Download Report

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 16 March 2015
THE NSW AGEING ALLIANCE CALLS ON THE PARTIES TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT ACCESSIBILITY FOR
OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY.
The major political parties are promising new infrastructure projects, however the current public
and community transport infrastructures are not providing the service to the public or community
that they should be.
Transport services are a key for many older people and people with a disability to live healthy,
productive and connected lives. In a great many cases these services are nearby but are unavailable
because the person cannot access them. Although there have been gains made in the physical
accessibility of public transport, many railway stations remain inaccessible. “It is frustrating for many
older people to see a train heading into the city knowing they cannot get onto the station to catch
it,” said Ian Day, spokesperson for the NSW Ageing Alliance.
The NSW Ageing Alliance is calling on all parties to accelerate the upgrades to railway stations to
increase the accessibility of public transport in NSW.
There are many areas in NSW not adequately serviced by public transport. Community transport
services play an important role in meeting the needs of people who do not have access to other
transport alternatives. The Great Lakes Active Ageing Strategy reported “The primary concern for
older residents related to transport, which in turn affected access to services, social events, shopping
and leisure activities. Access to transport, therefore, is an important contributing factor to remaining
active and involved and minimising isolation. Community transport services are available and
appreciated, but are unable to assist in all situations.” Community transport services have
increasingly been diverted to health transport needs reducing the availability of these services for
the purpose for which they were intended.
The NSW Ageing Alliance is calling on all parties to increase the provision of community transport to
help older people remain connected and avoid isolation.
“The upgrading of transport infrastructure is critical to the future of NSW and the NSW Ageing
Alliance supports the plans that have been announced but we need to be careful about getting
excited with the shiny new toys and forgetting about the inadequacies in the existing system,” said
Mr Day.
c/- COTA NSW
Level 6, 280 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
ageingalliance@cotansw.com.au
www.cotansw.com.au/ageingalliance
P: (02) 9286 3860
F: (02) 9286 3872
About the NSW Ageing Alliance
Almost 2.5 million people in New South Wales are aged 50 years and over. They are key
contributors to the NSW community and its economy. Despite this, their contributions are
often overlooked.
The NSW Ageing Alliance is an alliance of 25 organisations established to promote the
needs, rights and interests of all people in NSW aged 50 years and over.
*Aids Council of NSW – ACON
*Aged & Community Services NSW & ACT – ACS
*Alzheimer’s Australia NSW
*Association of Independent Retirees Ltd – AIR
*Australian Association of Gerontology – AAG
*Benevolent Society
*Carers NSW Inc.
*Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW – CPSA
*Council on the Ageing (NSW) Inc. – COTA NSW
*Ethnic Communities Council of NSW Inc. – ECC
*Health Consumers NSW
*Local Government NSW – LGNSW
*The Council of Social Service of New South Wales – NCOSS
*NSW Meals on Wheels Association – Meals on Wheels
*NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association – NSWNMA
*Older Women’s Network – OWN
*Parkinson’s NSW Inc.
*The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care – PICAC NSW ACT
*Presbyterian Aged Care NSW & ACT – PAC
*Retired Teachers’ Association
*Retirement Villages Residents Association – RVRA
*The Aged Care Rights Service – TARS
*The Centre for Volunteering
*UnitingCare Ageing NSW & ACT – UnitingCare Ageing
*War Widows’ Guild of Australia NSW Ltd
For further information contact:
Ian Day, Council on the Ageing NSW, 0417 210 234, ian.day@cotansw.com.au
Paul Sadler, Presbyterian Aged Care NSW & ACT, 0418 208 232, psadler@pcnsw.org.au
c/- COTA NSW
Level 6, 280 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
ageingalliance@cotansw.com.au
www.cotansw.com.au/ageingalliance
P: (02) 9286 3860
F: (02) 9286 3872