Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed.
Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.
The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024.
The announcement comes just days after the NSW Government announced the Safer Cars for Country Kids program trial which will provide a $5,000 subsidy for up to 1,000 young drivers to help them purchase a safer car.
“When you’re driving around in your safer car, with your $250 travel card which you can use on fuel, you’ll be driving on upgraded roads thanks to the NSW Nationals who have provided councils with more than $1 billion to allow safer driving in the bush,” Mr Saunders said.
“The Nationals have also committed a further $1 billion into improving more roads and rail across the regions if re-elected.”
More details about eligibility and how to apply can be found at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/regional-apprentice-and-university-student-travel-card