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 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-PATSA new Cancer Clinic in Sydney to include Regional NSW Hospital partnerships as well
$20 million to establish world-leading clinical trial centre for all NSW residents 17 August 2024 ​A world-leading clinical trial centre in Sydney will soon provide increased access to international cancer clinical trials, thanks to a $20 million donation to the NORTH Foundation from philanthropists Greg Poche AO and the late Kay Van Norton Poche AO. The NORTH Sydney Trials and Research Van Norton Poche (NORTH S.T.A.R VNP) is a partnership between Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. NORTH S.T.A.R VNP will be located at the Sydney North Health Precinct, which includes Royal North Shore and North Shore Private hospitals, and will be available to all Australians, with regional NSW hospital partnerships also established. The centre will also be used to attract the next generation of doctors, scientists and researchers to Australia and provide greater funding to discover cures through research and development. Within months of the launch, the Centre will open four new studies including three clinical trials, providing access to new treatments for patients across metropolitan, regional and rural NSW. More info below: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20240817_00.aspx
Triple positive..but invisible on screening tests
Just diagnosed in September after finally pushing my GP for an answer on what this lump actually was that was getting bigger in left breast. Negative results on screening mammograms and ultrasound. Surgeon wasn't concerned but did a biopsy - Triple positive. Then did a lumpectomy 4wks later but it was bigger than he thought and did not result in clear margins and one lymph node affected.. Soooo... am now on day 2 post 1st chemo treatment and, so far, so good. I'm taking preventative medications recommended by oncologist to avoid the nausea, bone pain, mouth tenderness that seem to be common... but my gut is churning a bit.. I am in a regional centre and have decided to have my mastectomy in Melbourne as they can also do a reconstruction at the same time. Whirlwind and roller coaster and waves are the emotional analogies I seem to use. It's reassuring to know that many, many others have experienced this stuff and got through it in their own ways. Always keen for tips and tricks :)Regional and Rural Information forums - We want your feedback!
The below post was recently added to the private group Living in Regional, Rural and Remote areas . If you are not a member of this group and live rural, regional or remote, please consider joining. (Refer to the Monash Modified Model (MMM) that classifies locations according to geographical remoteness via the link https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/modified-monash-model-fact-sheet Hi Members, BCNA will be delivering information forums to regional, rural and remote communities, more details on the locations and dates will be shared soon. Traditionally these have been delivered as full day events from 9.30-3.00. We acknowledge the current cost of living crisis, work and personal commitments might make it challenging for people to attend a whole day event. So we are hoping to get a better understanding on preferred timings from our members. If you could please take the time to complete this short survey to help with the planning of the upcoming forums. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=dgJVk0E5rkyacWRewHkFZW92LAal_5RAn6S9wZSqa_hURU9VU1NLNjlTWTlORFJMTTNHTlVFQlE5Qi4uWarrnambool Information Forum: Recording now available!
BCNA hosted an Information Forum in Warrnambool for people living with breast cancer and their supporters. You can access the on-demand videos below: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpvVCfUeAqMBu1pz4rP8kXZtxfriszl2e The Information Forum covered a range of topics including the latest in breast cancer treatment, strategies to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing, early detection and management of lymphoedema, and how you can live well during treatment and beyond. Guest speakers included Medical Oncologist, Associate Professor Ian Collins, Lymphologist and Director of the Lymphoedema Clinical Research Unit, Flinders University, Professor Neil Piller. Specialised Lymphoedema Physiotherapist Alicia Boyd , Oncology Social Worker Carrie Lethborg, Breast Care Nurse Rebecca Hay and BCNA members Katie Monigatti and Iris Bar
