Community Transport in Australia

Abstract

Purpose

This chapter presents a review of community transport in Australia with the aim of providing material for comparative research in flexible transport.

Design/methodology/approach

Research on Australian community transport has been brought together to present an analysis of the key features of the industry: history; geography; funding; regulation and the use of volunteers.

Findings

Each key feature has led to the current strong state/territory basis for service organisation and delivery, despite the federal responsibility for supplying most of the funding and ensuring equity and standards. Varying approaches to regulation and supply have also been driven by remoteness and the prevalence of large pockets of entrenched social disadvantage in some regions.

Originality/value

The chapter summarises research findings including hitherto unpublished research on an application of flexible transport services outside mainstream public transport operations in Australia.

Citation

Denmark, D. and Stevens, N. (2016), "Community Transport in Australia", Paratransit: Shaping the Flexible Transport Future (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 263-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-994120160000008013