Transport
HomeCare Transportation Services
NovaCare offers transportation services to our consumers as part of the Support at Home program. We provide transport in two major ways:
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- Buses for social services – We have a number of buses for people who no longer have access to a vehicle or transport. We visit people’s homes and collect them in our modern buses and take them to where they need to go, then back home again.
- Cars for private transportation – A Care Support worker from NovaCare will pick up a client from their home in a car. We are able to take people shopping, to medical appointments and everywhere in between. Our care support worker will wait with the person and support them as required. We can even help people unpack their shopping bags if they wish!
The feedback we have received is that our transport services are very helpful and convenient.
Transport Available in the Hunter and Beyond
NovaCare is a Novoacastrian-based company. Most of our transportation is between:
- Newcastle
- Port Stephens
- Lake Macquarie and
- Maitland
However, we are able to provide transportation outside of these areas too. For example, if you need to visit Sydney or Port Macquarie or beyond, whether for medical appointments or to see family, there’s every chance we can accommodate.
It’s helpful to let us know your plans in advance, we’ll do our best to help.
Choose a Transport Schedule That Works for You
When you first contact NovaCare through the Support at Home program, you will be assigned a Care Partner from our team. Consumers can choose a schedule customised to their liking, this might be
“I visit the shops every Monday and Friday at 10am, I also go to the lawn bowls every second Saturday at 11:30am”.
Existing clients can phone our Care Partners to put through ad hoc requests such as “The Knights pulled off a miracle and made the finals, I’d like to go to a game next week”.
NovaCare will require information about the pick up/drop off location, time and other people we may be meeting to ensure safety and accuracy of each appointment. Our staff will phone you shortly before arriving to let you know we’re on our way.
Transportation FAQ
- How many people does a NovaCare bus fit?
The maximum number of people is 12.
- Do I have to use the bus if I prefer travelling in a car?
No.
When accessing our transport services, people are able to express their preferences in terms of comfort. Some people do not like a bus for varying reasons. In these cases, we can organise a car.
There are other alternative options (such as volunteer programs under the Commonwealth Home Support Program) which are financially more affordable. This option can be considered too.
- Do the buses have wheelchair access?
No.
We would organise an alternative option for a person who is using a wheelchair.
- Does NovaCare accommodate emergency or ad hoc transport requests?
Yes.
This is often the case for those who book an appointment for the same day. They will ring us and we’ll do our best to make that happen!
I’ve woken up sick or don’t wish to travel today, can I cancel?
Yes.
Our consumers or their carers can phone us anytime, our phones are available 24/7.
We are experienced in this scenario and will support/reschedule as necessary.
- Can NovaCare pick up items for me and deliver them, such as groceries or medicine?
Yes. We do ask for as much notice as possible.
We prioritise the health and wellbeing of our consumers, so deliveries such as food and medicine are critical.