Council & Politics
12 May, 2026
Look into VPTAS when travelling for healthcare
Ms Benham said the scheme remains critical for people in the Mildura electorate, but warned the latest changes add “unnecessary complexity for patients already navigating significant health and travel pressures”.
Mildura MP Jade Benham is urging local residents to familiarise themselves with recent changes to the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).
The VPTAS reimburses rural Victorians for accommodation and travel expenses incurred when they travel over 100 kilometres one way for specialist medical care, where specialist services are not available locally.
Ms Benham said the scheme remains critical for people in the Mildura electorate, but warned the latest changes add “unnecessary complexity for patients already navigating significant health and travel pressures”.
“Regional Victorians already face significant disadvantage when it comes to accessing healthcare. These changes make it harder for patients to claim support at a time when they are already under significant strain,” she said.
Air travel now requires GP authorisation and additional clinical evidence, including confirmation that treatment cannot be provided closer to home.
Eligibility criteria for subsidised flights have also been tightened, including stricter requirements around clinical justification and flexible fares.
Applications can now be submitted via myGov as well as through existing paper-ased processes, with the online option inended to improve processing times.
Full details: www.health.vic.gov.au/rural-health/victorian-patient-transport-assistance-scheme-vptas
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