Help is on the way for people with special needs, who find even a simple journey out of the home can be impossible without additional support. Photo: John Thistleton.
Additional taxi services including a wheelchair-accessible taxi are coming to Goulburn.
Laura Stempniak, who will be driving the taxis and recruiting more drivers, says Goulburn is in desperate need for more taxis, especially for people with disabilities.
“I know a wheelchair [taxi] has been a bit of a hurdle,” she said. “We have had a few new companies come in which is really exciting.”
Working for Care Taxi based in Canberra, Laura said she had been aware of Goulburn’s dire need, even though two other wheelchair-accessible taxis were operating in the city. Both were fully booked.
“This is something I have been crying out to my boss for quite some time and he has finally given us the go-ahead,” she said.
Care Taxi began in Canberra in 2019 after Yohan Mathai, who is now the chief executive, was following a taxi one day and saw an elderly passenger get out of the vehicle and fall into the gutter.
“Unfortunately that taxi just drove away,” Laura said. Yohan decided to begin his own service and provide additional care services for people in need.
“We provide that extra support; we are a taxi service; we do the extra mile,” Laura said.
After several years in the disability and mental health sector, Laura said she had become aware of the challenges facing some people getting out of their home.
People needing support to attend medical appointments, or for their regular shopping, or to attend leisure activities would be welcome to book with Care Taxi.
“If you want to go and see your family we are happy to take you there, happy to wait around and bring you home again,” she said. “Our point of difference is safety for everyone in the community; this includes people with disabilities, young people, the elderly and general public.
Laura said that after being registered, two taxis would be operational in Goulburn within a fortnight. A Toyota RAV4 would be equipped for wheelchair access and a Toyota Corolla hybrid sedan would provide standard services.
She advises people with disabilities, or special needs to book ahead.
“If they (people with disabilities) want to go to the Workers Club and have a chat or party with their friends, why not?” she said. “So we are not doing those cut-off hours; we can pick them up, take them home, make sure they are nice and safe and everything is OK with them.”
A not-for-profit organisation, Care Taxi is also hiring drivers for Goulburn.
“Our drivers get 70 per cent of the income and 30 per cent is for maintenance of the cars,” she said. “We are looking for people who need fewer hours, or who have retired and want to give something back to the community, people struggling to find employment, instead of the general 9-5 workforce.
“We want to find people who are struggling and give them an opportunity to come in with us,” she said.
“When I came on board I actually loved the whole aim and vision; it is really here to help the community and will be run by local people at the end of the day,” she said. “It is going to be the drivers, our friends and neighbours driving the people around and supporting their community as well.”
Care Taxi plans to offer a phone app which has a similar format as the Uber app, and can be used to book and pay for a driver. You can also book through Care Taxi’s website.
Invoicing can be linked with aged care management plans or the National Disability Insurance Service (NDIS), and Care Taxi can accept taxi vouchers.
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