Media release:
Older northern beaches residents who need help getting out and about have received good news, says Easylink, as funding for subsidised community transport, originally slated to dry up next year, has now been guaranteed until at least 2020 with Tuesday’s budget announcement.
Angela Doolan, General Manager of Easylink, the northern beaches’ community transport provider, welcomed the 2017 Budget announcement of a two-year extension of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), the prime funding source for aged transport services in NSW.
“More than 2000 older northern beaches residents rely on Easylink’s door-to-door transport services to get to medical appointments, shopping and social activities at affordable rates thanks to the Federal Government’s CHSP funding,” said Ms Doolan.
“Transport is a basic enabling service that allows individuals to maintain connection to their communities – and with that, quality of life.”
The budget also held good news for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recipients, with the increase of a levy on Medicare to fund the NDIS.
“As the NDIS is being rolled out across Australia, we are already seeing a chronic underfunding of transport in individuals’ packages,” said Ms Doolan.
“We’re keen to continue helping NDIS participants access their community with affordable and accessible transport services.”
“We regularly take NDIS participants to activities at centres such as Sunnyfield, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Fighting Chance as well as to essential appointments,” she said.
To find out more about Easylink’s door-to-door transport services for people who are transport disadavantaged, including frail older people and people with disability call 9919 0700 or visit easylink.com.au.
Easylink is a not-for-profit, charitable community organisation serving the northern beaches since 1982.