Travel and accommodation when undergoing treatment
Many people with cancer may have to travel a distance to their medical appointments regularly. Some will also require accommodation while they are having treatment. These costs add up quickly and cause undue anxiety for the patient and family. Travel and accommodation support during cancer treatment may help ease the burden.
Pancare Foundation provides some financial support for travel and accommodation costs for people who have to travel to special medical services across Australia.
Learn more:
> Financial support and assistance
Hospital services and supports
Patients may be able to get assistance with parking, travel and accommodation to partake in medical services.
The social worker at the hospital will be able to check what services or supports you may be eligible for. If you have not met with a social worker your specialist nurse or doctor can refer you.
Some hospitals have a dedicated Patient Accommodation Manager who can assist patients to book suitable accommodation during treatment with one of their partner organisations located nearby.
Patients living in excess of 50km (one way) in some states from the hospital may be eligible for government subsidy and should discuss this with the Patient Accommodation Manager when exploring accommodation options.
Within major hospitals limited internal accommodation is also available to patients. For more information please speak to your medical unit or liaison nurse about eligibility and availability.
Medistays
Medistays in an online accommodation directory helping patients and families find accommodation near their treating hospital. Their website below has a variety on accommodation choices in all states and territories throughout Australia
Learn more:
>Medistays website
Fight Cancer Foundation
The Fight Cancer Foundation support services include helping rural and interstate patients accessing major treatments in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria secure affordable accommodation.
Learn more:
> Fight Cancer website
Carer Gateway
This government website has been designed by carers for carers. The site includes information regarding different transport options for patients in each state.
Learn more:
> Carer Gateway website
Parking
Health services and hospitals often offer a reduced parking rate for patients and carers. Remember to ask at your health service or hospital if it is possible to obtain a reduced parking rate for you and family members.
Travel and accommodation assistance for cancer patients during treatment varies from state to state.
Each State Government within Australia funds a program subsiding the transport and accommodation of patients who live a great distance from their nearest approved treatment centre.
Cancer Council
Last financial year, Cancer Council NSW supported 32 patient transport services. The Transport to Treatment drivers made 19,070 trips, covering more than 1,035,000 km
To find out if this service is available in your state please call Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support.
Isolated Patients Travel & Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS)
The IPTAAS is a NSW Government initiated scheme designed to assistance patients that travel long distances for specialist medical treatment. IPTAAS is available for patients who live more than 100kms from their nearest treating specialist or if the combined trips to and from the specialist exceed 200kms per week.
The subsidy for travel in private vehicle is 22 cents per km.
Public transport is reimbursed less the GST and any booking fee components. Private stay accommodation is reimbursed at $20 per person, per night.
Please visit the IPTAAS website to learn more about other available subsidies and to check if you are eligible for this scheme.
Cancer Council NSW
Cancer Council NSW have a partnership with Accor Hotels, providing accommodation at reduced rates.
For more information, please visit their website.
Major hospitals within NSW also have a listing of suitable accommodation within their area. Please speak to your hospital social worker or specialist nurse and they will connect you with the appropriate hospital department to access this service.
Patient Travel Subsid Scheme (PTSS)
The PTSS can assist patients that live in rural remote areas and is available to patients who are required to travel more than 50km to specialist medical services that are not available locally. Travel subsidies for commercial travel (air, bus or rail) are fully reimbursed at the lowest discount rate. The subsidy for travel in a private vehicle is 30 cents per km, and private stay accommodation is reimbursed at $10 per person, per night.
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme.
Cancer Council QLD
CCQLD have 6 accommodation lodges located across Queensland in:
- Brisbane (south and northside)
- Cairns
- Rockhampton
- Toowoomba
- Townsville
Accommodation available to support patients and families during their treatment
For more information, please visit their website.
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS)
The PATS is a WA Government initiated scheme funded by Royalties for Regions. This scheme provides subsidy towards the cost of travel and accommodation for patients that travel more than 100km from their nearest eligible medical specialist service (including a telehealth service). PATS also subsidise flights for patients living more than 16 hours’ drive from the nearest treatment centre.
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme
Cancer Council WA
Cancer Council WA also have 2 accommodation lodges located in Perth, Crawford and the Milroy Lodge.
For more information, please visit their website.
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS)
The PATS is a scheme that provides subsidy towards travel, escort and accommodation costs when rural and remote South Australians travel over 100 km each way to see a specialist.
PATS offers a fuel subsidy of 16 cents per km for car travel, a payment towards the cost of public transport where this is approved, or a payment towards the cost of air travel if this is deemed essential by your local doctor. Conditions apply for Air Travel.
SA Health provide a range of subsidies to assist different patient needs regarding travel. Patients are entitled to claim from one scheme only. If they meet all the PATS criteria, they will be directed to apply to PATS.
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme.
Cancer Council SA
Cancer Council SA has two accommodation lodes in Adelaide for country people affected by cancer and their carers. Two lodges are Flinders and Greenhill Lodge.
For more information, please visit their website.
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS)
PATS is a subsidy program funded by the Northern Territory Government to provide financial assistance to Territorians who are referred by an approved practitioner to the nearest approved specialist medical service. To qualify for the subsidy, travel is to be more than 200 km one way to an approved specialist medical service, or more than 400 km cumulatively in one week for renal or oncology treatment.
For assistance please contact your local PATS office:
Royal Darwin Hospital: 8922 8135
Katherine Hospital: 8973 9206
Gove District Hospital: 8987 0201
Alice Springs Hospital: 8951 7846
Tennant Creek Hospital: 8962 4262
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme.
Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (IPTAS)
IPTAS provides assistance to permanent residents of the ACT towards travel accommodation expenses incurred when referred interstate for medical treatment not available in the ACT. There are many exclusions for ACT
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme.
Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS)
Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) provides financial help with travel and/or accommodation costs to Tasmanian residents who need to travel:
- more than 50 km (one way) to the nearest oncology or dialysis treatment centre
- more than 75 km (one way) to the nearest appropriate specialist medical service
- more than 75 km (one way) to access lymphoedema treatment
from their permanent residence. Benefits are only paid for interstate referrals when the treatment is unavailable in Tasmania.
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme
Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)
VPTAS subsidises costs incurred by rural Victorians who travel more than 100km one way or an average of 500 km a week for one or more weeks to receive approved medical specialist services or a specialist medical treatment. Patients have to pay the first $100 each treatment year. People who are eligible for travel will receive 20 cents per km if a private car has been used. A full reimbursement will be given at economy rate for public transport.
Please review the website for conditions and to check if you are eligible for this scheme
Travellers Aid
Travellers Aid is a not for profit organisation that provides the following services for people that require assistance in the Melbourne CBD
Travellers Aid Australia operates from our three service sites at Southern Cross and Flinders Street Stations in Melbourne and Seymour Railway Station, in regional Victoria.
Services provided include:
- Buggy & Guidance Service
- Pick-up service from the bus, taxi or train platform and be taken to taxi or prearranged transport at the Southern Cross Station or can also be arranged at Flinders Street Station.
The Buggy Service is utilised by the vision impaired or people having difficulty with their mobility.
Medical Companion Service
If you are not comfortable with where to go in Melbourne or do not like travelling on transport alone, a medical companion can be booked. A volunteer will accompany you from the station to your medical appointment and bring you back to the station for your return transport home.
For more information, please visit their website.
LINK Community Transport Inc
LINK Community Transport Inc is a not for profit organisation providing transport solutions for people and communities in Melbourne, Victoria.
The service provides door to door transport for people in the community for a variety of reason from personal, social, recreational, educational and health needs.
This is a great service that keeps people in touch with community and delivers them to medical appointments with no stress.
LINK currently operates in 108 suburbs in the Northern and Western suburbs of Metropolitan Melbourne. Most people are eligible for a subsidy so the cost personalised door to door service can be as little as $4.
LINK also services private customers who aren’t eligible for a subsidy at a competitive rate equivalent to a half price taxi.
For further information please contact the office on 1300 54 65 28 or review the website.
Red Cross Transport
Red Cross Transport has a limited availability to provide assistance with travel to essential medical appointments. The hospital will contact Red Cross to organise transport one week before required. If the service is available, you will need to contact Red Cross and confirm transport 3 days before required.
Learn more:
> Red Cross website
Speak to our Specialist Support Team for Practical Support.
Specialist Support Team 1300 881 698
