Transport out bush

Getting to where you need to go when you live on a remote community can be difficult. Private cars are the main form of transport. Poor road conditions, being cut off in floods or in the wet season, the high costs of petrol and the long distances make private transport expensive and often unreliable. Travel by air or boat is possible for some communities but expensive. There are only a few privately run bush bus services. People often get stuck away from home.

There is not a large range of services available in remote communities so access to transport becomes very important. People need transport or access to transport infrastructure such as airstrips and barge landings/boat ramps to

• Get the kids to school.
• Go to hospital or see a specialist.
• Have infrastructure such as airstrips for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Clinic team airplanes to land.
• Attend a training program.
• Visit a bank.
• Get employment.
• Go hunting for bush tucker.
• Buy furniture or parts for the generator.

Rocky, corrugated and washed out roads wear out the cars that people can afford to buy. There are more people per car in communities than in towns which leads to greater use and greater wear and tear. Poor roads, older and often less reliable cars and long travelling distances can be dangerous. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for Indigenous people.
 

Indigenous communities are characterised by small community size, remoteness (leading to high travel times) and limited financial resources. Lack of transport services impacts on access to health and education services, employment, banking and financial services, recreation, nutrition, and maintenance of essential infrastructure. Access to markets is important for earning income and this is limited by inadequate transport services. Transport is a significant cost to many Indigenous communities and one steadily increasing and petrol and diesel costs continue to rise.