VPTAS Alliance welcomes boost to patient travel support, calls on all parties to match reform

Twenty leading health organisations have today welcomed the Victorian Government's commitment to increase patient travel and accommodation subsidies if re-elected, describing the announcement as a significant step towards improving access to essential medical treatment and care for regional and rural Victorians.

The commitment would increase accommodation support to $125 per night and private vehicle travel subsidies to 35 cents per kilometre from 1 July 2027, representing a $53.6 million investment in helping patients and carers meet the costs of travelling for treatment.

The announcement follows longstanding calls to reform the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).

Cancer Council Victoria, which leads the VPTAS Alliance, a collaboration of 20 cancer, chronic disease, patient and carer support organisations, urged all parties contesting the 2026 Victorian election to commit to similar reforms, ensuring any future government continues to improve access to care regardless of where a person lives.

Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper AM said the Government's commitment would help ease the financial burden faced by regional and rural Victorians who must travel for treatment.

“For too long, regional and rural Victorians have faced significant out-of-pocket costs simply because they need to travel to access essential medical care,” Mr Harper said.

“This commitment responds to concerns that patients, carers and health organisations have been raising for years.

“Many people affected by cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other serious health conditions have no choice but to travel long distances for treatment. The cost of fuel, accommodation and related expenses can place enormous pressure on families at an already challenging time.”

Cancer Council Victoria's recent survey of more than 400 regional and rural people affected by cancer found more than 90 per cent experienced out-of-pocket travel and accommodation costs, while almost half said the financial burden had a significant impact, including delaying or missing treatment because of cost.

Mr Harper paid tribute to the members of the VPTAS Alliance who have consistently called for increases to travel and accommodation subsidies.

One of these organisations is Stroke Foundation and their CEO Dr Lisa Murphy said the proposed accommodation subsidy of $125 per night was particularly significant.

“The current accommodation subsidy has not meaningfully increased in more than a decade and falls well short of the real costs patients face when travelling for treatment,” Dr Murphy said.

“This proposed increase would make a tangible difference for Victorians who spend weeks, and sometimes months, away from home accessing life-saving treatment and care.”

Carers Victoria CEO Judith Abbott similarly welcomed today’s announcement, which was made during National Carers Week.

“Increased subsidies for travel and accommodation are a practical cost of living measure for rural carers. The number of carers in financial distress has more than doubled over the past three years,” Ms Abbott said.

Another member of the VPTAS Alliance, the Leukaemia Foundation, recently released a national scorecard assessing patient travel assistance schemes across Australia. The scorecard found Victoria's accommodation subsidy covered just 28 per cent of actual accommodation costs and recommended an increase to $125 per night to cover at least 70 per cent of those costs.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said it was encouraging to see that recommendation reflected in the proposed reforms.

“The Leukaemia Foundation welcomes this commitment as an important step towards reducing the financial burden faced by people who must travel away from home to access treatment and care," Mr Tanti said.

“Our recent national scorecard found Victoria provides the lowest patient travel and accommodation support in the country. We're pleased to see the proposed accommodation subsidy aligns with our recommendation of $125 per night as a minimum benchmark for patients travelling for treatment.

“No matter what condition a person is facing, where they live should not determine their ability to access the healthcare they need.

“We encourage all parties to support measures that improve equitable access to healthcare for regional and rural Victorians.”

While welcoming the announcement, the VPTAS Alliance said it looked forward to continuing discussions about the future of the scheme, including ensuring support keeps pace with rising costs and addressing barriers that prevent some patients and carers from accessing assistance.

The VPTAS Alliance is calling on all parties contesting this election to commit to similar support for Victorian patients and carers to ensure they can access a fairer travel assistance scheme.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) provides financial assistance to eligible Victorians who need to travel long distances to access specialist medical treatment.
• Cancer Council Victoria's 2025 survey of 415 regional and rural people affected by cancer found:
  • 91% incurred out-of-pocket travel and accommodation costs.
  • Nearly half reported a significant financial impact.
  • Some delayed or missed treatment because they could not afford to travel.

• Victoria currently provides the lowest private vehicle travel subsidy and accommodation subsidy in Australia.

• The Leukaemia Foundation's National Patient Travel Assistance Scheme Scorecard recommended an accommodation subsidy of $125 per night as the minimum benchmark required to cover 70 per cent of real accommodation costs in Victoria.

About the VPTAS Alliance

Cancer Council Victoria leads the VPTAS Alliance – a collaboration of 20 cancer, chronic disease, patient and carer support organisations united by a shared commitment to ensure every Victorian can receive the best possible medical care – no matter where they live or their financial circumstances. Together, we're advocating for fairer travel and accommodation support for regional patients.

About Cancer Council Victoria

Cancer Council Victoria is the only charity in the state working across every area of every cancer, from research and prevention to support. For 90 years, we have been relentlessly driving progress, backing bold ideas and supporting people at every stage of their cancer experience. We have invested more than $138 million into research in the past five years, contributing to breakthroughs in prevention, screening, early detection and treatment. In 2025 alone, this included approximately $26 million, with over $3.4 million awarded in grants to Victorian universities, research institutes and hospitals.

We help Victorians reduce their cancer risk and provide support from diagnosis through to recovery and beyond. Cancer is relentless, but so are we.

Learn more at www.cancervic.org.au