Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card – Terms and Conditions

1. Important information

The Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card (“RAUSTC”) is a community transport scheme, approved by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and administered by Transport for NSW with delivery support from Service NSW. The RAUSTC delivers a $250 prepaid card to eligible apprentices and tertiary students 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 RAUSTC. These Terms and Conditions are to be read alongside the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card Product Disclosure Statement (“PDS”) prepared by the Card Issuer. You can obtain a copy of the PDS online or by visiting your nearest Service NSW Centre.

2. Definitions

The following definitions apply to these Terms and Conditions: 

a) Account Balance means the available funds on the RAUSTC.
b) Age Pension means the Age Pension administered by the Australian Government.
c) Apprentice has the meaning at clause 6.
d) Australian Government Scholarship has the meaning set out in the Guidelines.
e) Australian University has the meaning set out in section 3 of the Higher Education Act 2001.
f) Authorised Transport Expenses has the meaning in clause 12.
g) Card Issuer means Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141.
h) Eligible Area has the meaning in clause 5.
i) Eligible Person has the meaning in clause 3.
j) Guidelines means Transport for NSW Guidelines for Issuing NSW Tertiary Student Concessions, as updated from time to time.
k) NSW Point means the Address Management validation solution for NSW Government agencies.
l) PDS means the Product Disclosure Statement for the RAUSTC issued by the Card Issuer as updated from time to time.
m) PIN means Personal Identification Number.
n) RAUSTC means the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
o) SNSW means Service NSW.
p) TAFE NSW means the NSW Technical and Further Education Commission.
q) TAFE NSW Higher Education means TAFE NSW trading as TAFE NSW Higher Education, a program that allows students to obtain an undergraduate degree with TAFE NSW.
r) TfNSW means Transport for NSW.
s) University Student has the meaning in clause 7.

3. Eligible persons

3.1 To be eligible for a RAUSTC, an applicant must meet each of the following criteria: 

a) be at least 16 years of age;
b) not be eligible for the Age Pension;
c) meet the Residentiary Requirements set out in clause 4;
d) permanently reside in an Eligible Area within NSW as set out in clause 5; and
e) be either:
    i) an Apprentice as defined in clause 6 or;
    ii) a University Student as defined in clause 7. 
(“Eligible Person”). 

4. Residentiary requirements

4.1 An applicant must either be: 

a) an Australian citizen;
b) a foreign national with permanent residency in Australia;
c) a New Zealand passport holder who has been a resident in Australia for more than 6 months;
d) a person who holds a visa that is identified by Training Services NSW as being eligible to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship (see Visa information for apprenticeships and traineeships list); or
e) an international student receiving an approved Australian Government Scholarship who is eligible to apply for concession travel under the Guidelines.

5. Eligible areas

5.1 Eligible Areas are the Local Government Area (LGA) outside Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong Council boundaries as set out in clause 18. 

6. Apprentices

6.1 To be an Eligible Person, an “Apprentice” must: 

a) not be enrolled in secondary schooling; and
b) be registered in an active apprenticeship or traineeship, registered with Training Services NSW; and
c) be enrolled and attending the required vocational education and training as required by Training Services NSW for the purposes of an apprenticeship or traineeship at a campus within an Eligible Area of NSW.  

6.2 Apprentices or trainees participating in school or corrective services based programs are not eligible Apprentices.  

7. University students

7.1 To be an Eligible Person, a “University Student” must be: 

a) enrolled full time in an undergraduate degree at an Australian University or TAFE NSW Higher Education; and
b) attending face-to-face learning at the campus of an Australian University or TAFE NSW Higher Education located within NSW.  

7.2 The following are not eligible University Students: 

a) students enrolled in post-graduate, diploma or certificate courses (including graduate certificate courses);
b) students enrolled in an online tertiary course; or
c) students enrolled at a tertiary institution not either: (i) listed in Schedule 1 to the Higher Education Act 2001 (NSW), or (ii) an undergraduate degree at TAFE NSW Higher Education. 

8. Third party validation

8.1 SNSW will validate an applicant’s eligibility through certain third parties, including:  

a) Eligibility for Apprentices will be validated with Training Services NSW to ensure the apprenticeship or traineeship is current and active.
b) Eligibility for University Students will be validated with the relevant Australian University.
c) Each applicant’s residential address will be validated by NSW Point to ensure it is within an Eligible Area.
d) TfNSW reserves the right to undertake additional validation using records available to it for the purposes of confirming eligibility.  

8.2 Residentiary requirements for applicants who purport to satisfy the residentiary requirements at clause 4.1(d) will be validated with Training Services NSW. 

8.3 Residentiary requirements for applicants who purport to satisfy the residentiary requirements at clause 4.1(e) will be validated with the Australian University.

8.4 Applicants are responsible for ensuring all records with the relevant entities are up to date.  

8.5 Applicants may reapply for the RAUSTC if their application is rejected, once they have updated their records with the relevant entity.

9. Applicant requirements

9.1 In making an application for the RAUSTC, you declare and confirm 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.

9.2 Applicants may only apply for one RAUSTC for the calendar year of its operation.

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

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

9.5 Applications for the RAUSTC can be submitted online, via telephone by calling 13 77 88, or in person at any Service NSW Centre. When applying in person, ensure you have identification such as your driver licence or passport with you as well as your student or training identification. 

9.6 The application period for the 2023 RAUSTC is February to November 2023 for Apprentices and Trainees, April 2023 to 30 November for University Students. 

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

10. Privacy

10.1 Your privacy is important to us. Information collected by TfNSW and its program delivery partner Service NSW is subject to the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIP Act) and other relevant laws. Please read the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card Privacy Collection Notice (“Privacy Collection Notice”) to fully understand how your personal information will be handled by TfNSW. The Privacy Collection Notice describes the types of information collected by TfNSW and its program delivery partner Service NSW. The Privacy Collection Notice also explains how you may access and amend your personal information.

10.2 TfNSW shares application information with third parties, including Training Services NSW or the relevant Australian University and the Card Issuer for the purpose of validating applications and issuing the RAUSTC. To understand how TfNSW may use and disclose your personal information for the purposes of the RAUSTC Program please read the Privacy Collection Notice.

10.3 If you do not provide the required information or consent to the sharing of your data with these third parties, TfNSW is unable to process the application and issue a RAUSTC.

11. Delivery of the RAUSTC

11.1 Delivery of the RAUSTCs will commence in February 2023 for Apprentices and from April 2023 for University Students.

11.2 Applicants must nominate a valid delivery address for the RAUSTC.  

11.3 Once ordered, the RAUSTC 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 is liable for any delay in receiving your RAUSTC. 

11.4 The RAUSTC is sent by the Card Issuer. RAUSTCs that are not successfully delivered will be returned to the Card Issuer. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the RAUSTC card services on 1800 569 070 if you do not receive the card within 20 business days (subject to delivery commencement dates in clause 11.1). 

11.5 All enquiries regarding RAUSTC delivery following confirmation of a successful application are to be directed to the Card Issuer.  

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

12. Authorised transport expenses

12.1 The RAUSTC 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; and
d) electric vehicle charging.  
(“Authorised Transport Expenses”)  

12.2 The RAUSTC 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 RAUSTC holder to confirm that the RAUSTC can be used at a retailer or service provider prior to use.  

12.3 It is the responsibility of the RAUSTC 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 RAUSTC is unable to be used.

13. Use of the RAUSTC

13.1 You must activate the RAUSTC following the instructions provided in the letter accompanying the card in order to use the RAUSTC. 

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

13.3 Once activated, the RAUSTC will have AUD$250 credit available to the Eligible Person to use for Authorised Transport Expenses. Clauses 13 to 17 set out scenarios where an Eligible Person may not be able to use the full value of the card.  

13.4 By using the RAUSTC, you acknowledge and agree: 

a) the RAUSTC is not transferable and can only be used by the Eligible Person named on the card;
b) the RAUSTC can only be used for Authorised Transport Expenses;
c) the RAUSTC cannot be used to withdraw or obtain cash at bank branches, ATMs, EFTPOS or other electronic means;
d) the RAUSTC cannot be used at bank branches for balance checks;
e) the RAUSTC is not exchangeable or redeemable for cash;
f) the RAUSTC must not be sold, exchanged or transferred to another person;
g) the RAUSTC cannot be used for purchases from international merchants, including domestic businesses that utilise international merchant processing (e.g., Uber);
h) the RAUSTC cannot be used for share services, such as rideshare or bikeshare;
i) each RAUSTC is pre-loaded with AUD$250 and cannot be reloaded or topped up;
j) subject to clause 15, the RAUSTC can be used multiple times for Authorised Transport Expenses while the card is active and the Account Balance is above $0;
k) where items purchased using the RAUSTC are presented for a refund, the refund value will be returned to the RAUSTC and no cash refunds will be provided. The balance of the RAUSTC after any refund cannot exceed AUD$250;
l) 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;
m) 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 RAUSTC;
n) misuse of the RAUSTC may lead to its cancellation by TfNSW and affect your eligibility for any future RAUSTC application.  

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

14. Expiry

14.1 Your RAUSTC will expire on the last day of the month indicated on the front of your card. Upon expiry, any funds remaining on the RAUSTC, including any funds refunded to the RAUSTC (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 RAUSTC issued.

15. Low balance

15.1 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 RAUSTC after the 30 day period, will be forfeited to TfNSW.

15.2 RAUSTCs cancelled under this clause 15 cannot be reinstated and the funds cannot be returned to the cardholder.

16. Breach of conditions

16.1 TfNSW may cancel your RAUSTC and refuse to issue any subsequent RAUSTCs to you where these Terms and Conditions have not been complied with.

16.2 RAUSTCs cancelled under this clause 16 cannot be reinstated and any remaining funds will be returned to TfNSW.

17. General

17.1 TfNSW reserves the right at any time to: 

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

17.2 In the event that the RAUSTC program is cancelled or the expiry period is brought forward, all unused Account Balances will be forfeited to TfNSW.

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

17.4 The RAUSTC 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.

17.5 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 RAUSTC cardholder 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 RAUSTC. 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 RAUSTC. 

18. Eligible areas list

List of eligible NSW Local Government Areas (Eligible Areas):

• Albury City Council
• Armidale Regional Council
• Ballina Shire Council
• Balranald Shire Council
• Bathurst Regional Council
• Bega Valley Shire Council
• Bellingen Shire Council
• Berrigan Shire Council
• Bland Shire Council
• Blayney Shire Council
• Bogan Shire Council
• Bourke Shire Council
• Brewarrina Shire Council
• Broken Hill City Council
• Byron Shire Council
• Cabonne Council
• Carrathool Shire Council
• Central Coast Council
• Central Darling Shire Council
• Cessnock City Council
• Clarence Valley Council
• Cobar Shire Council
• Coffs Harbour City Council
• Coolamon Shire Council
• Coonamble Shire Council
• Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
• Cowra Shire Council
• Dubbo Regional Council
• Dungog Shire Council
• Edward River Council
• Eurobodalla Shire Council
• Federation Council
• Forbes Shire Council
• Gilgandra Shire Council
• Glen Innes Severn Council
• Goulburn Mulwaree Council
• Greater Hume Shire Council
• Griffith City Council
• Gunnedah Shire Council
• Gwydir Shire Council
• Hay Shire Council
• Hilltops Council
• Inverell Shire Council
• Junee Shire Council
• Kempsey Shire Council
• Kiama Municipal Council
• Kyogle Council
• Lachlan Shire Council
• Lake Macquarie City Council
• Leeton Shire Council
• Lismore City Council
• Lithgow City Council
• Liverpool Plains Shire Council
• Lockhart Shire Council
• Lord Howe
• Maitland City Council
• Mid-Coast Council
• Mid-Western Regional Council
• Moree Plains Shire Council
• Murray River Council
• Murrumbidgee Council
• Muswellbrook Shire Council
• Nambucca Shire Council
• Narrabri Shire Council
• Narrandera Shire Council
• Narromine Shire Council
• Oberon Council
• Orange City Council
• Parkes Shire Council
• Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
• Port Stephens Council
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
• Richmond Valley Council
• Shellharbour City Council
• Shoalhaven City Council
• Singleton Council
• Snowy Monaro Regional Council
• Snowy Valleys Council
• Tamworth Regional Council
• Temora Shire Council
• Tenterfield Shire Council
• Tweed Shire Council
• Unincorporated Far West
• Upper Hunter Shire Council
• Upper Lachlan Shire Council
• Uralla Shire Council
• Wagga Wagga City Council
• Walcha Council
• Walgett Shire Council
• Warren Shire Council
• Warrumbungle Shire Council
• Weddin Shire Council
• Wentworth Shire Council
• Wingecarribee Shire Council
• Yass Valley Council

19. Pilot

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

19.2 All other terms and conditions, other than clauses, 9.6 and 11.1, continue to apply to Eligible Persons selected to apply and receive their 2023 RSTC under clause 19.1.

Product Disclosure Statement

See the Regional Apprentice and University Student travel card – Product Disclosure Statement or visit a Service NSW Centre and ask for a printed copy.

Target Market Determination

See the Regional Apprentice and University Student travel card – Target Market Determination or visit a Service NSW Centre and ask for a printed copy.

Privacy Collection Notice

Transport for NSW (“TfNSW”) administers and manages the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card (“RAUSTC”) Program. Service NSW, Training Services NSW, the relevant NSW Universities, TAFE NSW Higher Education and Westpac Banking Corporation (“Westpac”), act on behalf of TfNSW (“Partners”) and will provide customer services to you.

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

By making an application for the RAUSTC Program, you will provide personal information to TfNSW and its Partners including your name, date of birth, address and contact details and details of your educational enrolment or apprenticeship. TfNSW and its Partners will also collect 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.

Requirements to provide us with this information

There is no requirement for you to provide your personal information to TfNSW and its Partners as applying for the RAUSTC is voluntary. If you do not provide all personal information as requested, or choose not to consent to the sharing of your personal information, Service NSW will not be able to process your application for the Card.

Why we collect your personal information

TfNSW and its Partners collect your personal information for the purpose of administering and managing the RAUSTC Program. The administration of the RAUSTC Program may include TfNSW and its Partners using your personal information to:

• assess and verify your eligibility for the RAUSTC Program;
• issue the card and affiliated PIN;
• handle any enquiries or complaints you may have about applications, card balances or transaction disputes;
• investigate and handle any non-compliance with the RAUSTC Program Terms and Conditions; and
• prepare reporting.

Personal information we collect

To administer and manage the RAUSTC Program, TfNSW and its Partners will collect the following ‘eligibility information’:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential postcode
• Unique Student Identifier (USI) or Training Contract ID (TCID)
• Course details being: undergraduate, full time and face to face attendance.

How we use and disclose your personal information

To administer and manage the RAUSTC Program, TfNSW and its Partners will provide several services to you. In providing these services your personal information will be handled in the following ways:

• SNSW will receive information from Training Services NSW for apprentices and trainees or TfNSW for NSW University and TAFE students as well as NSW Point to validate your eligibility for the RAUSTC Program.
• Any information held or obtained about your eligibility for the RAUSTC Program will be provided to Service NSW, as required, for Service NSW to perform the customer service functions of the RAUSTC Program.
• Your personal information will be provided to Westpac, as required for Westpac to process, and issue the Card and affiliated PIN as well as handle any enquiries about card balances or disputes. For Westpac to provide the Card services to you, Westpac may share your personal information with companies within the Westpac group (Westpac Banking Corporation and its related bodies corporate) and with third party service providers outside of the Westpac group (some of which are located outside of Australia).

TfNSW may disclose aggregated and de-identified information for the purposes of transport policy and planning purposes. TfNSW and its partners will not disclose your personal information except:

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

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

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

If you request to remove your personal information, you may no longer be eligible for RAUSTC.

Further information

For further information as to how TfNSW handles your personal information, please refer to Transport privacy.

For further information as to how Service NSW handles your personal information, please refer to Privacy statement.

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

• calling Westpac customer service at 1300 130 467 – 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week from anywhere in Australia
• visiting a Westpac branch in person
• visiting the Westpac website.