Community Transport Critical for Regional Patients

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has raised the issue of insufficient funding for Shepparton District community transport provider, Community Accessibility Inc with Minister for Health the Hon Jenny Mikakos in Parliament last week.

“Community Accessibility is our main provider of community transport in our region. They have recently had to significantly reduce their service provision to Shepparton District patients.

They had previously offered a five day a week service to transport the aged, people with disability and those with limited mobility, to specialist medical appointments in Melbourne. This vital service has now been reduced to only two days a week, due to lack of sufficient funding” Ms Sheed said.

Ms Sheed told the Minister that she had been contacted by many constituents in her electorate who had raised their concerns regarding the lack of access to this critical service.

Ms Sheed said that she will continue to advocate for improved funding arrangements from the State Government and is also disappointed to find the Federal Government has not addressed the funding disparity that sees Victorian community transport providers receiving the lowest funding per capita of all states and territories.  

 

ENDS

Media contact

Leanne Raditsas 0422 211 774│leanne.raditsas@parliament.vic.gov.au

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