Overview

Why Must Bus and Coach Operators Do This Course?

Serious competition reform in Australia gathered momentum in the 1990's, as the result of a new awareness that Australia would only prosper as a nation if it were more efficient and productive. The drive to liberalise competition reform led the Victorian Government to introduce the Public Transport Competition Act of 1995.

The main purpose of this Act is to improve road-based public transport operations. It replaces a previous system of certification based on vehicle licensing with a new system of accreditation based on operator competence for the bus and coach industry. In response to the Victorian Government initiative, the Institute of Transport Studies (ITS) at Monash University worked with experienced industry and Governmental personnel to develop a Transport Management Course in Bus and Coach Operations.

The course is now available to all those current and would-be bus and coach operators who seek accreditation in Victoria. The Act stipulates that applicants for operator accreditation provide evidence that they have undertaken and successfully competed the course.

Course Benefits

The benefits to students undertaking the course will include:

overall appreciation of the current legislative and business environment, together with the accreditation requirements, for bus and coach operations in Victoria
receipt of information on the prescribed standards for operator accreditation in Victoria, including vehicle maintenance systems, management information systems, records and documentation, and auditing
understanding of the basic management knowledge and skills necessary for operating a safe, efficient and profitable bus and coach service in the deregulated and competitive passenger transport environment in Victoria.

Mode of Study

Study is by distance education (correspondence course) undertaken at home or in the workplace, at participants' own convenience. Attendance at Monash University campus is not required. Custom-designed course material specific to bus and coach operations, in the form of printed notes and exercises and do at home examination papers, is provided on commencement of semester.

On-going tutorial assistance is provided throughout semester by telephone, fax and email. While access to a computer is not deemed essential, it is nevertheless encouraged as a communication and learning tool.

Examination

The Examination for all subjects is in the form of a do at home short answer question paper to be submitted for assessment, normally within twelve weeks.