More than 50,000 regional apprentices and trainees can now apply for the NSW Government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the initiative would help ease budget pressures for apprentices, trainees and university students in regional areas. The card will reduce travel costs by providing a $250 boost to the budgets of young apprentices and trainees in the country, covering the cost of fuel, taxis and public transport.
“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.
Regional apprentices and trainees can start taking up this offer right now 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.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said eligible apprentices and trainees who apply will receive a $250 prepaid debit card within weeks.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government wants to get this $250 in the back pockets of our apprentices and trainees to help lower the costs of travel and boost their budgets,” Mr Farraway said.
DieselGas Moree apprentice Blake Schwartz said the pre-paid travel card would provide some welcome relief to his travel costs.
“It is a good idea and will help with the cost of travel to work and TAFE, especially given that Moree is pretty remote and we don’t have the same options to use public transport that people in the cities have,” Mr Schwartz said.
“With fuel costs still pretty high, every extra bit certainly helps and I’ll be applying for the card as soon as I can.”
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 at:
www.service.nsw.gov.au/regional-apprentice-and-university-student-travel-card
Top image: Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, right, with DieselGas Moree diesel mechanic apprentices Caleb Simpson, left, and Blake Schwartz.
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