Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS)
If you live in a rural area you will probably have to travel to another town or city for specialist medical services and treatment, and you may have to stay overnight at times. This can be expensive. All state and territory governments provide some financial assistance for these kinds of expenses through Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS). The payment you receive will depend on the distance you need to travel, and you may only be eligible if you are attending the treatment centre closest to your home. While these payments will not cover all the costs of your travel for treatment, they can help and are worth investigating.
BCNA’s PATS fact sheet provides information about each state and territory scheme, including what they pay and how you can apply.