St George Community Transport

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-121299

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

St George Community Transport

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (20:40:30):

I congratulate St George Community Transport, one of the most impactful organisations in my local area, on another great year. St George Community Transport provides transport services to some of the most vulnerable members in our community who would otherwise have difficulty transporting themselves. That includes the frail, elderly, those with a disability and their carers, and a wide range of others. St George Community Transport was instrumental to the wellbeing of our community during the COVID‑19 pandemic, ensuring that everyone had access to groceries and essentials. The organisation ran a drop‑off service, while ensuring social distancing to deliver to seniors and vulnerable individuals. The team also assisted St George Meals on Wheels with its services to make sure that no‑one missed out on what they needed.

St George Community Transport has grown to a team of 30 employees and more than 70 volunteers, something that seemed unimaginable after humble beginnings. It is now one of the largest community transport providers in New South Wales, and the demand for its service continues to grow. Its fleet has also grown to 27 vehicles, ranging from sedans to 24‑seater buses. Many of the vehicles are custom modified to ensure comfort and accessibility for all clients. One of the great qualities of our local area is its cultural diversity. St George is home to many different ethnicities, faiths and languages. In fact, 20 per cent of the organisation's customers are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, which includes people speaking 61 different languages. St George Community Transport should be commended for its flexibility and efficiency in catering to that diverse client base. It now employs Mandarin‑, Cantonese‑ and Arabic‑speaking team members each Friday in order to assist with bookings and enquiries. That is proof of its person‑centred approach to service delivery and a testament to its outstanding management.

St George Community Transport is not only making a huge difference in the lives of individuals but also creating a stronger community for all of us to live in. Importantly, it is one of many organisations in our local area that helps to maintain our strong sense of community. It is a family‑friendly community which values selflessness. By ensuring that all members of our community have access to transport, the organisation is allowing residents to socialise and to continue to develop our large yet close community. It comes as no surprise to me, therefore, that figures such as kilometres travelled continue to increase by almost 10 per cent every year.

While we look forward to the bright future ahead for St George Community Transport, it is important to acknowledge the work of many individuals who got it to where it is today. At the end of 2019, Kate Young retired as CEO, ending a six‑year tenure leading the organisation. Her leadership and skills were a huge reason that St George Community Transport grew so rapidly. Kate has been capably replaced by Carol Strachan, who has helped the organisation through a smooth transition. I look forward to continuing to see it grow under Carol's leadership. Credit must go to chairman Chris Tyler for overseeing so much of the organisation's success. Last but not least, I thank the employees and many volunteers who work tirelessly to provide transport to those who need it most. We cannot understate the importance of St George Community Transport and the difference it makes in our community. On behalf of our community, I thank St George Community Transport. As always, credit must go to chairman Chris Tyler for overseeing so much of St George Community Transport's success. Last but not least, I thank the employees and the many volunteers of St George Community Transport, who work tirelessly to provide transport to those who need it most. We cannot understate the importance of the service and the difference it makes in our local community. On behalf of the community, I thank St George Community Transport.