ECEC trainees in NSW may be eligible for $250 travel card

More than 50,000 regional trainees and apprentices can now apply for the New South Wales Government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card. 

 

Premier Dominic Perrottet hopes the initiative will ease budget pressures for trainees, apprentices, and university students in regional Australia.

 

“We know that young people in our regions are faced with greater travel costs than those in the city, often having to travel long distances to work or training,” Mr Perrottet said.

 

“This card will reduce travel costs by providing a $250 boost to the budgets of young apprentices and trainees in the bush, covering the cost of fuel, taxis and public transport.”

 

Around 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can start taking up this offer effective immediately by applying through Service NSW and save $250 on fuel, taxis and public transport to help with the cost of traveling to work or study.

 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the card was “a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.”

 

“It’s a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career,” Mr Toole said.

 

“This is not just an investment that is putting fuel in the tank of apprentices and trainees now. This is an investment that is fuelling the training of the workforce our regional businesses need for the future.”

 

The program is based on the Regional Seniors Travel Card which has proven very successful, delivering more than one million cards and injecting $196 million into regional economies since its launch in 2019.

 

After applying, eligible apprentices and trainees will receive a $250 prepaid debit card within weeks. Luke Prentice, who is based in the regional NSW town of Dubbo, was part of a trial roll out of the program last month, and said he’s already seen the benefits of the initiative. 

 

“I received my card in January which was perfect timing for me and my young family as the extra $250 help coming soon after Christmas was much appreciated,” he said.

 

“I have used my card to pay for fuel for my vehicle which I use to get to work and training as an apprentice electrician. With fuel prices high at present, among the other costs of living, the card is a welcome boost to our budget.”

 

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. More details about eligibility and how to apply can be found on the Service NSW website.