Australia's biggest community transportation provider is turning away new customers, thereby preventing disabled individuals and senior citizens from obtaining subsidized transit services.
In the past fiscal year, TransitCare provided over 300,000 journeys; however, according to Terry O'Toole, the CEO of this non-profit entity based in Queensland, they were unable to meet the full demand.
He mentioned that they have been compelled to reject incoming referrals.
Community transportation, supported by a combination of federal, state, and commercial agreements, provides mobility services for individuals aged 65 and older as well as those with disabilities within both major urban centers and rural areas.
"While our motto is 'staying people linked with their communities,' this goes beyond mere services; it's also about fostering social connections," Mr O'Toole stated.
Given the mounting pressures from increasing vehicular expenses, salaries, and insurance premiums coupled with an aging populace, organizations such as TransitCare that offer community transportation services started to restrict the number of journeys they could facilitate annually.
Previously, TransitCare managed to cover up over-deliveries, however, Mr O'Toole mentioned that this was no longer financially feasible for them.
In some cases, we have to adhere to the government’s requirements. We strive to provide the highest quality service to as broad an audience as possible.
'Human right'
Leanne Claussen, who lives with a disability, had relied on community transportation services for numerous years. However, after relocating to another city, she found herself outside the service area of her previous provider.
The person from Queensland mentioned that the local transportation service in her new location informed her they did not have appropriate vehicles available for her to use their service.
Ms Claussen, who has restricted mobility because of lymphedema, depended on community transportation to get her to work.
She mentioned, 'If I were to walk from my house to the bus stop, I wouldn’t be able to do that,'
For several months, Ms Claussen covered her own travel expenses, but eventually, the costs grew too high and affected her capacity to get to work.
She mentioned that she used to pay $120 for a round-trip with Uber each time she commuted to work.
She mentioned that the expense of commuting to work exceeded her earnings.
Ms Claussen, who wasn’t found suitable for the NDIS, currently gets assistance via My Aged Care for her taxi trips but hopes to regain access to community transportation.
She stated that the government should tackle the issue concerning community transport services for other individuals with disabilities.
"The individuals in situations similar to mine struggle with attending appointments, going to work, and being part of the community—rights we all should have as humans," she stated.
'We can't provide anymore'
Mr O'Toole is advocating for the community transport sector to be granted the same financial assistance as the taxi industry when it comes to transporting individuals with disabilities.
He stated that if someone puts in the effort, they deserve compensation.
He mentioned that his firm would handle around 18,000 journeys annually for customers using wheelchairs, but this number has now surged to almost 30,000.
In Queensland, taxi businesses were provided with financial assistance like a lifting fee, under which a driver operating a wheelchair-accessible cab got an extra $25 for transporting someone using a wheelchair.
The costs for lift payments are not included in the taxi fare, hence there is no extra charge for people with disabilities.
Mr O'Toole stated that it would have a significant impact if community transport providers were paid at the same rate.
"We can't provide anymore, and we certainly can't invest into any more vehicles because of the cost of vehicles that have gone up in the past five years," he said.
The Queensland Transport Minister, Brent Mickelberg, stated that the state government backs transportation services designed for individuals with disabilities, which includes initiatives like the Taxi Subsidy Scheme.
He stated in a release that the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, fare subsidies, and the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Grant program are presently limited to taxi services only.
"We are starting a review into the approach to regulating and funding accessible personalised transport services, including considering the possible expansion of the TSS to other service types."
Broader transport challenges
The president of People With Disability Australia, Trinity Ford, stated that accessible and affordable community transportation is crucial for individuals with disabilities to effectively engage in societal activities.
She mentioned that problems within community transportation are linked to the wider difficulties encountered by people with disabilities when trying to access various forms of travel such as public trains, buses, and wheelchair-friendly cabs.
She stated that there will never be a single comprehensive solution for such issues. Simply investing all our funds into making public transportation accessible and considering the task complete would not suffice.
One of the crucial components of this system is community transport.
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