Australian Taxi Subsidy Schemes, My Aged Care Transport, and Senior Mobility Funding

How State Taxi Subsidy Schemes Work

Australia has state-level taxi subsidy schemes, including Victoria's Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP), New South Wales's Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS), and Western Australia's Passenger Transport Subsidy Scheme (PTSS). Fare concessions may be delivered by smartcard, vouchers, or other programme methods, and the rules differ by scheme.

Some schemes offer fare concessions in the 50% to 75% range, with scheme-specific caps and trip limits. Eligibility is generally based on qualifying disability or medical need rather than age.

NSW: Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS)

NSW's TTSS provides a fare concession for eligible participants. Check the current per-trip cap, any trip limits, medical-certification rules, and processing time with Service NSW or Transport for NSW. Eligibility and assessment are disability-based, and the application includes medical evidence.

Apply through Service NSW or Transport for NSW. The application needs medical evidence confirming the disability and its impact on public transport use. Check the current instructions for processing time and participating taxi-payment methods.

Victoria: Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP)

Victoria's MPTP provides a fare concession with caps and eligibility categories set by the programme. Check the current cap, medical-certification requirements, and participating providers with the Department of Transport and Planning.

Eligibility categories include people who use a wheelchair, those who are legally blind, those with a severe mobility restriction, and those with specific cognitive or neurological conditions that prevent safe use of public transport. The application goes through the Department of Transport and Planning and requires a medical professional's certification.

Do not assume an MPTP card works with rideshare services; confirm the current list of participating providers with the programme.

Western Australia: Passenger Transport Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)

WA's Passenger Transport Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides fare concessions for eligible participants. Check the current subsidy, caps, and covered transport modes with Transport WA.

Apply through Transport WA with medical evidence confirming the qualifying disability or transport need. Check the current application instructions for the payment method and covered providers.

Other States and Territories

Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory have their own schemes or local transport supports. Concessions, caps, and application processes vary. Contact the state transport department for the current application form.

My Aged Care Transport Funding

My Aged Care is the Australian Government's gateway to aged care services, including transport. If your parent is aged 65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), they can be assessed for government-funded support services that include transport.

Transport through My Aged Care may be arranged through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or the Support at Home programme, depending on the parent's assessed needs.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): Entry-level support for people who need a small amount of help. CHSP transport services are typically run by community organisations — volunteers driving your parent to medical appointments, shopping, or social activities. A client contribution may apply; the amount varies by provider.

Support at Home: For people with more complex assessed needs. Transport or community access may be included in the funding plan, subject to the programme rules and any required client contributions. Confirm the approved supports with My Aged Care or the provider.

How to Access My Aged Care Transport

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. The assessor will explain the current assessment pathway for CHSP or Support at Home. The assessment considers your parent's physical capacity, cognitive function, and existing support network.

Waiting times and service activation depend on the assessment outcome, priority, and local capacity. Ask My Aged Care or the provider for a current estimate.

While another assessment or package is pending, ask whether CHSP transport is available as an interim service. Availability depends on the local provider and the parent's eligibility.

Support at Home Program

The Support at Home programme replaced Home Care Packages from July 2025. Under the current model, transport remains a possible funded service category, but funding allocation and client contributions are governed by the programme's current rules.

The practical impact: your parent's transport funding may shift in how much they contribute out-of-pocket versus how much the government subsidises. The core principle — that assessed transport needs are funded through the aged care system — remains.

If your parent was already receiving a Home Care Package, confirm their transition status with My Aged Care or the provider. New applicants are assessed under Support at Home.

Layering Australian Transport Support

For a parent in NSW who no longer drives: TTSS covers eligible taxi trips under its current concession and cap rules. CHSP or Support at Home may fund community transport where approved. If your parent needs specialist treatment interstate, the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) in NSW — or the equivalent in their state — may help with travel and accommodation costs.

The Transportation Solutions for Non-Driving Parents toolkit includes a Transit Benefit Enrollment Tracker that works across jurisdictions, so you can track TTSS card status, My Aged Care assessment dates, and Support at Home allocation in one place instead of managing each programme separately.