Travel Green Heroes

from Murdoch Monthly July 2023

NAIDOC Week

With the new Hybrid model of Travel Green Allowance Program taking off, some incredible Murdoch caregivers wanted to share why they chose to ‘go-green’ and access the $6 allowance to utilise alternative transport instead of parking on-site.

Pete Oldfield – Security Officer

Q: How long have you been signed up the TGA program?

A: I have used Travel Green ever since I became aware of it some years ago, as I have used Public Transport throughout the six years I have worked at Murdoch.

Q: How do you travel to work?

A: I take the train to Murdoch station and walk up to the hospital from there.

Q: What benefits have you experienced travelling an alternate way to work?

A: I love being able to just sit and either read a book (or the soccer reports ha-ha) and admire the scenery, all the time feeling a great deal of sympathy for the occupants of the endless lines of slow moving vehicles on the freeway that my train speeds past.

Although I would use Public Transport anyway, I do think it is a very generous gesture from the organisation, to both reward and encourage the use of alternative transportation to help free up parking spots for people who need to drive in.

Alexis Cranfield – Clinical Nurse Researcher

Georgia Rawlins – Patient Administration Assistant

Q: How long have you been signed up the TGA program?

A: Since early 2021

Q: How do you travel to work?

A: Usually public transport! The buses and trains run frequently enough for me to get to and from work with relative ease, even when I finish at 7pm.

Q: What benefits have you experienced travelling an alternate way to work?

Q: How long have you been signed up the TGA program?

A: I signed up for the program on 26/03/2016 and have been using it for the past 7 years.

Q: How do you travel to work?

A: Train

Q: What benefits have you experienced travelling an alternate way to work?

A: Commuting on public transport is far less stressful than driving to and from work in peak hour traffic. Train travel gives me time to just chill and relax if I want, read a good book, catch up on social media, or listen to a podcast or music. It is also less expensive than driving to work every day and reduces wear and tear on my car.

A: I enjoy having a bit more walking in my commute for my health, it’s a cost efficient way of getting to and from work, plus the knowledge that I’m doing a little to reduce my carbon footprint. The allowance certainly doesn’t hurt the existing list of positives, though!

The Hybrid model means that caregivers arriving at work between the hours of 1:30pm and 6:59am on weekdays, and all day on Saturday and Sundays, can access on-site parking and still maintain their full Travel Green Allowance of $6 per day, and up to $60 a fortnight.

For more information, or to sign up to this new Hybrid Travel Green Allowance Program, please search ‘Murdoch Parking’ on CORA for the application form you will need to submit to Security Department either via email or in-person between 2pm and 4pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Friday 4 August

Am I OK Day encourages caregivers to fill their own cups, be honest with themselves, and to seek help and support if they need it.