Hopetoun Community Transport Service
Published on 13 September 2022
Council teams with Gateway BEET for Hopetoun Community Transport
Yarriambiack Shire Council is working with Gateway BEET to provide the Hopetoun residents with community transport as an interim measure before the RFDS collaboration extends to Hopetoun in the future. The service will be made available to residents aged over 65 years with My Aged Care eligibility.
Yarriambiack Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Tammy Smith said, “This service will be a short-term solution until the RFDS establishes itself in Warracknabeal and is in a position to expand to the Northern end of our Shire. Council will be responsible for inducting and training the volunteer drivers and Gateway BEET will coordinate the bookings for the clients, volunteers and vehicles. This is a great example of collaboration in our community to solve a local problem”.
How to Access Hopetoun Community Transport Service
To be able to access transport from Yarriambiack Shire you will need to have had an assessment from My Aged Care who can create a valid referral.
Many already have had an assessment from My Aged care and have services such as domestic support or meals in place. If you have already completed a My Aged Care assessment you can book your community transport in three easy steps:
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and tell them you would like transport added to your referrals
- You will get a call a week or so later from the assessor who will chat to you about transport and anything else you may need and do the transport referral for you.
- Call Gateway BEET on 0350833001 to book your transport
If you have never had an assessment from My Aged care, you will need to complete the assessment process prior to accessing the community transport services.
- You need to call them on the number above
- Request transport
- You will then get a call from an assessor who will come to your home and have a chat about your needs and organize the referral for you.
- Call Gateway BEET on (03) 5083 3001 to book your transport once you have your transport referral
Please keep in mind that the earlier you book to give Gateway BEET sufficient time to book vehicles and volunteers.
An online form for community members who would like to assist by joining Council as a Volunteer Driver is now open and available here
“Vehicles and training are both provided by Council to community members who register as a Volunteer Driver. Volunteers will be able to provide their availability around other commitments. This is a wonderful opportunity for community members who are looking for a way to give back to the community and we are hoping that with enough volunteers we can provide the service a couple of days a week and rotate volunteers around their other commitments”, Ms Smith added.
It is anticipated that the Royal Flying Doctor Service expansion to Hopetoun will commence in 2023. For more information, please contact Council on (03) 5398 0100 or info@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au.
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Tammy Smith
CEO