It’s easy to
underestimate how important the ability to travel is to our quality of life. Not
being able to get around can leave people feeling disempowered, alone and
unable to access basic services. It’s an increasing problem in our ageing
regional communities.
For these reasons the region’s Bendigo Bank branches support Peninsula Transport Assist (PTA)—a vehicle and volunteer sharing network that helps pool community transport resources.
PTA coordinates a
team of volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles to drive clients to
medical appointments, shopping trips, hospital visits and social events. Their
volunteers are trained to look after their passengers from door to door. The
service is available at a reasonable cost to individuals and organisations in
the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region.
PTA also has a fleet
of mini buses which are available for community groups to hire. Booking are
coordinated so that a number of organisations can share and borrow each other’s
mini buses and get paid for the bookings.
PTA’s services are
cheap alternatives to taxis or commercially hired vehicles. They make it easy
for community groups to share vehicles by:
• handling all booking arrangements and
documentation
• providing
additional accident insurance for both borrower and owner
• invoicing
borrowers on behalf of owners
• providing
volunteer drivers at low cost.
Transport is often
cited as one of the most vexing issues for residents on the Mornington
Peninsula and nearby regional communities. Public transport is under stress and
taxis are few and far between. Services like PTA’s are helping to bridge a
widening gap: particularly for the elderly and those with mobility challenges.
In 2016 PTA won the
inaugural Age Friendly Victoria Award—which recognises excellence and
innovation in creating age-friendly communities, promoting active ageing and
improving quality of life and inclusion for older people. We couldn’t be
prouder to support this work they do in our communities.
PTA coordinates a team of volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles to drive clients to medical appointments, shopping trips, hospital visits and social events.
PTA is always on the
look-out for volunteer drivers who would like to join their team. If you are Mornington
Peninsula-based and interested in a rewarding experience that also helps people
in your community, contact PTA on 03 9708 8241 to discuss being a volunteer driver.
When Mt Eliza Bowling Club got in touch with their local Bendigo Bank branch to say they needed a new defib unit, the Mt Eliza branch was very happy to oblige. The new unit had been in the club room for only a few days before it had to be put to use to revive a visiting player.
If you would like to Live Stream this evenings Meet the Candidates Forum Please follow the link below - alternatively tune to RPP FM for our audio stream https://youtu.be/Xx3c_1NTDdA
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