Urban sprawl and sparse living are pervasive in Australia. Despite high levels of car ownership, many Australians do not have access to a private car for their travel needs. These people, often from marginalised groups in society such as young people, those on low incomes, older people, indigenous Australians and those with disabilities, face difficulties accessing services, facilities and activities. What are the personal and social costs of lack of access to transport on individual and community well-being? How, and to what extent, do poor transport options contribute to disadvantage?
Graham Currie holds Australias first professorship in Public Transport at Monash University's Institute of Transport Studies. He has more than 25 years experience managing studies of transport disadvantage throughout Australasia and is directing several current research projects in this field including the Social Research in Transport clearinghouse at Monash University.
Janet Stanley is Chief Research Officer, Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University. Janets background is in the fields of social work, psychology, economics and social policy. She takes an inter-disciplinary approach to exploring the interface between social and environmental sustainability. She has published two other books, in the fields of child protection and transport. The author is well placed to cover such a broad approach as is being proposed. She will be drawing on her experience as an academic, a government policy adviser on climate change and sustainability, her business networks and her experience as a practitioner at individual and community levels.
John Stanley is CEO of the Bus Association of Victoria, where he focuses on the development of sustainable transport systems. He is a former deputy chairman of the National Road Transport Commission and he chaired the Victorian Recycling and Resource Recovery Council.