About Us
Background
Inner West Community Transport was formed in 1986 after local service providers in the Inner West area perceived an unmet need, formed a committee and successfully applied for funding. Initially the organisation provided one weekly shopping service in the Burwood Municipality.
In 1990 the service amalgamated with the Ashfield-Drummoyne Shopping Service, which was providing similar services in those municipalities and the Inner West Community Shopping & Transport Service Inc. was officially born.
From such humble beginnings the organisation soon came to provide twenty three shopping runs over a fortnightly period covering the five Inner West municipalities of Ashfield, Burwood, Concord, Drummoyne and Strathfield.
Outings were introduced to provide transport of a purely social and recreational nature and we now operate four Outings per month between March and November. Our bus has been spotted as far as Palm Beach and the Blue Mountains.
In 1996 we commenced our first funded Individual Transport Service, taking clients to medical appointments, to day care, to visit relatives in nursing homes and to other appointments as required. For this purpose we added a station wagon vehicle to our fleet of buses.
We are now a large and multi-faceted service, providing approximately 15,000 passenger trips over a 12 month period through direct service provision and through hiring out our buses to other local community groups. We currently have over 500 regular clients receiving one or more of our services.
We have a dedicated team of staff members, including office staff, drivers, client assistants and volunteers. Each team member is committed to providing the best service they can to the clients they assist, whether directly or indirectly.
Our Mission
The Mission of Inner West Community Transport Inc. is to assist frail aged and younger people with disabilities, and their carers, in the Inner West, to maintain their independence and quality of life through the provision, or facilitation of, affordable, safe, accessible and appropriate community transport and shopping services.
Objectives as listed in our Constitution
The objectives of the Association shall be:
i) to provide transport which is responsive to the needs of people who are “transport disadvantaged”.
ii) To provide community shopping and transport services to people who through disability or isolation are unable to shop independently.
iii) To ensure that people from a NON ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUND are aware of and have equal access to community shopping and transport services.
iv) To provide information and advice on community shopping and transport services.
v) To act to improve the quality of public transport services.
vi) To promote an understanding of transport related issues in the broader community.
Purpose
The purpose of Community Transport is to provide services and undertake activities which alleviate transport disadvantage within its operating area.
Philosophy
Broadly, Inner West Community Transport Inc. believes that four principles of social justice should be applied to the provision of public and community transport services:
• People’s rights as defined by law and common practice should be respected.
• People should be able to gain access to goods and services and to participate in community life by having adequate mobility.
• There should be equity in the provision of transport services; and
• People should have the opportunity to participate in the planning of transport services.
Specifically, Inner West Community Transport believes in:
• the right of people to make choices in their own lives;
• the right of people to dignity, respect, privacy and confidentiality;
• the right of people to be valued as individuals;
• the right of people to have mobility;
• the right of people to access services on a non-discriminatory basis;
• the right of the community to safe, comfortable and reliable services;
• the right of the community to accountable and responsive services.
Outcomes
The outcomes pursued by IWCT shall be:
• that people who are transport disadvantaged can live independently and with dignity within their community:
• that people who are frail and elderly, people who have disabilities and their carers are appropriately supported where they choose to live in their own homes;
• that other agencies are assisted to contribute to the alleviation of transport disadvantage and its causes;
• that the organisation operates in an effective, efficient and accountable manner.
Target Groups
The target groups for services are defined by funding and regulatory guidelines and include
• frail aged people;
• people with disabilities;
• people who are at risk of premature or inappropriate institutionalisation;
• carers;
• isolated people;
• people who are vulnerable or at risk;
• people from culturally distinct communities;
• people who are financially disadvantaged.
• other people who are transport disadvantaged.
The target groups for specific services to be contracted by Inner West Community Transport may also be defined by funding and regulatory guidelines.