Connecting with Victorian communities
Outreach to Victorian communities is an important part of the work we do.
Meeting Victorians in the places they live, work and socialise helps us learn more about the public transport-related issues and access barriers people may be experiencing – and to ‘spread the word’ about their right to lodge a complaint with the Public Transport Ombudsman.
Last month, we opened our 2023 outreach calendar by speaking with tertiary students at Victoria University Open Days, and people living with intellectual disability at the VALID ‘Have Your Say’ Conference in Geelong. It has been wonderful to be able participate, in person, in these vibrant and busy events for the first time since 2020.
A PTO staff member talking to students at one of the Victoria University Open Days.
And in late 2022, Ombudsman Simon McKenzie visited the Latrobe Valley for a round-table consultation convened by Latrobe Health Advocate, Jane Anderson, about the role of transport and mobility in community health and wellbeing. The Ombudsman and PTO team also met with local councillors from Latrobe City and Baw Baw Shire Councils, and representatives from local Neighbourhood Houses, citizen groups and Gippsland TAFE.
Are you conducting a community event or looking for a speaker?
The PTO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals, groups or organisations who would like:
- to request an in-person presentation on how to lodge a public-transport-related complaint with the Public Transport Ombudsman, and how making complaints to the PTO can help make the public transport system better for everyone
- PTO service information that they can share with their members, clients, service users or local community
Get in touch with the PTO’s Engagement Officer Louise Irving at
You can access PTO community information brochures here, or order copies to be posted to your organisation or community group.
The Public Transport Ombudsman respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate our services. We pay our respects to the ongoing living cultures of Aboriginal peoples, and to Elders past, present and future.