Community engagement

Supporting regional communities

At V/Line we are proud to provide transport services to regional Victoria.

We support our Community Partners to leave a positive legacy in regional Victoria. Read more about our Community Partners towards the bottom of this page.

Please note that V/Line is not currently considering new requests for community partnerships, sponsorships or community fundraising initiatives at this time.

Accessibility

Accessibility Action Plan 2022 - 2025

V/Line’s Accessibility Action Plan 2022 to 2025 has been developed to continue to improve access for regional public transport services. The plan aims to support the objectives of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT).
Priorities and actions

V/Line’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan aims to support the Victorian Government’s Accessible Public Transport in Victoria Action Plan 2020 to 2024.

To achieve this, V/Line’s four key priority areas are:

1. Our Customers
2. Our People
3. Our Network
4. Our Community

Download a copy of the Accessibility Action Plan 2022 to below.

Accessibility Action Plan 2022 to 2025
pdf 6.6mb
Accessibility Action Plan 2022 to 2025 - Text Only
pdf 2.7mb

Temporary exemption reporting

DSAPT Exemption Report 2.6 and 2.8
pdf 322kB

V/Line Accessibility Reference Group

The role of V/Line’s Accessibility Reference Group (ARG) is to assist in the implementation of the 2019-2022 Accessibility Action Plan. The group will work on projects to improve accessibility across the V/Line network.

Current ARG Membership

Rosalie O’Neal – Gippsland
Daniel Giles – North
Vincent Mammoliti – North
James Carter – North East
Dianne King – North East
Karleen Plunkett – West
Robert Kuebler – South West

If you would like to contact the representative in your region, please email accessibility@vline.com.au.

V/Line Accessibility Reference Group Terms of Reference
pdf 146kB

Try Before You Ride

V/Line hosts Try Before You Ride events across the network where customers can learn more about how to travel safely on trains, coaches, buses and taxis.

You will have the opportunity to boost your confidence by practicing how to board and alight on a V/Line train, coach, low floor bus and accessible taxi.

For details of the next session, please email accessibility@vline.com.au.

Communication access

Each year, there are approximately two million V/Line trips taken by someone with a communication difficulty. This includes people with English as a second language as well as those with speech, hearing and intellectual impairments.

At V/Line, we recognise the importance of making travel easier by improving communication to make sure all our customers are supported by trained staff.

One of the steps we are taking is to become the first public transport operator in the world to be given the Communication Access Symbol.

The symbol means improved interaction between staff and customers with a communication difficulty.

Easy access to information not only creates customer confidence in approaching staff, but also in planning their journey.

This initiative promotes equal opportunity for people with a communication difficulty to access public transport across the V/Line network.

Find out more about the Communication Access Symbol and the tools that are available for our customers here.

Safety

The Victorian Government has invested milions of dollars in upgrading railway crossings around the state. Flashing lights, boom barriers and automatic pedestrian gates have been installed to keep motorists and pedestrians safer at crossings.

Our commitment to safety relies on everyone in the community being alert and aware near railway tracks. Trains are heavy and fast moving and we are encouraging people to take extra care in the rail environment.

Rail safety education

V/Line also provides important rail safety education programs and works in partnership with Victoria Police, local councils and community groups to spread the message about safety at level crossings, stations and near our tracks.

There are also public transport safety and travel education resources available for teachers and students. These resources align with the Public Transport Victoria's learning outcomes of public transport safety and public transport awareness.

To access these resources, please visit the Public transport teacher's hub.

For more information about our programs or if you’d like to arrange a presentation on safety, please email community.relations@vline.com.au.

Emergency management

V/Line has rigorous response plans in the unlikely event of an emergency. These plans are regularly tested and reviewed with the cooperation of other government agencies including emergency services.

If you witness an emergency event on the V/Line network, immediately notify emergency services on 000. They are able to contact V/Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For non-emergency contact details please refer to the Contact Us page on this website.

Other useful contact details are listed below.

Organisation	24 hour contact number
Nationwide
Police/Fire/Ambulance	000
Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria	1800 136 089
Environmental Protection Authority Victoria	1300 372 842
Department of Health (Vic)	1300 650 172
Local councils	A list of local councils and contact details is available here
NSW
Environmental Protection Authority NSW	(02) 9995 5555
Ministry of Health	(02) 9391 9000
Workcover NSW	13 10 50
Local councils	A list of local councils and contact detail is available here

In the unlikely event of an emergency posing a hazard to neighbouring properties, we will use this website, traditional media and emergency services to notify nearby residents and businesses. Our Facebook and Twitter accounts will also be used.

Community partners and programs

V/Line Life Training

V/Line Life Training is a youth development and motivation program for young people in country Victoria.

Since 2013, V/Line has engaged the Beacon Foundation through its Work Readiness programs to support youth development and leadership by helping students develop skills for going into the workforce.

The Beacon Foundation is a national non-profit organisation that provides secondary school students the opportunity to make informed and aspirational decisions about their future.

Find out more information about the Beacon Foundation website here.

AFL Victoria Country

V/Line's sponsorship of AFL Victoria Country focuses on the development of junior footballers and umpires.

Our sponsorship began in 2004 and includes the V/Line Cup and the V/Line Umpire Academies.

V/Line Cup

The V/Line Cup is the elite under-15 championship for junior AFL Victoria Country players. It provides opportunities for rising football stars to showcase their skills to a wider audience and play against their peers from across Victoria.

View photos from the 2017 V/Line Cup

View photos from the 2018 V/Line Cup

View photos from the 2019 V/Line Cup

Each year the competition, played in a round-robin format, brings together over 500 players from across the state for four days.

The competition is a recognised pathway for players on their journey to the AFL.

Officiating umpires have been selected exclusively from the V/Line Umpire Academies.

V/Line Umpire Academies

V/Line Umpire Academies are designed as a platform for aspiring umpires to develop careers in the VFL and AFL.

Umpires from across Victoria are invited to participate in training and education sessions throughout the year.

The academies help umpires develop their skills with the aim of officiating more senior competitions including the V/Line Cup and the Australian Country Football Championships.

For more information, visit the AFL Country Victoria website.

Doxa Youth Foundation

V/Line started supporting the Doxa Youth Foundation in 1976. At the time, its Malmsbury camp had only been operating for a couple of years, but it was rapidly growing in demand.

Doxa realised that the associated costs of travelling to Malmsbury were leaving many children without the chance to attend the camp. Since then, V/Line has been assisting schools with their travel to the Doxa camps in Malmsbury and Melbourne.

The camps provide young children from disadvantaged families the opportunity to experience educational and enriching holidays. It also gives them the opportunity to be introduced to train travel and associated V/Line rail safety education programs.

V/Line is proud to support Doxa and contribute to the positive development of disadvantaged children in Victoria. Our partnership with Doxa is an integral component of our community engagement activities.

V/Line also supports Doxa’s Cadetship Program. The program links a selected group of undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with industry professionals by providing financial support, professional development and annual work placement. This assists talented young people through university and onto an employable future.

Request travel to the Malmsbury or Melbourne Doxa camp here

Find out more information about the Doxa Youth Foundation.

Stationeers

Stationeers are groups of volunteers who conduct beautification activities that help maintain the appearance and surrounds of railway stations throughout Victoria.

In partnership with Keep Victoria Beautiful, V/Line supports the 26 regional Stationeers groups active across the state. Through this partnership we aim to create identity, a sense of pride and ownership of our stations through social and creative activity in local communities.

At V/Line, we maintain the landscape along our rail lines and at our stations to improve safety, mitigate our impact on the environment and beautify the communities we serve. The Stationeers volunteers assist us in achieving these goals.

To find your local group or for information on how to set up a Stationeers group please contact Keep Victoria Beautiful by visiting the Stationeers program website.

Travellers Aid

Travellers Aid and V/Line have partnered to offer support, advice and assistance to all customers, including people in emergency situations and those with special needs.

Travellers Aid services include:

Facilities including internet access, showers, baby-change rooms, disabled toilets, a lounge area, luggage storage, ironing facilities, meeting room hire and tourist information.
Assistance for people with disabilities.
Emergency transport from Southern Cross Station.
Stroller and mobility aid hire.
Companion support for health care appointments.
Buggy service for people with mobility difficulties.

For more information about the services, visit the Travellers Aid website or call:

Southern Cross Station 03 9670 2072
Flinders Street Station 03 9610 2030
City Village 03 9654 2600
Wangaratta 1300 704 530
Wodonga 0423 215 184

Important information