General News
24 August, 2023
Transport survey key to developing new service
The Clunes Neighbourhood House (CNH) is encouraging older residents to share their thoughts on the development of a new transport service in town, with only six days left to fill out the organisation’s survey. Given Clunes’ limited access to...
The Clunes Neighbourhood House (CNH) is encouraging older residents to share their thoughts on the development of a new transport service in town, with only six days left to fill out the organisation’s survey.
Given Clunes’ limited access to buses, trains and taxi services, CNH is working towards creating and trialling a transport system over the next 12 months that will help ageing locals get to their destination of choice for doctor appointments, activities, social gatherings and work.
Development of this service is part of the town’s Living and Ageing Well in Hepburn initiative — funded by the Western Victoria Primary Health Network, which works towards supporting various health care programs across the region.
CNH manager Lana de Kort said the community hub has put up a questionnaire that people can answer to help design the service.
“Throughout the month of August, we have been connecting with residents because we realise that living and ageing well at home means being able to get out to do things,” she said.
“If you don’t have a car or a licence, you can’t live your life to the fullest.
“What we’re trying to do is, through a survey, identify where the most need is and what different options might exist within a community that actually has a genuine impact on people’s lives.”
Hoping to get more responses in, Ms de Kort said it was important for those most-affected by the issue to be part of the solution.
“It is best that the people designing the service are the people experiencing the problem,” she said.
“If they can reach out to us and share their experiences, either by completing the survey online, or even by just contacting us at BOOM Clunes, it would be invaluable.
“Once the responses are in and the service is developed, it would enable people to live longer in their homes. It would enable people to be more connected, and it would enable them to participate more in local community life.”
The Clunes Neighbourhood House’s transport survey will be open for responses until next Wednesday, August 30 — the survey can be found at www.clunesnh.org
Residents can also visit BOOM Clunes at 28 Fraser Street or contact 5345-4078 to chat with the CNH team about the service.