Forum Discussion
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/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
SA: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public%20Content/SA%20Health%20Internet/Services/Regional%20Health%20Services/Patient%20Assistance%20Transport%20Scheme/Patient%20Assistance%20Transport%20Scheme
TAS: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/patients/support-services-your-visit-hospital/travel-support-ptas
VIC: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/rural-health/victorian-patient-transport-assistance-scheme-vptas
WA: https://www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/Our-patients/Patient-Assisted-Travel-Scheme-PATS
3 Replies
What is classed as remote or rural?
I have to travel about 110klm round trip each time I see my specialist or have a scan etc
Hi Ann58​
Technically, I 'think' it is anywhere outside the major Capital Cities ... but each State's rule vary, too.
Some states are only 50k each way to be able to claim, but most are 100k or more - or a cumulative.
Definitely read the info in the PDF below (Choosing your State) - and also check with your Breast Care Nurse whether you are able to claim. OR just ring the PATS in your state & ask them xxGood luck
Ann58​ In NSW you can apply for IPTAAS if you have to travel at least 100km (one way), or at least 200km in a week by making multiple trips to and from the same specialist or highly specialised health service that is the nearest one to you.
From my experience the rules are rigid.
When I went for radiation the hospital gave me the information for the IPTAAS application. It was a daily 100km round trip so I ended up travelling 1500km over three weeks. However travel to a medical oncologist a few days after radiation was rejected because it was a different specialist.
IPTAAS was helpful but aside from the radiation I haven't seen any specialist twice within 7 days to be able to use it for other purposes.
If fatigue had been a big issue during radiation then IPTAAS would have been helpful for the accommodation payment as well.
