In the event of an emergency, all people in the vehicle must follow the steps outlined below in conjunction with the emergency actions card (PDF 207.59KB) located in the vehicle.

Parents not home after waiting three minutes after agreed time and no contact with parent

1. IMMEDIATELY phone ASTP on 1300 338 278 for advice or instructions.
2. You may be advised to:
   1. take other students home and return to the student's address to check if the parent has arrived home
   2. return the student to school
   3. take the student to the nearest Department of Family and Community Services office or police station.
3. You must keep in regular contact with ASTP.
4. You must advise ASTP when the student has been handed into the care of an authorised person.
5. Students must not be left unattended or taken to an unauthorised address.

Picking up and dropping off students

1. Notify parents of the time that students will be picked up each morning and taken home each afternoon.
2. If you are going to be late (by at least 10 minutes) phone parents.
3. Do NOT pick up or drop off students at any location other than the address/as specified on the run card unless authorised to do so by ASTP.
4. Pick up and drop off students from the same side of the street where the student lives. A student must not cross over a road.
5. Do not park on private property or across driveways – kerbside pick-up and drop off.
6. Ensure the parent/carer is meeting the vehicle and ensuring their child is safely seated in the vehicle e.g. seat belts buckled, wheelchairs secured etc. A parent/carer must also meet the vehicle in the afternoon. DO NOT BLOW THE HORN.
7. If the student is not ready at the agreed pick-up time, wait a maximum of three minutes, phone the parent(s) before going to the next pick-up address. Should this occur you are to notify the ASTP/school within 24 hours that the student did not travel.

Actions required in the event of student misbehaviour

1. Consult with ASTP and school if at the point of pick up you are concerned that the student behaviour poses a safety risk.
2. Remain as calm as possible and do not respond by raising your voice, hitting or forcibly restraining a student.
3. Drivers and ATSOs must not come into unnecessary physical contact with students. If there appears to be an immediate risk to occupants in the vehicle during transit, stop the vehicle as soon as possible and contact ASTP or the student's school principal for advice.
4. If there is no immediate risk to occupants continue the journey and report the behaviour to ASTP and the student's school principal as soon as possible.
5. Prepare a written report of the incident: drivers email their report to their contractor who emails contractors.astp@det.nsw.edu.au and ATSOs email their report to atso.astp@det.nsw.edu.au.
6. Decisions about suspension from transport will be made by ASTP, school or parent.
7. Following an incident on transport, additional support/strategies/advice and plans will be reviewed and communicated to transport staff by the school. You will be notified if transport for the student is to be withdrawn or changed.

Vehicle breakdown

If students are in the vehicle, their safety must be monitored at all times and they must not be left unattended.

1. It is essential that all accidents and breakdowns are immediately reported to the ASTP on 1300 338 278 with a written report to follow within 24 hours.
2. In addition to contacting the ASTP, contact each of the following people and advise them of the problem, your location and the estimated time period that the service will be delayed:
   1. parents of the students
   2. the operator who is contracted by the Department to provide the service
   3. the principal of the school or schools.
3. If the vehicle cannot be repaired within 15 minutes, the operator must arrange for alternative transport for the students.
4. The ASTP must be advised when the vehicle resumes the service and all students have arrived at their destinations.