Ms Griffith, who is on a $28,000 salary and sends her children to state schools, pays thousands of dollars in what she describes as "hidden costs of schooling". She cites $400 for textbooks and stationery, $550 for a laptop, and several hundred dollars in school excursions.

However, the most expensive "hidden" cost is one that is seldom talked about – $1638 for myki yearly passes, at $546 for each child.

"It seems perverse that the Victorian government has promised increased funding in education ... but we still have these high transport costs," she said.

"It's unfair that Victorian families have to pay travel expenses to get their kids to school, when families in NSW have access to free public transport."

Many NSW parents are being relieved of the cost of transport to school, as school students and students under 18 at TAFE, can travel to and from school for free, under the School Student Transport Scheme.

The free pass is offered to students living 1.6 to three kilometres from their school, and applies between the hours of 6.30am and 7pm on school days.

The Victorian Greens are calling on the state government to consider introducing a similar model in Victoria.

Victorian Greens education spokesperson Sue Pennicuik says free transport for students would help struggling families and ease traffic congestion during school hours.

A recent audit by Infrastructure Australia warned the cost of delays on Melbourne's major roads as a result of congestion will triple to more than $9 billion a year by 2031.

"We know that many children, even secondary children, are being driven to and from school every day, when they could walk, ride or use public transport," Ms Pennicuik said.

"Free public transport for school children would be a huge help to household budgets, especially for low-income families."

Victoria currently offers eligible students in rural and regional Victoria free travel on the School Bus Program.

Yet demand for transport fee assistance is skyrocketing in Victoria, warned Elias Lebbos, chief executive of Travellers Aid Australia, an organisation which funds the cost of public transport for poor students. Some 300 families were on a waiting list for help with transport fees, he said.

"Kids who could not afford to get to school have skipped numerous classes simply because of the cost," he said.

Victorian Council of Social Services executive director Emma King said free school transport would give vulnerable kids a better chance of attending school and of finishing year 12.

The Greens are yet to put the matter forward in Parliament, but Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan has signalled that the government was "not currently considering to provide free travel to students".

Opposition education spokesman Nick Wakeling did not back the Greens' call.