Organization : Ministry of Transport
Service Name : Total Mobility Scheme
Country: : New Zealand
Website : https://www.transport.govt.nz/
Total Mobility Scheme:
The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidised taxi services to people who have an impairment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following five components of a journey unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry in a safe and dignified manner:
** getting to the place from where the transport departs
** getting onto the transport
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** riding securely
** getting off the transport
** getting to the destination
The scheme provides:
** vouchers or electronic cards to eligible scheme members that discount the normal taxi (or specialist transport provider) fare by 50 percent up to a maximum fare (set by the relevant regional council, or Auckland Transport)
** funding to scheme providers to help purchase and install wheelchair
** payment to the owners of hoist vehicles for each Total Mobility Scheme member who requires the use of a wheelchair hoist on a trip
Initiated in the early 1980s, the scheme is provided throughout New Zealand. The scheme is jointly funded by local and central government. The scheme is managed and operated by mobility coordinators in regional councils. There are some variations in the scheme from region to region to reflect local differences.
The scheme was reviewed in 2005 by the Ministry of Transport. The review recommended a number of changes to improve the consistency and portability of the scheme. The NZ Transport Agency has been working with regional councils and most of the recommendations have been implemented.
The Total Mobility Scheme is not intended to be a substitute for transport services that are the responsibility of other government agencies or rest home providers.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Total Mobility scheme must be nationally agreed on and applied, and the role of local authorities that provide the scheme must be supported and strengthened.
Eligibility:
The current regional inconsistency in determining scheme eligibility is unfair. Therefore, eligibility criteria should be agreed on and applied nationally.
Entitlement:
All local authorities should use a transparent and consistent method for making entitlements. These entitlements should be adequate to meet the needs of users.
Assessment:
** Contracts should be entered into between assessment agencies and local authorities to ensure high-quality and consistent assessments.
** Local authorities should contribute financially to the cost of assessments.
** Individuals should not be required to become members of assessment agencies in order to be assessed.
Transport operators:
** Contracts should be entered into between local authorities and transport operators.
** For each trip using a wheelchair hoist, transport operators should receive a flat payment in addition to the fare.
** An appropriate safety regime for wheelchair hoists should be established.
Increase in government funding
The financial assistance rate (FAR) should be increased to 50 percent in 2005/06 for local authorities that implement the first phase of these improvements and do not reduce their level of funding below 2005/06 levels.
The FAR should be increased to 60 percent in 2006/07 for local authorities that implement the second phase of these improvements and do not reduce their level of funding below 2005/06levels.