The RFDS is legendary within rural and regional communities in Australia for flying sick and injured people to medical facilities which would otherwise be hours if not days away.
Now Cobram and surrounding towns will be the beneficiaries of the uniquely Victorian Client Community Transport program which will see eligible clients being transported by road by car to medical appointments.
Cobram program coordinator Mark Nordbye said the program that would soon operate out of Cobram already existed in other areas of Victoria, including in Nurmurkah, which he also coordinates.
“We have been running Client Community Transport in Nurmurkah since October 2022 and we are now looking to expand our services into Cobram and with the Cobram pickup zone this will include towns of Tocumwal, Barooga, Koonoomoo, Tungamah and as far down as Yabba,” he said.
“We will transport clients roughly 100km from the towns to medical appoints and planned activities in Shepparton, Benalla, Wangarrata and Albury,” he said.
To be eligible for the service, which will begin in a few weeks, clients have to be 65 years or older, be a pensioner or health card holder and when the program officially begins they can register with the RFDS and give the organisation several days’ notice to get them to their appointments.
The service will be free.
At this stage two cars will operate from Cobram and Mr Nordbye said they would driven entirely by a volunteer driver workforce, with the possibility of more vehicles, should demand require it.
For those wishing to volunteer they can contact the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Mr Nordbye said the role would teach volunteers new skills other than driving.
“They will be trained in patient care, first aid and general driving. There is no minimum or maximum hours needed for volunteers. We work around their availability,” he said.
Currently four volunteers are being trained with eight other volunteers set to commence training as soon as possible.
Mr Nordbye is hoping for an eventual volunteer force of 16 to help ensure that work can be spread evenly.
Janet Stevens is one of the volunteer drivers from Numurkah and said the role was a fulfilling one.
“What I’d say to people that want to volunteer is, don’t hesitate. You get a real sense of pride from doing it,” she said.
Since 2018, when the program began, Client Community Transport cars and buses have completed 25,000 transports and travelled 650,080km.
The program has 1521 registered clients, 226 of whom come from nearby Nurmurkah.
Those wishing to volunteer can ring the RFDS on 7046 4664.
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