Media release
March 15, 2017
Urgent transport fix needed for regional Victoria
Older people in regional Victoria are suffering from a chronic lack of transport options, the state’s peak body for older Victorians said today.
COTA Victoria CEO, Ronda Held, said the need for more flexible, accessible and affordable transport options for older people in regional areas such as Gippsland is one of four priority areas requiring action by the state and local governments over the next 12 months.
Other priority areas outlined in COTA Victoria’s Policy Priorities Statement 2017 released today are reforms to address elder abuse, affordable housing for older people and end-of-life care.
Ms Held said access to transport was essential for older people to make critical medical appointments, carry out daily tasks like shopping and stay connected to their local communities and networks as they get older.
She said while it was recognised that Victoria has an ageing population, there was not enough planning being done to plan for how the state would support people as they age through proper integration and support for transport models such as community transport, integration of transport networks, transport assistance, accessibility and information.
“Lack of access to transport is absolutely fundamental to a person’ well being. Lack of transport and the isolation is causes has all kinds of knock on effects on a person’s long term health. Proper transport networks also mean older people can age in their local community among their social and family networks.
COTA Victoria’s Policy Priorities Statement 2017 at: http://cotavic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/policy-priorties_booklet_web_issuu.pdf
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