Published by SESI Care Services · Updated August 2026 · 2-minute summary
Quick answer: A small set of free phone apps can make getting around Victoria much easier: the PTV app for planning trains, trams and buses; Mobile myki to pay fares from your phone; Google Maps with its wheelchair-accessible route setting; Uber or 13cabs for a car with an accessible-vehicle option; the National Public Toilet Map for accessible toilets on the way; and Emergency+ for help if something goes wrong. None of them cost anything to download, though ride-share and taxi apps need a linked bank or credit card to pay for the trip. A support worker or family member can help you set them up.
Key takeaways
- All the apps below are free to download from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
- The PTV app plans your trip and lets you pay with Mobile myki straight from your phone.
- Google Maps has a wheelchair-accessible route setting for public transport and a setting that shows accessible entrances, toilets and parking at places you’re going.
- Uber and 13cabs both offer a wheelchair-accessible vehicle option, but you need a card saved in the app to pay — never enter card details anywhere else.
- The free National Public Toilet Map shows accessible toilets nearby, which matters for anyone with continence or mobility needs.
- Getting set up is a one-off job, best done with a support worker or family member, and learning to use transport apps is a normal, fundable part of building independence.
What is the PTV app and what does it do?
The PTV app plans your journey on Victorian trains, trams and buses and tells you in real time if something is running late. Type in where you are and where you want to go, and it shows you the trip, the departure time, and any delays or disruptions along the way. It’s published by the Victorian Government’s public transport agency and is free from the App Store or Google Play. You can save your regular trips as favourites so you don’t have to type them in each time.
How do I pay for public transport from my phone?
Mobile myki lets you pay train, tram and bus fares by tapping your phone instead of carrying a plastic myki card. It works on Android phones with Google Wallet: you add “myki” to your Wallet, choose full fare, concession or another fare type, and top up from your phone whenever you need to. According to Transport Victoria, it’s free to set up and there’s no need to buy a physical card. iPhone users can still use the PTV app to manage and top up a physical myki, and can pay with Apple Pay on some services. If you already get a concession fare — for example on a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card — the same discount carries over to Mobile myki.
How does Google Maps help with accessible travel?
Google Maps is a free map and directions app that most phones already have installed. Two settings make it far more useful if you use a wheelchair, walker or have trouble with steps:
- When you plan a public transport trip, choose “Options” under Routes and turn on “wheelchair accessible” — Google Maps then only shows you routes with step-free access.
- In Settings, turning on “Accessible Places” adds a wheelchair icon to venues that have an accessible entrance, seating, toilets or parking, so you know before you leave home.
Google Maps also lets you save a place — like your own home — as a favourite, so directions back are always one tap away.
What if I need a car, not public transport?
Both major ride-booking apps in Victoria offer an accessible-vehicle option:
- Uber offers accessibility features across its ride options, including a wheelchair-accessible vehicle choice in cities where drivers with modified vehicles are available, and lets you note in the app that you’re travelling with a mobility aid or a support worker.
- 13cabs, Victoria’s taxi network, lets you book a wheelchair accessible taxi in the app in a few taps. These are fitted with a hydraulic lift or ramp and tie-down points, there’s no extra charge for booking one, and you can lock in a fixed price before you travel.
Both of these apps need a bank card or credit card saved in the app to pay for the trip. Never enter card details into any other app, message or website claiming to be a taxi or ride-share service — only the official app.
Where can I find an accessible toilet nearby?
The National Public Toilet Map is a free, government-run website and mobile-friendly map that shows public toilets across Australia, including which ones are open 24 hours and which have accessible features. It’s run by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing as part of the National Continence Program. You can search by location, filter for what you need, and save your favourite stops. This is genuinely useful for anyone managing continence needs or planning a longer trip out, not just for people with disability.
What should I do if something goes wrong?
Emergency+ is a free app built by Australia’s emergency services that helps you call Triple Zero (000) and gives the operator your exact GPS location, even if you’re not sure of the street address. It’s worth installing before you need it, not after. In a genuine emergency always call 000 directly — the app is there to help emergency services find you faster once you’re through.
App comparison
| App | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PTV app | Plans train, tram and bus trips; shows delays and disruptions | Free |
| Mobile myki | Pay public transport fares by tapping your phone (Android) | Free to set up; pay normal fares |
| Google Maps | Directions and wheelchair-accessible route and place information | Free |
| Uber | Book a car, including a wheelchair-accessible vehicle option | Free to download; pay per trip with a saved card |
| 13cabs | Book a taxi, including a wheelchair accessible taxi | Free to download; pay per trip, no extra charge for accessibility |
| National Public Toilet Map | Finds accessible public toilets nearby | Free |
| Emergency+ | Shares your GPS location with 000 in an emergency | Free |
How do I get set up if I’m not confident with a phone?
Getting comfortable with a new app is much easier with someone beside you the first time. A few things that help:
- Ask a support worker or family member to sit down with you once. Install the apps together, and practise a real trip you actually plan to take — not a random test — so the steps make sense.
- Make the icons and text bigger. Most phones let you enlarge app icons and text size in Settings. Ask whoever helps you set up the phone to do this at the same time.
- Save home as a favourite in the PTV app and Google Maps, so getting back is always simple.
- Write down or save the PIN or password somewhere safe, in a way you’ll remember.
- Practise before you need it. Try a short trip with support before relying on an app for something important, like a medical appointment.
A support worker helping you learn to use public transport, book a ride, or find your way around is a normal part of building independence, and it’s a fundable support — not something you have to figure out alone. Time spent with a support worker learning these skills typically comes from Core funding, and programs that build your confidence to travel more independently can come from Capacity Building. SESI’s assist travel and transport service and community participation service can include this kind of support, and our development of daily living and life skills service can build the skills behind it. For more on how community access is funded more broadly, see our guide to community participation programs for older adults.
Frequently asked questions
Are these apps really free?
Yes, all seven apps are free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Public transport fares, ride-share trips and taxi fares are paid separately at normal prices — the apps themselves don’t add a cost.
Do I need a smartphone for all of this?
Most of these apps need a smartphone (iPhone or Android). If you don’t have one or aren’t ready to use one, you can still plan public transport at ptv.vic.gov.au on a computer, buy and top up a physical myki card, or book a taxi by phone on 13 2227.
Is it safe to save my card details in Uber or 13cabs?
Saving a card in the official Uber or 13cabs app is normal and how those services work. The important safety rule is to only ever do this inside the genuine, official app — never through a link in a text message, email or unofficial website.
Can a support worker help me learn to use these apps?
Yes. Learning to plan a trip, pay a fare, or book an accessible ride is a normal, fundable part of building independence, and a support worker’s time to sit with you and practise is a legitimate NDIS support.
What if I need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and the app can’t find one?
Try booking further ahead, or call 13cabs directly on 13 2227, since not every accessible vehicle option is available everywhere or at every time. Your support coordinator or provider can also help you find a reliable local transport option.
Where do I find an accessible toilet on a long trip?
Use the National Public Toilet Map before you leave, and search along your route as well as at your destination, so you know what’s available if you need it.
Talk to SESI
If getting out and about feels harder than it should, tell us what’s going on. We support travel, community access and building independence across Victoria under the NDIS and Support at Home.
Tell us what’s going on: sesi.com.au/referral · Call: 1800 017 374
This guide is general information based on Transport Victoria, Google, Uber, 13cabs, the National Public Toilet Map and Emergency+ current at August 2026. It is not advice about your individual plan. For NDIS funding questions call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
Ready to talk?
See how SESI can support you or someone you love.