WACOSS, the Health Consumers’ Council WA, the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, and Linkwest invite you to a collaborative online workshop exploring how the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) can be strengthened to better meet the needs of people living in regional, rural and remote Western Australia.
While previous inquiries and policy changes have aimed to improve PATS, significant gaps remain. This workshop is an opportunity for community members, service providers, health workers, and advocates to contribute insights to inform ongoing advocacy efforts.
What We’ll Cover
- Current challenges and barriers experienced by patients, families and services providers using PATS
- Cultural safety considerations and the lived experiences of Aboriginal communities
- Opportunities for improving equity, access, communication, administration and support in relation to PATS
- What practical changes are needed to ensure that the patient journey is at the centre of PATS.
Why Your Voice Matters
Your experience, whether as someone who has used PATS or someone who supports clients navigating the system, is essential in building a clearer, evidence-based picture of where improvements are still needed.
Who Should Attend
- People with experience using PATS and their families
- Community service organisations
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
- Health professionals and service providers
- Consumer advocates and peak bodies
We welcome the participation of people with lived experience of accessing the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme. If cost is a barrier to access or participation, support may be available for people with lived experience via Health Consumers’ Council WA, including payment for participation.  Please contact [email protected] to discuss further.