Community transport provides either direct transport or support to access public transport for people who are transport disadvantaged. Community transport is affordable, flexible, accessible and adaptable to individuals’ needs enabling them to participate in daily life.

Transport disadvantage occurs when local transport options make it difficult for people to access services, activities, education, employment and community networks. This can lead to social and economic exclusion and can affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Community transport is not a service that Council is required to provide. It has been Council’s response to an important service gap in the community that directly supports equity and access.

Council has traditionally provided community transport services to older residents and people with disability to access different social groups and community programs, and to young people for access to Youth Services programs.

There are other groups of people who are experiencing transport disadvantage. Council wants to hear directly from individuals about their own transport needs. Council can then take all needs into consideration to plan equitable services in the future for those who experience the greatest barriers to access other transport. Please note that State Government is responsible for providing all Public Transport services, including bus services and bus stops. Council continuously advocates to State Government for improved public transport in Wyndham. If accessing bus services is a barrier for you, please contact the Department of Transport with your concerns.

Not everyone in the community can access public or private transport and are unable to get where they need to go using active transport, which includes walking or cycling. Examples of barriers may be age or disability that impacts mobility or cognition, there is limited or no access to public transport, or they cannot afford the cost of transport.

Identified groups in the community are more likely to experience transport disadvantage, including older people, people living with disability, young people, women, families with young children, unemployed people, low-income households, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

There are limited providers of community transport in Wyndham.

• Council has been the key provider of community transport historically and does not receive any other government funding to support Council’s service response.
• Link Community Transport is a not for profit social enterprise also providing transport for older people, people with a disability and carers in Wyndham and operating across many other parts of Victoria.
• Travellers Aid empower people with travel related challenges to connect, engage and participate with their communities through the use of public transport. Travellers Aid provide limited service options in Wyndham, although can be a key service for people with mobility assistance needs travelling by train from Wyndham into Southern Cross or Flinders Street Stations.
• There are choices of registered providers to provide Assistance with travel/transport arrangements for people with disability who have funding for this support included in their NDIS plan.

The Victorian Government funds the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program as a way to address transport disadvantage for eligible members of the public who are unable to use public transport due to disability.

The onset of the pandemic disrupted the usual community transport services due to restrictions around travel and groups meeting. The reduced services during this period are prioritised for essential transport to health appointments following COVID-safe protocols. This timing provided the opportunity to better understand the barriers residents face to access other transport to inform evidence-based planning for an equitable service model for the future to prioritise service access to those most in need.

The community transport service access is likely to change as a result of this evidence-based service planning. It will consider the needs of those who have previously accessed the service, as well as the needs of others in the community who are also experiencing transport disadvantage. The commitment is to prioritise service access for those with the greatest need, whilst balancing the finite financial resources for public value, and not seeking to expand Council’s current commitments.

After this community engagement and service planning work, Council will promote the available community transport options along with how residents who experience transport disadvantage can request access.

Council can provide community transport as a service response to this important service gap, however there are other proactive ways that this service demand can be reduced.

• Advocacy to State and Federal Governments – Fund improvements to integrated transport networks to cater for all transport needs within and connections to Wyndham.
• Service attraction – Attract new and innovative transport responses by providers that meet the transport needs of being accessible; adaptable; flexible and affordable. The roll out of the national aged care reforms in 2023 may provide such a platform with funding allocated based upon needs of older people.
• Community awareness – Increase community confidence in safe and accessible active transport and public transport patronage.