Patients Assistance Travel Schemes - rebates & rules as at July 2025

We have a private BCNA group for those living in Rural, Regional and Remote areas of Australia - join up if you have to travel distances to your treatment.
Group: Connecting rural, regional & remote areas | BCNA Online Network

If you live in a rural/regional or remote town and have to travel to access your specialists, surgery & treatment, then you are also eligible to receive rebates on both fuel and accommodation costs!

If you (or someone you know) is aged between 15 & 29, there is additional assistance - you can read about it here:
Accommodation thru You Can Stay if aged 15-29 for rural/regional/remote cancer patients | BCNA Online Network

One of the biggest cost (and time) factors for rural & remote patients - is the travel from home to the hospital or Dr/Services that you require as the ongoing part of your treatment and also accommodation costs.

Many of us don't find out about the Patients Assistance Travel Schemes until we are well into our treatment schedules & some may have missed the opportunity to claim at all, as most have a time frame whereby submissions need to be done - or you miss out.

I have found a site called National Rural Health Alliance .... it might be worth keeping an eye on it, as a source of information - for all states.
https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/advocacyhttps://www.ruralhealth.org.au/publication/fact-sheet/patient-assisted-travel-schemes-guide/

They currently have a PDF of ALL the State's Patient Travel Assistance Schemes in the one document ..... Make sure you save it to your files!

Most states now have a 'total' Km total per week available, not just the 'one way' Km. So if you are doing radiation Mon-Fri - you 'may' qualify under the 'weekly km' figure. NSW is 200k/week, but Vic is a huge 500k/week! 🤨

SOME states have special consideration for Oncology and Kidney dialysis patients .... it may be worth enquiring about that!

Here is a basic guide to all states - This is the July 2025 'guide' - the Websites and Phone numbers should also help & I'll update the info if/when they put up the latest document.

Click the link below and then 'click on' View PDF ... and download it to your computer ... even print off YOUR state's info!!

https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/publication/fact-sheet/patient-assisted-travel-schemes-guide/

ACT:    https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1985479/ACT-Interstate-Patient-Travel-Assistance-Scheme-Assessment-Guidelines.pdf

NSW:   https://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/home

NT:   https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/health-subsidies-support-and-home-visits/patient-assistance-travel-scheme

QLD:     https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/travel/subsidies