Key Takeaways
- Transport for medical appointments sits in Independence (0-50% client contribution); social transport in Everyday Living (0-80%).
- Direct transport (worker drives you) is the most expensive but most flexible option.
- State-based taxi voucher schemes (Taxi Subsidy Scheme) are typically cheaper and run alongside SAH.
- Accompanied trips bundle transport with social or shopping support, often the best value option.
- Group transport (bus to a community centre or social outing) is the cheapest option per person.
Transport is one of the most practical issues older Australians face. The moment driving stops being safe, usually somewhere in the late 70s or early 80s, daily life shrinks dramatically. Medical appointments become major undertakings. Grocery shopping becomes a logistics challenge. Social engagements become harder to maintain.
Support at Home funds transport in several different ways, and the choice between them affects both cost and quality of life. This guide walks through the options.
The four transport models
SAH transport fits roughly into four categories:
1. Direct transport (worker drives you)
A support worker drives to your home, takes you in their vehicle (or yours) to your destination, waits, and brings you home.
- Funded as: Independence (medical) or Everyday Living (social), depending on purpose.
- Cost: Worker hourly rate × time elapsed (including waiting). Typically $65-$95 per hour.
- Pros: Most flexible, door-to-door, supports mobility-limited participants.
- Cons: Most expensive option; you pay for waiting time; worker availability constrains scheduling.
Best for: medical appointments, important social events, situations where mobility makes other transport hard.
2. Taxi vouchers (state-funded, complementary to SAH)
Australian states run Taxi Subsidy Schemes that provide partially subsidised taxi travel for eligible older Australians and people with disabilities. The eligibility and subsidy levels vary by state:
- NSW Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS), subsidises 50% of fare up to a cap.
- VIC Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP), similar 50% subsidy.
- QLD Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS), 50% subsidy.
- WA Taxi User Subsidy Scheme (TUSS), 75% subsidy for high-needs eligibility.
- SA, TAS, NT, ACT, each has its own scheme.
These run independently of SAH. You apply through your state's transport department. Quality care coordinators will help you apply if you're eligible.
- Funded as: State subsidy plus your share of the fare. The fare itself is not typically chargeable to SAH (since the taxi company isn't a SAH provider).
- Cost: Your share of the fare (50% in most states).
- Pros: Cheap, on-demand, no SAH visit required.
- Cons: Driver isn't a trained support worker; not suitable for very high-needs participants.
Best for: routine appointments, shorter trips, lower-needs participants.
3. Accompanied trips (worker comes with you)
A worker meets you, accompanies you on public transport or in a taxi, helps you at the destination, and brings you home.
- Funded as: Independence (medical) or Everyday Living (social), depending on purpose.
- Cost: Worker hourly rate × time, plus your transport fare.
- Pros: Combines transport with companionship and assistance; cheaper than direct transport for longer outings.
- Cons: Public transport timing matters; not suitable for very high-needs participants.
Best for: trips that include shopping or appointments, where the worker's role is helping at the destination as much as travelling.
4. Group transport
Some providers operate group transport for community activities. A bus or van picks up multiple participants, takes them to a destination (community centre, day program, group outing), and returns them home.
- Funded as: Typically Everyday Living.
- Cost: Cheap per person, sometimes a flat fee per trip.
- Pros: Cheapest, includes social interaction, scheduled regularly.
- Cons: Inflexible scheduling; not suitable for high-needs participants; depends on local availability.
Best for: regular community engagement, day programs, social isolation prevention.
A worked cost comparison
Take a 78-year-old woman needing to attend a 30-minute GP appointment 5km from home. The total trip duration including travel and waiting is 90 minutes. Her means assessment puts her at 30% contribution rate for Independence services.
Option A, Direct transport:
- Worker time: 90 minutes at $80/hr = $120
- Her contribution: 30% × $120 = $36
Option B, Taxi with subsidy (NSW TTSS):
- Taxi fare: ~$25 each way = $50 total
- TTSS subsidy: 50% = $25
- Her cost: $25 (paid directly to taxi)
- No SAH worker time used.
- Out of pocket: $25
Option C, Accompanied trip via taxi:
- Worker time: 90 minutes at $80/hr = $120
- Her contribution: 30% × $120 = $36 from package
- Plus taxi: $25 (subsidised) = $25 out of pocket
- Total: $61
Option D, Accompanied trip via public transport:
- Worker time: 90 minutes at $80/hr = $120
- Her contribution: 30% × $120 = $36 from package
- Bus fare: free with seniors card
- Total: $36
For a routine GP visit, the taxi-with-subsidy option is cheapest if the participant doesn't need accompaniment. For someone with mobility limits or who needs help at the surgery, accompanied via public transport is the best balance of cost and support.
Medical vs social: the contribution-rate split
Transport for medical purposes (GP, specialist, allied health, dentist) is funded as Independence. Transport for social purposes (cinema, friend's home, restaurant, shopping for non-essentials) is funded as Everyday Living.
The contribution rates differ:
- Independence: 0-50% client contribution.
- Everyday Living: 0-80% client contribution.
For a self-funded retiree, the difference between 50% and 80% is substantial. Worth being honest with your provider about the purpose of each trip, it's not gaming the system to identify a trip as medical when it is.
The grey areas:
- Pharmacy collection, usually counted as medical (Independence).
- Grocery shopping, usually social (Everyday Living).
- Hairdresser, usually social (Everyday Living).
- Visit to family member, social.
- Meeting with financial planner, medical-adjacent; usually social.
- Religious services, social, though some providers categorise as wellbeing/Independence.
Fuel and vehicle costs
A nuance that confuses some participants: when a worker drives you in their own vehicle, who pays for fuel?
The standard arrangement: the worker's hourly rate covers their wages and statutory on-costs. Fuel and vehicle wear are typically passed through as a kilometre rate (e.g. $0.80/km), separate from the hourly rate. This is fundable through the same Independence or Everyday Living budget.
When a worker drives you in your own vehicle, the worker's time is fundable but you cover the fuel and vehicle costs (which you'd be paying anyway).
Wheelchair-accessible transport
For participants using wheelchairs or walkers that don't fold compactly, transport options narrow:
- Wheelchair-accessible taxis are part of state taxi subsidy schemes but require advance booking and can be limited in supply.
- Wheelchair-accessible buses are run by some larger SAH providers; ask explicitly.
- Direct transport via worker's accessible vehicle is funded but requires the worker to have an appropriate vehicle, which not all do.
If wheelchair access is a regular need, ask your care coordinator about a designated arrangement. Quality providers will set up a regular accessible vehicle and worker pairing.
What not to use SAH transport for
A few things SAH transport doesn't cover:
- Inter-state travel for purposes other than medical (e.g. visiting family in another state).
- Holiday travel, not fundable.
- Daily commute for any reason (work, regular volunteering).
- Vehicle modifications for your own car, separate funding pool (assistive technology).
- Driving lessons or refresher courses.
Group transport: the under-utilised option
Group transport is sometimes overlooked, but for participants attending day programs or community centre activities, it's by far the cheapest and most efficient option. A typical group transport trip to a day centre might cost a participant $5-$10, vs $40-$60 for an accompanied trip.
Quality providers organise regular group transport routes. Ask explicitly about:
- Day programs (Centre-based respite)
- Men's Sheds and equivalents
- Social clubs aligned with your interests (book groups, gardening, walking)
- Religious community gatherings
For socially isolated older Australians, regular group transport is one of the highest-value services SAH funds.
Driver assessment: when to stop driving
A separate but related issue. Many older Australians overestimate how long they can safely drive. If there's any concern about driving, ask your provider for an OT driver assessment. This is a clinical assessment (so 100% government-funded under SAH), and the OT will give a balanced view of driving safety with any specific recommendations.
Stopping driving voluntarily, with a transport plan in place, is much less disruptive than having a licence revoked after an incident.
Compare options annually
Transport needs change. A participant who's stable on direct transport this year might benefit from group transport next year if they start attending a day program. Annual care plan reviews should explicitly revisit transport.
If you're paying more than $200/month out-of-pocket for transport, talk to your care coordinator about whether the mix is right. Often a small change (adding accompanied trips, joining a group program) can substantially reduce costs while improving quality of life.
Compare hourly rates for Independence and Everyday Living services on Home Care Prices to see how transport costs vary across providers in your area.