Dear supporter,
As we begin 2026, we also begin something quite special – Travellers Aid’s 110th year.
Reaching this milestone is not just about longevity. It’s about the steady, thoughtful work that has brought us to this point. Our work has always been shaped by listening closely, adapting carefully and staying anchored to our purpose: helping people travel with dignity, confidence and choice.
Over the past decade in particular, Travellers Aid has grown in ways that are deliberate and connected, expanding our services, locations and partnerships. This purposeful growth has been in response to the needs and evolution of our community. Every new service, every new hub, every new partnership builds on foundations laid years, and sometimes decades, earlier.
That sense of preparedness and connection has been especially visible in recent months. The 2026 Australian Open set new crowd attendance records with our dedicated event team supporting an incredible 14% more people than last year. Meanwhile, our Melbourne Airport Assist team celebrated its 20,000th instance of support since the service began.
We closed out 2025 by opening two new service hubs at Geelong Station and Parkville Station within the new Metro Tunnel. In its first 3 months of operation, the Geelong team has already assisted close to 800 people. At Parkville, during the Metro Tunnel’s ‘Summer Start’ period, our team assisted more than 200 people. Those figures are only set to grow as the Big Switch brings the tunnel to its full capacity.
Beyond the impressive numbers, the response from service users shows that our work gives far more than a moment of support. Our access and inclusion services, whether at events, around disruptions or at station hubs is supporting thousands of people to do more, to stay longer and to participate with greater confidence.
As we step into our 110th year, we do so with pride in what has come before and clarity about what lies ahead. Our focus remains the same: staying adaptable, working in partnership and ensuring that everything we do continues to serve real people, in real moments, when it matters most.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Elias Lebbos
Chief Executive Officer
In this issue
Back on a roll with our new mobility scooter – thanks to your support!
Thank you to everyone who donated to the Summer Appeal which contributed to the replacement of our stolen scooter!
What’s been happening across Travellers Aid?
There’s been PLENTY happening across our service hubs lately, with lots of behind‑the‑scenes activity that keeps our services running smoothly.
A new way to connect
Supporting Metro Trains to improve communication access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing commuters.
We came, we supported, we sunscreened.
It’s wonderful to see the events we support grow each year — not just in number, but also in how…
Spot Us Sooner
We’re excited to roll out our new blue vests across our service hubs.
A strong start at Parkville
Supporting travellers in Melbourne’s medical precinct.
