Volunteer Transport Service

Expressions of interest are now open for eligible residents to nominate to use the Town of Bassendean’s new Volunteer Transport Service.

The Town of Bassendean has provided a 7-seater passenger vehicle driven by registered volunteer drivers to transport eligible residents to shops and social outings, to support their ongoing engagement with community life.

Subject to available time-slots, medical appointments can also be booked within an 8km radius of the Town.

The new Volunteer Transport service will be free for eligible users and will operate between Tuesdays and Fridays (subject to volunteer availability).

For the safety of volunteers and passengers, users must be ambulatory, required to get in and out of the vehicle without assistance, attend their appointments unaided, and be declared fit to travel by a medical practitioner. Additional details, including the attached template and other eligibility criteria, can be found below.

For seniors who are not eligible to use the Volunteer Transport Service, the federal government’s My Aged Care Service provides subsidised transport for seniors operated by trained staff. Residents who need regular medical appointments and who have limited mobility can contact My Aged Care Freecall: 1800 200 422* or myagedcare.gov.au for transportation and other needs.

Residents that nominate must meet the criteria of an 'eligible passenger' as outlined below.

Eligible passengers

Eligible passengers:

  • Are a resident of the Town of Bassendean
  • Are a holder of a WA Seniors card and or Health Care Card
  • Provide a Fitness to Volunteer Transport Form certified by a medical practitioner (Template provided by Town of Bassendean Volunteer Transport Office)
  • Live independently and able to make decisions about own needs and services.  
  • Are ambulatory and can enter and exit the vehicle without assistance
  • Are able to attend appointments unaided. (Walkers cannot be taken on the vehicles)
  • Are physically able to enter and exit vehicles unassisted and to use seat belt correctly
  • Must comply with this Policy and Procedure directions or guidelines set down by the Town of Bassendean.

Residents that meet the criteria of an 'eligible passenger' and wish to use the service, must follow the passenger registration process as outlined below:

Registration process

Step 1 - Make an appointment to attend the Volunteer Centre:       

Phone: 9377 2190 or email: [email protected]

Step 2 – Complete Registration Form and receive information.

2.1 Complete Registration Form 

2.2 Receive information about the service and the Volunteer Transport Passenger Booklet

2.3 Receive information about My Age Care Registration and   providers.

2.4 Collect the ‘Fitness to use Volunteer Transport Form’ for your    Medical Practitioner to complete or form can be emailed to nominated Medical Practitioner.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

2.5 Provide WA Seniors Card or Health Care Card and proof of residence for review.

Step 3 – Return ‘Fitness to use Volunteer Transport Form’ completed by Medical Practitioner to Town of Bassendean:

  • In Person: 35 Old Perth Road Bassendean (Office Hours, 8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays)
  • Post:  PO Box 87, Bassendean WA 6934
  • Email: [email protected] (Completed form can be emailed directly by the Medical Practitioner)

Step 4 – Registration Confirmation

Eligible passengers will receive a letter/email confirming their registration.

Volunteer Transport operation for registered passengers: priority of access  

  • Priority is given for approved community group activities held within the Town of Bassendean such as: the Melody Club; the Bassendean 55 Plus Association’s events and activities & Wider Vision.
  • Shuttle to Bassendean Shopping Centre: A weekly shopping shuttle operates on Thursdays, picking up from their front door and dropping them home again.
  • Depending on availability, transport to medical appointments can be booked within an 8km radius of Bassendean. 

Please note that the frequency of service operation depends on the availability of volunteer drivers.

Attachments:

Background  

The commencement of a new Volunteer Transport Service is in response to Council seeking to implement a de-scoped local transport service for eligible residents to remain connected within their community by having the ability to attend social activities, shopping and medical appointments.

Council resolved the following at their Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) on Tuesday 22 August 2023 and provides the framework for how the new Volunteer Transport Service will be implemented (meeting minutes). 

Council Resolution OCM-5/08/23:  

That Council:  

  1. Requests the Chief Executive Officer to establish a limited-scope, local transport service.
  2. Notes that the service will operate based on the following:
  • Comprised of one vehicle only;
  • The service runs between Tuesdays and Fridays (depending on the availability of volunteers) and only for attending community group activities, shopping trips or medical appointments within an eight (8) km radius from the Town of Bassendean;
  • It requires users to be ambulatory and provide confirmation of fitness for travel from a medical practitioner;
  • Drivers would only be permitted to provide manual handling / practical assistance for personal belongings; and
  • Access is limited to holders of senior's cards and/or health care cards.
  1. The service will be provided free of charge to users.
  2. Notes that a review of the service is to be undertaken within 12 months of its commencement and the CEO is to provide an interim review after 6 months of operation, indicating the level of usage and the Town’s cost to provide the service.