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February 2009 $400,000 lift for Red Cross Victorian patient transport scheme
A service helping 20,000 vulnerable Victorians attend medical appointments will get a $400,000 Commonwealth-State funding boost. Victorian Community Services Minister Lisa Neville and the Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot announced the funding for the Australian Red Cross Patient Transport Service. The $400,000 over two years is from the Home and Community Care Program, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the State and Territory governments. ‘This is about State and Federal governments working in partnership to provide better services for older Australians,’ Mrs Elliot said. ‘About 400 Victorians a week rely on this transport for essential medical appointments,’ Ms Neville said. ‘The funding will provide rebates for volunteers who, as part of the Red Cross program, assist older, isolated Victorians in particular with essential appointments.’ Red Cross Director of Services Michael Raper welcomed the governments’ support for the service. ‘The funding will assist our volunteers in continuing to provide an important service to some of the most vulnerable people in our community.’ Patient transport, one of the first Red Cross services in Victoria, was established to ensure soldiers returning from the First World War (1914–18) could make it back to their homes. Today, it operates from 22 strategic locations throughout the state. In a typical year, the Red Cross fleet of 40 vehicles covers 1.3 million kilometres—or 24 times around the world. Mrs Elliot said the Patient Transport Service was about much more than getting from A to B. ‘This service provides a friendly, familiar face helping frail and elderly Victorians. ‘Many of the people who use the service live alone and can find transportation difficult.’ The Home and Community Care Program assists 250,000 frail older Victorians a year who need domestic help, nursing, allied health such as physiotherapy and podiatry, delivered meals, social support and personal care. |
