victorian isolated patients travel scheme

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme Guidelines (2015)

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Transport to, from and between hospitals

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• If you know you have to go to hospital for surgery, planning ahead will make getting there and getting home run more smoothly.
• Think about traffic, where you will park and which route you will take. 
• There is help available for country patients who have to travel a long way for their care. Speak to a hospital social worker about your options. 

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Getting to and from hospital, transport for rural and regional patients, where to get help.

If your hospital stay isn’t urgent and you know in advance that you have to go to hospital, planning your trip will help to make sure you get there on time and then get home without delay.

How you get to and from hospital will depend on your condition and where you live. For example, you might be recovering from an operation, taking a baby home or having to travel a long distance.

Some things to think about when planning your trip to and from hospital are:

• your mode of transport (such as public transport, private car or taxi)
• the route you will take,
• how long you will need for the trip (especially if during peak hour traffic)
• where you will park (if using a private car)
• whether you need medical help during your journey
• whether the vehicle suits your needs (for example, if you have a baby or a wheelchair).

If you are using public transport, allow plenty of time in case of cancellations or delays. When planning your trip home (or to another service such as a rehabilitation hospital), you might not be able to drive yourself, so you will have to make other arrangements.

Patient transport services

Non-emergency patient transport External Link (NEPT) services provide non-urgent transport to, from and between hospitals for people who need medical assistance or clinical monitoring. People who need NEPT are often being transferred between hospitals for treatment. Your doctor will decide if you need medical monitoring or assistance during transport and will authorise it for you. Only authorised health professionals can approve the use of NEPT.

Patient transport costs

The cost of patient transport services is not covered by Medicare. Some ways you can cover the costs patient transport services include ambulance membership subscription, private health insurance, health care or pension cards, or Department of Veterans Affairs card.

If you live in rural or regional Victoria, you might have to travel for healthcare if the services you need are not available in your area. Your local doctor may refer you to an outpatient clinic or for treatment in a hospital in your closest regional centre or Melbourne. You may have to travel back and forth a few times or have an extended stay in hospital. After you are discharged from hospital, you may need to travel for ongoing care. When preparing for a long journey, make sure you are clear about:

• where you are going (the address of the healthcare service)
• who you are seeing (the name of the healthcare professional)
• how you will get there
• where you will stay if you will not be returning home on the same day
• how much your travel and accommodation will cost
• how you will get home.

When it is time to go home, ask whether you will need to come back for follow-up appointments so you can plan your transport.

Hospital social workers

Social workers at regional and Melbourne hospitals can give you information, and support, help you find travel assistance and advocate for your needs. When you phone the hospital to make your appointment, ask to speak to a social worker if you have any questions about your journey.

Victorian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)

The Victorian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme External Link (VPTAS) is a Victorian Government initiative that helps rural and remote Victorians with travel and accommodation costs when they need to travel more than 100 kilometres for healthcare. Your local doctor or hospital can help you access VPTAS forms or you can get them from the VPTAS website.

Travellers Aid

Travellers Aid External Link helps people with special needs, such as frail people and people with disabilities, at three locations in Melbourne – Southern Cross Station, Flinders Street Station and City Village. The largest centre at Southern Cross Station provides a comfortable lounge area and has free buggy transport, manual wheelchair access and personal guides to help people get around the station.

• Your doctor
• Hospital social worker
• ' Non-emergency patient transport External Link '. Department of Health, Victorian Government
• Paediatric emergency transport service (PETS) External Link . Royals Children's Hospital.

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More information, related information.

Enterobacterales is the name given to a type of bacteria or germs, many of which normally live in your bowel. A well-known member of Enterobacterales is Escherichia coli or E. coli.

CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation.

If you need to go to hospital to see a specialist or surgeon, you have the right to choose both the hospital and the specialist you want.

There is a range of support to help you communicate with your doctor and hospital to get the services you need, from interpreters to special food and emotional support.

From other websites

• External Link Ambulance Victoria.
• External Link Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• External Link Travellers Aid

Content disclaimer

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

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The Victorian Government is working to improve access to quality healthcare in rural Victoria.

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If you work in a rural public health service or hospital and want more information on rural programs and policies, refer to the Victorian health service policy and funding guidelines .

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The Victorian rural and regional health services’ medical director plays a key role in monitoring, maintaining and improving the safety and quality of health care.

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)

The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme subsidises some costs incurred by rural Victorians when they travel more than 100 kilometres one way for specialist medical treatment.

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Rural and isolated practice registered nurses (RIPRNs) have completed a special course of study and can administer or supply a limited range of medicines in rural and regional Victoria.

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The department has developed statewide guidelines for small rural health services wanting to provide x-ray services.

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Most small rural hospitals have an Urgent Care Centre to provide emergency care and assistance to their communities.

Reviewed 30 October 2023

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Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme

Victorian patients and carers guide to claiming accommodation subsidies

What is the VPTAS scheme?

The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme subsidises the costs of travel and accommodation for residents of Victoria who need to travel long distances for specialist medical care.

Subsidies are provided to help cover the costs of staying in accommodation close to hospitals. Patients can also claim travel costs including private car and public transport costs.

VPTAS supports residents of Victoria travelling to hospitals in Victoria and other States. Interstate patients travelling to hospitals in Victoria must apply to the scheme in their home State. 

Eligibility Criteria

In Victoria, the main eligibility criteria for VPTAS is distance. Distance is defined from the patient’s home address to the specialist medical facility (hospital or clinic) or dental facility. There are two distance eligibility criteria:

People travelling more than 100km from home to medical care (one way)

People travelling an average of 500km over a week for one or more weeks.

You also need to be a Victorian resident.

You must be travelling to specialist medical or dental care that is not available closer to home.

Who decides if I am eligible to claim VPTAS

Your medical specialist needs to confirm you are travelling for specialist medical care. The doctor must be approved to practice as a specialist under Medicare Australia and their details must be included on the form. The specialist or an authorised officer, such as a hospital social worker, practice manager, receptionist or nurse may sign your form.

Please ask your medical specialist or staff at the clinic to assist you with this process. You can also contact the VPTAS Office directly for further information. Once your form is submitted to the VPTAS Office, they will process your application and confirm your eligibility and reimbursements.

Please note, MediStays does not approve your application. 

How much is the accommodation subsidy

The subsidy varies depending on your situation:

Patients not admitted to hospital may be eligible to claim up to $49.50/night (incl GST) accommodation subsidy.

Patients travelling with an approved escort

Patients not admitted to hospital who are travelling with an approved escort may be eligible to claim up to $99.00/night (incl GST).

If you are an approved escort for a patient admitted to hospital you can claim an accommodation subsidy of up to $49.50/night (incl GST) .

When to submit a VPTAS application form

If you are eligible to apply for VPTAS, post your hard copy, signed form and MediStays tax invoice to the VPTAS office when your stay has finished.

Do I need to keep a diary of my travel?

Yes, please enter the details of your travel and accommodation on VPTAS form Page 2. Please check the VPTAS form for further instructions

Other frequently asked questions

Unfortunately, VPTAS do not allow pre-approval of accommodation subsidies for Victorian patients and carers.

However, MediStays is here to support with you discounted accommodation until your VPTAS submission is approved. Please visit our blog on how to c laim VPTAS here .

Every property on the MediStays website can be booked for your accommodation and VPTAS claim.

No, VPTAS entitles you to claim all accommodation costs, including one-night stays

As escort is a person approved to travel with the patient. This may include your husband or wife, carer or the parents of children under 18 years of age.

A person can have more than one escort if they are under the age of 18 years, certain conditions apply.

Accommodation in private homes is not covered under the VPTAS scheme.

You must claim the subsidy for the state or territory where you live (not the location of your treating hospital). 

Participation in some clinical trials will deem patients’ ineligible to claim VPTAS. Please discuss this with your medical specialist if unsure. 

As stated on the VPTAS website, in general, you will not be eligible to claim VPTAS if you:

• participate in clinical trials or experimental treatments that are medical research studies that aim to find a better way to manage a particular disease
• live in states or territories other than Victoria (unless they are a living organ donor to a Victorian patient)
• are away from their permanent place of residence when the treatment episode begins, such as when on holidays or while visiting friends or family either within Victoria or interstate
• are undertaking a journey to or from outside Australia for medical treatment
• are accessing allied health (for example, audiology, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech therapy)
• are accessing general practitioner (GP) services
• are eligible to claim assistance under another state or territory or from a registered benefit organisation including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• were injured in a motor vehicle accident and are covered by the Transport Accident Commission
• were injured at work and are covered by WorkSafe
• have received or claimed by way of compensation, damages or other payment in respect to the illness or injury being treated.

If your accommodation costs are more than the VPTAS subsidy, you will need to pay some out of pocket expenses. For example, if a patient and escort stay in accommodation close to hospital at $140/night, they will pay $41 per night for accommodation. VPTAS will subsidise the remaining $99/night.

You will need to pay the first $100 in a treatment year. A treatment year starts from the date of the first appointment with the medical specialist. This fee is waived if you are a primary card holder for the Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.

A treatment year starts from the date of your first appointment. 

The $100 co-payment fee is waived if you are a primary card holder for the Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.

Yes, if you are an approved escort you are eligible to claim the accommodation subsidy. For example, you may drive your husband to the hospital and book accommodation with MediStays until he is discharged. You are eligible to claim $49.50/night accommodation subsidy in this situation.

Yes, VPTAS covers public transport costs. Keep a copy of your tax invoices and record details of your journey (dates) on the form. If you are eligible to travel on V-Line for free, please state ‘V’ in the transport type.

Yes, VPTAS covers petrol costs. If you travel in a private car, you are eligible to claim 21 cents per kilometre. Google maps is used to calculate the distance from your home address to the hospital/clinic address. You do not need to provide tax invoices for petrol costs.

Please contact the VPTAS office directly for further information on 1300 737 073 or [email protected]  if you have any questions.

The website is here.

Once your form is submitted to the VPTAS Office, they will process your application and confirm your eligibility and reimbursements.

For long stays, you may also apply in advance or in regular intervals. 

How MediStays can help…

Checking your eligibility after booking.

When you book accommodation with MediStays, you can choose to tell us your postcode. This enables us to guide you on your eligibility for VPTAS and send you the link for the relevant VPTAS paperwork.

Which MediStays accommodation is eligible?

All properties listed on the MediStays website are eligible – simply book on our website and submit your MediStays tax invoice with your application form.

Are you a patient or carer travelling for medical care?

Our Care Navigators can assist with accommodation and funding support.

Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

Victoria rural and remote health services

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• Living in rural and remote areas means access to health services can be more challenging.
• It is important to be familiar with health services in your area, to be able to get help when you need it.
• Telehealth allows remote video and phone contact with health practitioners.
• You may be eligible for travel and accommodation support for medical appointments.

Planning ahead

Regional and rural Victoria offers many lifestyle benefits to residents and visitors. Sometimes, it can be difficult to access health services when you live far away from the city. It is important to know where you can find health services, so you can get help when you or someone in your family needs it.

Almost 1 in 4 Victorians live in rural and regional areas. The state's biggest industries are agriculture including dairy, crops, wool, and manufacturing.

Rural Victorians experience more suicide, cancers , diabetes , stroke and heart disease . Country Victorians are also more likely to have airway diseases such as asthma , emphysema and chronic bronchitis than residents in the city.

What types of health services are available?

Victoria has five rural health regions with 70 public health services and hospitals. These include 6 bush nursing hospitals, 15 bush nursing centres, Aboriginal health services and community health services.

In rural and regional health services, doctors might not always be available in emergency situations and pharmacies might not be open. In these situations, highly trained rural and isolated registered nurses ( RIPERNs ) can look after your health needs, and can help you access important medicines.

Rural urgent care services provide help for accidents and emergencies. If you need urgent care, they will transfer you to a major hospital using a service called Adult Retrieval Victoria . The Royal Flying Doctor Service also has a range of services across the state, including dental clinics, eye care and speech therapy. Ambulance Victoria has emergency medical flights, which run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and cover rural areas.

Finding services and online support

The internet is a great source of information when searching for health services. There are many different websites with information, but it is very important to use reliable sources, such as healthdirect's service finder . Get to know the online support options, so you can prepare for your future health needs.

You can speak to a registered nurse over the phone, by calling NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24 — available any time of the day or night, 7 days a week.

If you are pregnant, or a parent of a young child and have a health question, the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby video call service allows you to speak face-to-face with a maternal child health nurse. Video call is a free service and is available from 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week (including public holidays).

Telehealth connects people in remote and rural areas with health professionals using video or phone. This can, in some situations, reduce your need to travel to an appointment.

My health record

My Health Record is a secure online summary of your health information. This improves communication between your doctor, health services, specialists and hospitals. This can help people living in rural and remote areas, as you may have several health providers in different locations. This digital summary allows your important health information to be stored in one place, which is easily accessible to health care professionals.

Travelling to medical and health services

Travelling for medical services can be stressful and expensive, but you might be eligible for travel assistance through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme.

Ambulance Victoria provides fee-for-service emergency medical transport, as well as non-emergency medical transport.

Travelling to hospital with a sick child can be difficult for the whole family. Ask your local health service or the hospital about what support or financial help may be available. You might also be able to get help for accommodation through Ronald McDonald House.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health

A range of health services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is available in rural and remote parts of Victoria.

Mental health and wellbeing

People living and working in rural areas can have a lot more stress than those in the city. Sometimes they may need extra support. These stresses can include:

• loneliness and isolation
• financial hardship
• few employment opportunities
• natural disasters

If you need help to maintain your mental health and wellbeing , there is a range of support and services available to you:

• Victoria's mental health services
• women's mental health alliance
• farmer health
• headspace for young people

If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm , Suicide Line provides 24-hour support across Victoria. Call 1300 651 251 to talk to a caring professional.

Farm and mining communities

Living and working in rural and remote areas involves certain risks. Accidents are common in farming communities, both for workers and children. With some planning, you can improve safety for yourself and others.

Emergency medical help

In a medical emergency, dial triple zero (000), and ask for an ambulance.

Resources and support

To find health services in Victoria, visit the following links:

• dental care
• Youth Central
• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
• Seniors Online Victoria
• disability services
• Aboriginal health services

Further information

• rural and remote health
• symptom checker
• find a health service

You can also call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available from 7 am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week (including public holidays).

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content .

Last reviewed: July 2023

Related pages

• New South Wales rural and remote health services
• Northern Territory rural and remote health services
• Queensland rural and remote health services
• Rural and remote health
• Tasmania rural and remote health services
• Travelling to your healthcare appointment

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Family accommodation

Family accommodation is available for patients and their immediate families/supports who reside more than 100km from the Women's and have a medical reason for being admitted/treated at the hospital.

Family accommodation comprises of 16 self-contained apartments with their own bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. All linen is provided, but apartments are not serviced during your stay. We have a fully equipped laundry on site with coin-operated washing machines and dryers. Car parking is available on site.

Eligibility

The Women’s is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment by the prevention or minimisation as far as is practicable of work related injury, illness and trauma. The Women’s will not tolerate violence in any form. The safety and security of staff, patients and their families while staying in Family Accommodation must be assured. Patients wishing to use our Family Accommodation must meet eligibility criteria and complete a risk assessment. They will also be asked to sign a Conditions of Stay form.

Costs are discussed at time of booking.

A Victorian or Interstate resident who resides more than 100km from the hospital may be eligible for accommodation and travel assistance under the Victorian Patient Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (VPTAS). Most other states provide similar financial assistance, such as NSW Government – IPTAAS (Isolated Patient Transport and Accommodation Scheme).  Costs vary from state to state therefore you will need to discuss this with the Family Accommodation Officer.

How to make a booking

Bookings can be placed by contacting the Family Accommodation Service. Patients will placed on a booking waiting list. All bookings are subject to availability. Once a family has been placed on the wait list the Co-Ordinator will contact the family to confirm availability prior to the date of stay.

How to get there

Driving directions (Google Maps)

Related information

• Route planner for Victoria
• Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme
• The NSW Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS)

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Victorian Transport Assistance for Rural patients

Victorian Transport Assistance Scheme for Rural Patients

Victorian Transport Assistance for Rural patients scheme (VPTAS) Program Payment is available for you to attend one of our specialists at the Digestive Health Centre.

Are you eligible for a travel or Accommodation reimbursement from the Victorian Government?

Travel reimbursement applies if you are a resident in rural Victoria in a designated area (Please see map below) and traveling at least 100km one way to see a medical specialist for medical treatment.

Accommodation reimbursement applies if you receive accommodation assistance up to a maximum of $41.00 per night. This may be available to the applicant and their approved escort if:

• they stay in commercial accommodation – that is, any accommodation that is registered as a business and has an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• the specialist completes the VPTAS claim form stating the number of nights of accommodation required
• the specialist approves that partner or carer can accompany the applicant (they must be 18 years of age or older).

Check VPTAS website for more information

What is the VPTAS process?

People who wish to receive VPTAS assistance need to take the following steps:

• Check you are eligible.
• Find out what assistance is available.
• Find out who can be an approved patient escort.
• Fill in the VPTAS claim form.
• Have the VPTAS claim form completed by an approved medical specialist.
• Send the VPTAS form and required receipts to the VPTAS office.

The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme’s (VPTAS) guidelines and feedback policies are now available for download in 11 different community languages from the Health Translations website.

Your family doctor will advise you as to your eligibility in obtaining Victorian rural patient transport assistance reimbursement. The scheme can also provide accommodation reimbursement to assist in covering the costs of your medical care if you are traveling over 100km

Our approved medical specialists must sign the claim form before you lodgement.

VPTAS travel and accommodation claim form

Map of 5 rural Victorian regions shown in blue that are eligible for the VPTAS scheme

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Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS)

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), provides financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when you need to travel more than 100km one way or 200km within a week for appointments to the same medical practitioner or health service for specialised medical treatment that is not available locally.

IPTAAS provides financial support towards travel and accommodation. You can claim financial assistance towards:

• private vehicle travel
• public transport (trains, buses and ferries)
• taxis (includes ride sharing like Uber)
• air travel (in special circumstances)
• accommodation

IPTAAS provides financial assistance from the NSW Government towards your travel and accommodation costs when you need to travel long distances for specialised health treatment that is not available locally.

Planned system maintenance for online claiming

Please note the IPTAAS online claiming system will be unavailable from 8pm-11:59pm on Thursday 21st March 2024 for system maintenance.

You will not be able to access your account during this time. We appreciate your patience while we make further improvements to the system.

• Who can claim
• What payment can you get
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• A patient story

To be eligible for IPTAAS, you must:

• be a resident of NSW including Lord Howe Island
• be enrolled with Medicare
• not be receiving, or eligible for, financial assistance for travel and accommodation from third party insurance or other Australian government services
• be referred for treatment at their nearest health service
• receive treatment at an approved health service
• travel from their residence for treatment at least 100km (one way), or at least 200kms in a week by making multiple trips to and from treatment

You may receive payments for the following:

• private vehicle travel
• public transport (trains, buses, and ferries)
• taxis (including ride sharing like Uber)
• air travel (in special circumstances)
• accommodation.

List of travel and accommodation subsidy rates east

Online claim

You can claim using our online platform. Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to make a claim, approved claims will be paid straight into your bank account.

Make a claim now launch

1. Register for our online platform

If you are new to online claiming, you will need to create your account before you can claim.

Claiming online will allow you to save time and manage your stored information for future claims.

2. Make a claim

Use your email and password to sign in and complete your online claim. You will need:

• your doctor to complete 'Form 5: Referral details for online users'
• your Medicare card details
• your treatment, travel, and accommodation details
• provide payment details
• your travel and accommodation invoices scanned or photographed ready to attach to your online claim

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Claim by form

If you can’t claim online, you can print and complete a paper form.

1. Print form

• Check to see what IPTAAS forms you should be using
• Download and print relevant form

2. Talk to your doctor

Ask your doctor to complete the referral details on the form.

3. Complete the form

Make sure you include:

• treatment, travel, and accommodation details
• bank account details
• if you need to stay more than two nights before or after your treatment, your practitioner or health service will need to sign the declaration in Part F of the form
• your signature.

You can submit your form with any travel and accommodation invoices to your local IPTAAS office or email us at [email protected] .

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After being diagnosed with a bacterial disease and cancer in 2017, George needed to come to Sydney for treatment.

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Victorian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme

The Victorian Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) is a Government subsidy scheme offering financial assistance to regional Victorians needing to travel for specialist medical treatment.

Across Australia, Victoria has the most recently reviewed patient travel assistance scheme, however provides the third lowest subsidy for accommodation and the fourth lowest subsidy for petrol. In July 2017 the VPTAS was reviewed and the reimbursement rates rose slightly (from 20cents to 21cents for petrol and from $41 to $45 per night for accommodation).  

Cancer Council Victoria coordinates the VPTAS Alliance, which comprises more than 30 cancer, chronic disease and patient support agencies, all with a strong interest in supporting people who need to travel for treatment. The Alliance was established in 2013 through a series of roundtable discussions.

In 2014, the Alliance successfully lobbied the Victorian government to commit to improving the VPTAS, which resulted in the announcement of additional funding and commitment  to review the VPTAS biannually. The alliance is now advocating for further improvements to the scheme - mainly increases to the reimbursements, changes to the distance thresholds and improvements to the administration and promotion of the scheme.

In 2015 the Alliance developed a flyer that was non-brand specific which aimed to promote awareness of the VPTAS. The aim of the poster is to raise awareness of the support that the Victorian government provides to regional and rural Victorians who need to travel for specialist medical treatment. If you would like a copy of the poster for your organisation, you can download a copy here

Patients can find application forms on the DHHS website: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/rural-health/vptas-how-to-apply  

An approved medical specialist or authorised officer must sign the claim form. The costs of public transport are also reimbursed, if the eligibility criteria is met: a person must be travelling for specialist medical treatment, from over 100km from treating centre.

Cancer Council Victoria have a fact sheet you can order for free which explains the VPTAS:  http://www.cancervic.org.au/downloads/CISS_factsheets/Patient-transport.pdf  

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