The Australian Community Transport Association is the only national peak body representing community transport (CT) in Australia. This presentation will explore the evidence that exists to confirm the interconnections that community transport provides in our community through research and discussing the preliminary results of our community transport pricing pilot, that is also looking at the qualifying the social value in CT.

ACTA advocates that the current model for community transport is not sustainable and does not take into account the various benefits that CT offers.

Many people see CT as a vehicle that takes a person somewhere. We see the vehicle purely as a ‘tool of trade’, like a hummer in a carpenter belt. The real outcomes are the psychosocial benefits that support a person to be part of their community.

We know that this type of service provides better health outcomes, increased mental health and provides greater personal agency. By keeping people connected to their communities, reducing loneliness, and allowing people personal freedom, you’re changing people’s minds and bodies in fundamental ways.

This provides even more benefit when a person has control over what they do and when they do it. Professor Marmot called this the locus of control. When people can control their environment like going to the shops, visiting friends, attending medical appointments or getting to the bank, they are more likely to:

• They take responsibility for their actions and believe they can influence outcomes through their choices.
• Can lead to a sense of empowerment, proactive behaviour and motivation.
• Will pursue things like new skills because they see that they can influence the outcome.

Community Transport achieves all these things for people as they get out of their houses, mix with people, choose their shopping, chat with other people being transported and make decisions about their own solutions. In this way, Community transport is an enabler and the glue between all other service types.

ACTA is conducting its Community Transport Pricing Pilot (CTPP) with the Department of Health and Aged Care and the University of South Australia, aiming to test a new pricing and policy model for CT services under CHSP. A core part of this pilot is quantifying the social value that is offered so that we can put evidence behind the above statements. This project and preliminary results will be discussed as part of the presentation.