THE Victorian Government is awaiting final paperwork on a country travel aid service before deciding whether to save it.
The Travellers Aid Medical Companion Project is relying on a private benefactor to keep going until the Government considers a $75,000 grant to keep the trial going.
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The free service co-ordinates volunteers to take country people to medical appointments in Melbourne.
The country "companions" were originally funded by the Government in a 12-month trial which ended last month.
A private donor has provided money to keep the trial going until June 30.
The project costs $75,000 a year, mostly to pay for a co-ordinator and reimburse transport costs of volunteers.
Nationals MP Damian Drum launched the project a year ago.
Mr Drum said the Government had provided "seed funding" for a one-year pilot project.
"Delivery of the pilot Medical Companions Project was subcontracted to Travellers Aid Australia," Mr Drum said.
"The project included an evaluation of its overall effectiveness and development of a sustainability plan. The Government has not as yet received the project evaluation."
Travellers Aid chief executive Jodie Willmer said the final 12-month evaluation would be submitted within a week.
"Quarterly and monthly reports have been completed and submitted during the project," Ms Willmer said.
"The reports, feedback and data already provided show that the medical companion project is valued by clients from regional and rural areas, it is important to help people attend health appointments," she said.











