Driving and operating wheelchair-accessible taxis in the ACT

Wheelchair-accessible taxis (WATs) are an essential public transport service for Canberrans who are mobility impaired.

Licensed wheelchair-accessible taxi drivers and/or operators can earn incentives (extra money).

You don’t need to own a wheelchair-accessible taxi to become a licensed driver. 13WATS can help you find an operator to work with.

Become a wheelchair-accessible taxi driver

To apply for a WAT taxi driver licence you must:

• have a public vehicle driver licence with a ‘T’ condition endorsement on your ACT driver licence
• complete the Provide wheelchair accessible taxi services to passengers with disabilities course and receive a certificate of completion
• hold a current ACT Working with Vulnerable People registration
• agree to abide by the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Booking Service Procedures and Rules.

If you meet these requirements, Access Canberra will connect you with 13WATS. If you do not have an operator to work for, 13WATS may be able to introduce you.

13WATS will also give training to use their dispatch system in the WAT vehicle.

Become a wheelchair-accessible taxi operator

To own and operate a WAT service in the ACT you must:

• apply for an ACT WAT accreditation nominating ‘WAT licence’ on the application form
• have experience working with wheelchair dependent people, either as a driver of a WAT or in another occupation
• abide by the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Booking Service Procedures and Rules
• be available for wheelchair passengers on Christmas Day between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm

You can hold wheelchair taxi operator accreditation in your own name, a business or partnership or as a corporation. You don’t need to be a driver of that WAT.

WAT licences are only issued by the ACT Government and are not transferrable between operators.

WAT vehicles

All WATs must be able to carry 2 wheelchairs at the same time.

After you get your WAT accreditation, you must affiliate with 13WATS. You can be affiliated with other transport booking services, but you must always give priority to wheelchair passenger bookings.

13WATS will arrange to instal their dispatch system in your vehicle. This allows for jobs to be sent to you. It also allows the driver and 13WATS to communicate and manage bookings.

When purchasing a vehicle for use as a WAT:

• a vehicle must not be more than 6 years old when first registered as a taxi
• the maximum age of a WAT is 12 years old
• a WAT can be used as a taxi for a maximum of 10 years.

Incentives

You can earn financial incentives for meeting performance and availability standards.

On-time

Where waiting time for the job is not more than 18 minutes. Payments must be taken through the Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS):

• $5 for each job between 6 am and 8:59 pm
• $8 for each job between 9 pm and 5:59 am

Loading/unloading

For loading and unloading the wheelchair passenger into and out of the vehicle. Payment must be through the TSS or Lift Fee Voucher:

• $26.35 for each lift

Holidays

Where you are available for a minimum of 15 hours on the days below:

• $150 for the day

Days where these incentives apply:

• Good Friday
• Easter Sunday
• ANZAC Day
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day
• New Years Eve
• New Years Day

About the 13WATS booking service

13WATS is a service contracted by the ACT Government. They provide a dedicated booking and dispatch service for all wheelchair passenger travel in taxis in the ACT.

They dispatch bookings to drivers either through the SmartMove dispatch system, or through verbal communication.

13WATS manages WAT bookings and processes driver payments, driver incentives, client account payments and complaints.

13WATS also support WAT drivers and operators with training and ongoing engagement.