Community transport service expands into City of Dandenong

Connect Health & Community is expanding its individual, supported transport service into the Dandenong area for local frail, aged or disabled residents who have difficulty accessing public transport.

Funded by the City of Dandenong, the new service will provide individual, on-demand transport for residents who need to attend medical or social appointments, but don’t have family to assist or can’t afford other means of getting about.  

Connect Health & Community CEO, Amanda Murphy, said the new service will help connect people with the community outside their front door in an effort to reduce social isolation and improve community health and wellbeing.

“This new service for Dandenong will help local residents access therapies, medical services and reduce their social isolation while improving their quality of life and gaining an increased connection with their local community. Unfortunately, many people in the area currently go without services and are at great risk of isolation or reduced health because they cannot afford or can’t use taxis, or don’t have family members who can help them get to vital appointments, but we are working to turn that around,” Ms Murphy said.

“By expanding this service into the City of Dandeong area we look forward to improving the health, and expanding the horizons of the many elderly, frail or disabled who currently simply go without and endure a reduced quality of life,” she said.

Ms Murphy said Connect Health & Community has been providing the service across the southern metropolitan area for more than 20 years and its expansion into the City of Dandenong was in response to a real need in the local area.

“We are working to keep people connected to their community - a lot of people say it is their lifeline. But benefits flow for everyone involved, including passengers and the volunteer drivers who help open up their new world,” she said.

Connect Health & Community is celebrating the amazing work of all our volunteers as part of National Volunteer Week.

To coincide with National Volunteer Week 20-26 May, Connect Health & Community is currently recruiting volunteer drivers to help in the delivery of the new service funded by the City of Greater Dandenong.

Ms Murphy said people who were thinking about volunteering as a way of helping and connecting with their community could join Connect Health & Community as a volunteer driver to support the service.

Drivers need to have a full Australian license, with more than 7 years driving experience and a suitable vehicle. Costs are covered.

People wishing to utilise the service or volunteer as a driver, can call Connect Health & Community on 9575 5386.