State support for seniors

THE Victorian Government is committed to supporting seniors in our community with initiatives such as the Victorian Seniors Card. Introduced in 1991, more than one million Victorian Seniors now hold a card.

The Seniors Card encourages people to keep active and engaged in the community by providing incentives and making it more affordable to get out and about. To be eligible for the card, you need to meet these three criteria:

• Be 60 years of age or older

• Work less than 35 hours per week in paid employment, and

• Be a permanent resident of Australia, residing in Victoria.

Seniors Card holders receive numerous benefits, including discounts from over 4000 participating businesses across Victoria. To apply for a Seniors Card, submit an application form online at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au or contact my office for assistance.

Victorian Seniors card holders are also eligible for a Seniors myki, which provides the following benefits:

• A 50 per cent discount on trains, trams and buses, including V/Line trains and coaches;

• Free weekend travel in any two consecutive zones and on regional town buses;

• Access to free off-peak travel vouchers each year.

More information about the Seniors myki can be found at ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/concessions-and-free-travel/seniors

The Victorian Government understands the pressures households face and is working to drive down the cost of living and provide support with initiatives such as short-term vehicle registration and vehicle registration discounts for eligible concession card holders.

The cost of V/Line travel across the state has been slashed, bringing regional fares into line with metro fares. The weekday cost of a full fare is $11 and $5.50 for a concession, and on the weekends, it is $7.60 for a full fare and $3.80 for a concession.

The Victorian government has also announced that we will be reducing the cost of public transport by making free transport for seniors on the weekends everywhere

From 1 January 2026, more than 650,000 seniors who use public transport will be able to catch a train, tram or bus for free on weekends – saving seniors who travel more than $360 per year.

Passengers with a senior myki will need to carry their Seniors Card while travelling and use their Senior Myki to touch on and off as usual – but myki cards won’t be charged. Cardholders will continue to be eligible for a 50 per cent discount off the full fare on weekdays.

Passengers with a senior myki will need to carry their Seniors Card while travelling and use their Senior Myki to touch on and off as usual – but myki cards won’t be charged.

Cardholders will continue to be eligible for a 50 per cent discount off the full fare on weekdays.

Senior passengers will also continue to benefit from almost 200 extra weekend V/Line services being delivered across the state since the regional fare cap was introduced.

Jacinta Allan MP, Member for Bendigo East