Senior Victorians and Carer Card holders will be able to enjoy free public transport from 21 to 28 March 2021. Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan and Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll visited Southern Cross Station to announce the eight days of free travel on Melbourne trains, buses, trams, and regional V/Line trains.
“We are encouraging older Victorians and carers to enjoy all the fantastic sites our beautiful state has to offer. Free public transport is a great opportunity for older Victorians and carers to support regional tourism.” Minister Donnellan commented “By carrying their myki and a Seniors or Carers Card, eligible Victorians will be able to make the most of this free transport.”
Minister Donnellan said that Victorian Senior Card holders and Carer Card holders will be able to jump on public transport for free to visit friends and family, take in attractions and enjoy all that Melbourne and regional Victoria has to offer. The Minister also pointed out that Cardholders have a lot of options available when exploring regional Victoria including visiting the Bendigo Gallery for the 70s fashion icon Dame Mary Quant Fashion Revolutionary retrospective or taking in the Ballarat Begonia Festival with its creative display featuring more than 700 begonias in the Conservatory at the gardens.
Minister Carroll explained that Cardholders can also take advantage of wide range of activities on offer across Melbourne including exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, Old Treasury Building, Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne Museum and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, State Library along with the Queen Victoria or South Melbourne markets. The Minister said that V/Line free travel bookings will open to cardholders from tomorrow, Tuesday 2 March 2021. Free travel is available on all economy class services, and cardholders are able to pay to upgrade to First Class where available. Cardholders will still need to carry their Seniors Card or Carer Card and myki and touch on and off as usual – however the myki cards won’t be charged.
Minister Donnellan said that another free travel week for Senior and Carers Card holders will still occur in October this year in conjunction with The Seniors Festival and Carers Week events. In line with public health advice, everyone on public transport is required to wear a fitted face mask, practise good hygiene, follow health directions and shouldn’t travel if unwell.
More Support for Disabled Victorians
More Victorians with disability will get the support they need, ensuring they have choice, control and support to speak up and assert their rights. Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan today awarded more than $1.6 million for advocacy funding, to help Victorians with disability and their families continue to access timely and targeted advocacy support when they need it.
“Disability advocacy is a key priority and we will continue to invest in organisations that protect and promote the rights, wellbeing and interests of Victorians with disability.” Minister Donnellan commented.
The Minister explained that this investment includes $770,000 for an additional 25 per cent funding increase through to the end of June 2021 to 23 disability support agencies under the Victorian Disability Advocacy Program – ensuring people with disability continue to have a voice. An additional $850,000 will be invested to provide flexible and responsive outreach support during the pandemic as we roll out the vaccine. Minister Donnellan said that the expanded outreach program will continue to focus on people with disability from diverse and harder to reach communities who may be experiencing additional disadvantage as result of the pandemic including people with disability from culturally diverse communities.
The Minister explained that the following advocacy organisations will deliver supports through the second round of funding for the outreach program, to support an inclusive approach to recovery from the COVID-19 health emergency:
- Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability
- Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
- Women with Disabilities Victoria
- Drummond Street Services
- Gippsland Disability Advocacy, Grampians Disability Advocacy and the Rights, Information, Advocacy Centre
- Victorian Council of Social Services
Minister Donnellan said that as part of this, $150,000 is being invested to support Aboriginal people with disability to ensure they have a stronger voice in decision making. Funding will support the development of a state-wide network for Aboriginal people with disability, along with responsive outreach supports and advocacy services in regional communities across the state. The investment builds on the $1.9 million COVID-19 funding package for Victorian disability advocacy agencies announced in May 2020.