Regional seniors travel card terms

Terms and Conditions

1. Important information 

The regional seniors travel card (“RSTC”) is a community transport scheme, approved by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and administered by Transport for NSW. The RSTC delivers a $250 prepaid card to eligible seniors in regional, rural and remote areas to be used towards the purchase of fuel and transportation services, such as taxi services and NSW TrainLink train and coach services. 

The following Terms and Conditions apply to the application for, and use of, the RSTC. 

These Terms and Conditions are to be read alongside the regional seniors travel card Product Disclosure Statement (“PDS”) prepared by the Card Issuer. You can get a copy of the PDS online or by visiting your nearest Service NSW Centre. 

2. Definitions 

2.1 The following definitions apply to these Terms and Conditions: 

a) Account Balance means the available funds on the RSTC
b) Authorised Representative has the meaning at clause 6
c) Authorised Transport Expenses has the meaning at clause 9 
d) Card Issuer means Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141
e) DVA means the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs
f) Eligible Area has the meaning at clause 5
g) Eligible Person means a person who complies with the requirements in clause 3.1
h) NSW Point means Address Management for NSW Government agencies
i)  PDS has the meaning at clause 1
j) PIN means Personal Identification Number
k) RSTC means the regional seniors travel card
l) Services Australia or SA means Services Australia (Australian Government). Services Australia was formerly known as the Department of Human Services
m) SNSW means Service NSW
n) TfNSW means Transport for NSW. 

3. Eligible persons 

3.1 To be an Eligible Person, applicants must meet all the conditions listed in clause 3.2 and the criteria as described in clause 3.3.

3.2 To be an Eligible Person, applicants must meet all the following conditions:

a) permanently reside in an Eligible Area within NSW;
b) have reached the Age Pension age (as determined by the Department of Social Services); and
c) be receiving support from either Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as set out in clause 3.2.

3.2 Applicants must meet the criteria at either paragraph (a) or (b). In addition, all applicants must meet the criteria at paragraph (c). 

(a) Services Australia

To be eligible under paragraph (a), you must be receiving one of the following from SA:

• Age Pension;
• Disability Support Pension; or
• Carer Payment; 

       Or hold a valid Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by SA. 

Or

(b) Department of Veterans’ Affairs

To be eligible under paragraph (b), you must be receiving one of the following from DVA:

• Age Pension;
• Service Pension;
• Disability Pension under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986; or
• War Widow(er) Pension;

       Or hold a valid Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by DVA; 

(c) In addition to meeting the criteria at either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), you must have been receiving the relevant pension/payment referred to at paragraph (a) or (b) above or have held a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card for at least one month.

4. Third party validation

4.1 Eligibility for the pensions and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are determined by the Australian Government (including SA and DVA).   

4.2 Each applicant’s details are validated electronically with Services Australia. 

4.3 Each applicant’s residential address is validated by NSW Point to ensure it is within an Eligible Area.  

4.4 Applicants are responsible for ensuring their records with SA and DVA are up to date.  

4.5 Applicants may reapply for the RSTC if their application is rejected once they have updated their records with SA or DVA. 

5. Eligible areas 

5.1 Applicants must permanently reside in an eligible Local Government Area (LGA) outside Newcastle and Wollongong Council boundaries.

5.2. See the full list of Eligible NSW Local Government Areas for the regional seniors travel card. 

6. Applicant requirements 

6.1 In making an application for the RSTC, you agree that: 

a) you meet the requirements of an Eligible Person;
b) the information provided in the application process is true and correct; and
c) you agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions and the PDS.

6.2 You may only make an application on behalf of another person if you are an authorised representative of the Eligible Person (“Authorised Representative”). To apply to be an Authorised Representative, see Managing your card.

6.3 Applications received on behalf of another person which are not from the applicant’s Authorised Representative will automatically be rejected. 

6.4 If you are an Authorised Representative making an application on behalf of an Eligible Person you agree that: 

a) you have explained these Terms and Conditions and the PDS to the Eligible Person;
b) the information provided in the application process is true and correct;
c) the application is made for the benefit of the Eligible Person; and
d) the person you are making the application on behalf of has understood and agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and the PDS. 

6.5 Applicants may only apply for one RSTC for each calendar year of its operation.

6.6 Each RSTC will only be issued to an Eligible Person. Applications which do not satisfy the eligibility requirements will be automatically rejected. An applicant will need to visit or call Service NSW if there are queries regarding their application.  

6.7 Where an applicant believes their application has been rejected as a result of an error with SA's validation, it is the responsibility of the applicant to correct any error before re-submitting their application.   

6.8 Applications for the RSTC can be submitted online at service.nsw.gov.au, via telephone by calling 13 77 88 or in person at any SNSW Service Centre. When applying in person, ensure you have identification such as your driver licence or passport with you as well as your Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA issued entitlement card. 

6.9 Applications for the 2022 RSTC are now closed.

6.10 The application period for the 2023 RSTC is 23 January 2023 - 30 November 2023. 

6.11 Applications received outside of the relevant application period will not be accepted.

7. Privacy

7.1 TfNSW and its program delivery partner, Service NSW, gives priority to protecting the privacy of your personal information. We do this by handling personal information in a responsible manner and in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Please read the regional seniors travel card Privacy Statement (“Privacy Statement”) to fully understand how your personal information will be handled by TfNSW. The Privacy Statement describes the types of information collected by TfNSW and its program delivery partner Service NSW. The Privacy Statement also explains how you may access and amend your personal information. 

7.2 TfNSW may disclose your personal information to third parties, including SA, NSW Point and the Card Issuer for the purpose of validating applications and issuing the RSTC. To understand how TfNSW may use and disclose your personal information for the purposes of the RSTC Program please read the Privacy Statement.

7.3 Providing us with the requested information is not required by law. However, if you choose not to provide us with the requested information, or consent to the sharing of your data with these third parties, we may not be able to process the application and issue a RSTC.

8. Delivery of the RSTC 

8.1 Delivery of the RTSCs will commence from January of each year the scheme operates.

8.2 Applicants must nominate a valid delivery address for the RSTC. 

8.3 Once ordered, the RSTC may take up to 20 business days to be delivered via post. Additional delays may be experienced during peak delivery times. None of TfNSW, SNSW or the Card Issuer are liable for any delay in receiving your RSTC.

8.4 The RSTC is sent by the Card Issuer. RSTCs that are not successfully delivered will be returned to the Card Issuer. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the RSTC card services on 1800 569 070 if you do not receive the card within 20 business days.

8.5 All enquiries regarding RSTC delivery following confirmation of the successful application are to be directed to the Card Issuer. 

8.6 The Card Issuer will separately issue a PIN for each RSTC to the same delivery address. The PIN will typically be delivered a few days after the RSTC.

9. Authorised transport expenses 

9.1 The RSTC can only be used to purchase travel-related goods and services up to AUD$250, such as:

a) taxi services;
b) fuel;
c) pre-booked NSW TrainLink train and coach services.
(“Authorised Transport Expenses”)  

9.2 The RSTC can only be used at retailers and service providers using travel-related merchant category codes for Authorised Transport Expenses. It is the responsibility of the RSTC holder to confirm that the RSTC can be used at the retailer or service provider prior to use. 

9.3 It is the responsibility of the RSTC holder to have an alternative method of payment, in the event the merchant does not accept the card. TfNSW, the State of NSW and the Card Issuer are not liable for any payment owed where the RSTC is unable to be used. 

10. Use of the RSTC 

10.1 You must activate the RSTC following the instructions provided in the letter accompanying the card in order to use the RSTC.

10.2 Activate and use the RSTC as soon as you receive the card. If you do not activate your card within 45 days of the date shown on your card letter, your card may be cancelled.

10.3 Once activated, the RSTC will have AUD$250 credit available to the Eligible Person to use for Authorised Transport Expenses. Clauses 11 to 13 set out scenarios where an Eligible Person may not be able to use the full value of the card. 

10.4 By using the RSTC, you acknowledge and agree: 

a) the RSTC is not transferable and can only be used by the Eligible Person named on the card;
b) the RSTC can only be used for Authorised Transport Expenses;
c) the RSTC cannot be used to withdraw or obtain cash at bank branches, ATMs, EFTPOS or other electronic means;
d) the RSTC cannot be used at bank branches for balance checks;
e) the RSTC is not exchangeable or redeemable for cash; 
f) the RSTC must not be sold, exchanged or transferred to another person;
g) each RSTC is pre-loaded with AUD$250 and cannot be reloaded or topped up;
h) subject to paragraph 12, the RSTC can be used multiple times for Authorised Transport Expenses while the card is active and the Account Balance is above $0; 
i) where items purchased using the RSTC are presented for a refund, the refund value will be returned to the RSTC and no cash refunds will be provided. The balance of the RSTC after any refund cannot exceed AUD$250;
j) where the total cost of the Authorised Transport Expense is less than the Available Balance, the cost will be reduced from the Account Balance and the remaining funds remain available for further Authorised Transport Expenses;  
k) where the total cost of the Authorised Transport Expense is greater than the Available Balance, you must pay the outstanding balance. TfNSW is not responsible or required to pay the difference between the Account Balance and the cost to you. In the event a merchant is not able to split payment for the purchase, you will be required to pay the full transaction balance using a payment method other than your RSTC; 
l) misuse of the RSTC may lead to its cancellation by TfNSW and affect your eligibility for any future RSTC application. 

10.5 Use of the RSTC is also governed by the Card Issuer’s Terms and Conditions which are set out in the PDS.

11. Expiry 

11.1 Your RSTC will expire on the last day of the month indicated on the front of your card. Upon expiry, any funds remaining on the RSTC, including any funds refunded to the RSTC (whether or not the refund is applied for or processed prior to the expiry date), will be forfeited to TfNSW and cannot be transferred to any other account, including any subsequent RSTC issued. 

11.2 Please refer to the PDS for further details regarding expiry of your RSTC.

12. Low balance 

12.1 During the period in which your card is valid, if your Account Balance falls below $5, you have 30 days to use the remaining balance before your card is cancelled. Any remaining balance on the card, including any funds refunded to the RSTC after the 30 day period will be forfeited to TfNSW.

12.2 RSTCs cancelled under clause 12.1 cannot be reinstated and the funds cannot be returned to the card holder. 

13. Breach of conditions 

13.1 TfNSW may cancel your RSTC and refuse to issue any subsequent RSTCs to you where these Terms and Conditions have not been complied with. 

13.2 RSTCs cancelled under clause 13.1 cannot be reinstated and any remaining funds will be returned to TfNSW. 

14. General 

14.1 TfNSW reserves the right at any time to: 

a) vary these Terms and Conditions without your consent including the RSTC value, expiry periods, the eligibility criteria or the definition of Approved Transport Expenses;
b) suspend the operation of, or close, the RSTC Program; 
c) reduce or extend the RSTC Program.  

14.2 In the event that the RSTC Program is cancelled or the expiry period is brought forward, all unused Account Balances will be forfeited to TfNSW. 

14.3 Any changes to these Terms and Conditions will be published on the SNSW website.  

14.4 The RSTC and all related documents are governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales. If any of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal for any reason, the remaining Terms and Conditions will continue in full force. 

14.5 TfNSW, SNSW and the State of NSW (the “Program Administrators”) and the Card Issuer are in no way responsible or accountable for any decisions made by the RSTC card holder or any retailer or service provider at any time, nor are any of the Program Administrators liable for any injuries, including death, that may be sustained by an Eligible Person while obtaining or using the RSTC. The Program Administrators expressly disclaim all liability, to the extent permitted by law, for any loss, damage or other consequence whatsoever whether direct or indirect, which may arise from the application for, or use of, the RSTC. 

15. Pilot

15.1 TfNSW may, at its absolute discretion, invite a select number of Eligible Persons to apply and receive their 2023 RSTC prior to the dates specified in the Terms and Conditions above. 

15.2 All other terms and conditions, other than clauses, 6.10 and 8.1, continue to apply to Eligible Persons selected to apply and receive their 2023 RSTC under clause 15.1.

Product Disclosure Statement

See the regional seniors travel card – Product Disclosure Statement or visit any Service NSW Centre and ask for a printed copy.

Privacy Statement

Transport for NSW (“TfNSW”) administers and manages the regional seniors travel card Program (“the RSTC Program”). Service NSW and Westpac Banking Corporation (“Westpac”), acting on behalf of TfNSW (“TfNSW Partners”), will provide customer services to you.

TfNSW and Service NSW are committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in accordance with the New South Wales Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Westpac complies with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). 

What personal information do we collect?

By making an application for a regional seniors travel card (“Card”) you will provide personal information to Service NSW including: your name, date of birth, address and contact details and information about your Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs (“DVA”) issued entitlement card. Service NSW will also ask you to provide certain information, such as your mother’s maiden name or the street you grew up on, for the purposes of establishing a security question and verifying your identity.

Are you required by law to provide us with this information?

Providing TfNSW and the TfNSW Partners with the requested information is not required by law. However, if you choose not to provide the requested information, or choose not to consent to the sharing of your data as outlined below, we will not be able to process the application and issue a Card.

Any personal information collected or accessed by TfNSW and the TfNSW Partners cannot be used for commercial purposes. 

How we will use and disclose this information

TfNSW and the TfNSW Partners are collecting your personal information for the purpose of administering and managing the RSTC Program. The personal information you provide is used and disclosed by TfNSW and the TfNSW Partners as follows:

Service NSW may use your personal information to:

• Assess and verify your eligibility to the RSTC Program, including validating your Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA issued entitlement card details with Services Australia through the Centrelink Confirmation eServices portal. 
• Handle any enquiries or complaints you may have about your application.
• Collect, maintain and use information about you for our internal administrative purposes, including for the purpose of our interactions with you.
• Disclose your personal details (including name, date of birth, address and contact details and security question information, either mother's maiden name or the street you grew up on) to Westpac, for Westpac to manage the Card.
• Disclose your personal details (including name, date of birth, address, contact details and entitlement cards) to TfNSW for TfNSW to contact you in relation to the RSTC Program or your Card, for example to notify you of your Card reaching expiry. 

Westpac may use your personal information to:

• Issue the Card and affiliated PIN.
• Handle any enquiries or complaints you may have about your card including Card balances or transaction disputes.
• May disclose your personal information to companies within the Westpac group (Westpac Banking Corporation and its related bodies corporate) and to third party service providers outside of the Westpac group (some of which are located outside of Australia) in order for Westpac to provide the Card services to you. For the purposes of this Privacy Statement, these companies are deemed to be TfNSW Partners.
• Prepare reporting on the RSTC program for TfNSW, such as upcoming card expiries, account creation and card spend.

TfNSW may use your personal information to:

• Contact you in relation to the RSTC Program or your Card, for example (although not limited to) to remind you to activate your Card before it is cancelled or to notify you of your Card expiry approaching. 
• Investigate and handle any non-compliance with the RSTC Program Terms and Conditions. 
• Assess and verify your eligibility to the RSTC Program, including validating your Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA issued entitlement card details with Services Australia through the Centrelink Confirmation eServices portal for applications escalated by Service NSW. 
• Prepare reporting for the purpose of transport policy and planning purposes.

TfNSW and the TfNSW Partners will not disclose your personal information except:

• as set out in this Privacy Statement;
• with your consent; or
• as otherwise permitted or required by law. 

If you wish to access, correct or remove the personal information collected, please contact:

• Service NSW for information held on the SNSW account – 13 77 88; or
• Card services if it relates to information on your card account – 1800 569 070.  

If you request that your personal information is removed, we may not be able to continue to provide the Card to you. 

Further information

Service NSW

For further information about how Service NSW will handle your personal information, please visit our Privacy statement. This includes how you can access and seek correction of the information, how privacy enquiries or complaints can be made or to contact us. Service NSW is located at 2-24 Rawson Place Sydney NSW 2000.

Westpac

For further information as to how Westpac will handle your personal information, including how you may make a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles, please see Westpac's Privacy Policy or contact Westpac by:

• calling 1300 130 467 – 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week from anywhere in Australia
• visiting any of our branches in person
• visiting westpac.com.au.

TfNSW

For further information about how TfNSW will handle your personal information, see TfNSW’s Privacy Management Plan or contact TfNSW at privacy@transport.nsw.gov.au.