About The Victorian Community Transport Association
The Victorian Community Transport Association (VCTA) is the peak body representing community transport providers in the State of Victoria. We lead advocacy for improved community transport across the State in accordance with our vision of community transport as an essential component of an integrated transport system We are the voice of community transport in Victoria, representing our members and supporting them to provide excellent service.
We advocate on behalf of community transport providers across the State, highlighting the importance of their role, and the function of community transport, in developing more socially inclusive communities across Victoria. We seek to influence transport policy and contribute to public awareness of the importance of access to transport for all people in the community. We support our members through providing timely information, education and advice. We work in collaboration with our members to improve the quality of community transport and to achieve standards of excellence in the sector.
Understanding Community Transport
Not all people in the community are able to access to mainstream transport services. This maybe because of a disability that impacts on their mobility, they live in a geographically isolated place or they cannot afford the cost of transport. Community transport provides services, either direct transport or support to access public transport, for people who are transport disadvantaged. Community transport is affordable, flexible, accessible and adaptable to individuals’ needs enabling them to participate in daily life..
Our Members
Our members are organisations and people who provide community transport options or other associated services to assist people to participate in daily activities and community life. The services target people who are disadvantaged in accessing transport, and support people with their mobility. Our member organisations are strongly linked with their local communities and understand the importance of developing local and flexible solutions to address individuals’ mobility needs. Our members may provide these services as part of a range of other community services, as a discrete service, or as a means to support people to access a range of services in the community. Our membership includes not-for-profit organisations, local government, volunteer and other organisations that provide community transport for people who are disadvantaged in accessing public and other transport.
Our Vision
Community Transport is an essential component of an integrated transport system providing a range of services that assist all transport disadvantaged Victorians to participate in daily activities and community life.
Our Mission
To promote the development of an accessible and flexible transport system that includes community transport and supports personal choice and mobility.
We will achieve this through:
- Being the voice for community transport in Victoria.
- Promoting excellence in community transport;
- Developing equity in mobility;
- Building partnerships across transport sectors.
Our Values
The following values underpin our work and reflect our commitment:
- All people have a right to participate in daily activities of their choice and community life;
- All people have a right to live and participate in communities which promote social inclusion and active participation;
- We can empower our members to have a voice in promoting equity in accessing services for all people in the community;
- We have a responsibility to be transparent, accountable and trustworthy in all our activities;
- We have a responsibility to build a strong organisation which promotes social inclusion through mobility;
- Our vision for a fair and equitable transport network across the State can only be achieved if we listen to our members and work together.
Our Aims
We aim to:
- Represent the views of community transport with the Victorian Government to influence the development of an integrated and sustainable community transport network across Victoria;
- Empower our members through leadership and support, to build quality community transport services across the State;
- Promote community transport across the community;
- Build collaborative working relationships with Government, other transport providers, transport advocates and service providers, to improve access and mobility for people who are transport disadvantaged.
Our Strategic Directions and Priorities
We have identified three key directions which will guide our work over the next five years. These are:
- Support and promote equity in mobility;
- Be the voice for community transport in Victoria;
- Promote excellence in community transport service delivery.
Governance
The VCTA is a non-profit organisation (Incorporated Association A0025899E and ABN 88 353 196 530) governed by a Committee of Management. For more details about the operation of the Committee of Management, including copies of our current Strategic Plan, please feel free to contact us at any time.