Applying for a card
Who can apply?
The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.
Attendant care type support includes significant assistance with mobility, communication, self-care, or learning, planning and thinking, where the use of aids, equipment or alternative strategies do not enable the person to carry out these tasks. It does not include providing only reassurance, social company or encouragement.
The requirement for attendant care to access most events does not include requiring support to deal with infrequent, unexpected or unpredictable events. The Companion Card was not developed to overcome or compensate for any particular venue's lack of accessibility; including the absence of ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, appropriate signage or captioning, etc. Responsibility for these access issues remains with venue and activity operators.
The Companion Card is not issued to every person who has a disability. The card is issued to people who can demonstrate that they would not be able to participate at most venues and activities without a companion, and that this need is life-long. Companion Cards cannot be issued if the applicant may become independent in the future as a result of treatment/management, training, recovery or developmental improvements. Companion Cards can only be issued when an ongoing need for a companion can be demonstrated.
There are no income or assets tests applied to applications for a Companion Card, and people may apply irrespective of their employment status or nationality.
Application Criteria
To be eligible to apply for a Companion Card, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:.
- Be a permanent resident of Australia.
- Have a permanent disability.
- Due to the impact of the disability, require lifelong attendant care to be able to participate at most community venues and activities.
For more information on eligibility please refer to the relevant website or contact the Companion Card Information Line in your respective State or Territory.
- Australia Capital Territory: 02 6207 1086
- New South Wales: 1800 893 044
- Northern Territory: 1800 139 656
- Queensland: 13 13 04
- South Australia: 1800 667 110
- Tasmania: 1800 009 501
- Western Australia: 1800 617 337
What if I do not qualify to receive a Companion Card?
The Companion Card will only be issued to people who meet all of the criteria for the program. There may be circumstances whereby a person may require a companion but does not qualify to receive a Companion Card. Examples include:
- A person whose expected development, management or recovery may mean that they will not require attendant care at most venues for the rest of their life.
- A person experiencing a temporary impairment.
- A person who is affected by the specific inaccessibility of a particular venue.
- A person who chooses to have a companion to provide social company or reassurance.
- A person whose requirement for attendant care is infrequent.
In situations such as these, it is up to the individual and the venue/ activity operators to negotiate companion access.
Appealing a decision
Applicants who have not been successful may request a review of the decision.
It is not necessary to complete a new application, or any other form. Please notify the Companion Card program of your request for a review in writing and provide any additional information (which may include letters, reports, assessments, etc.) to:
Companion Card Review Panel
Companion Card Program
Locked Bag 3014
Hawthorn VIC 3122
You must have one of the Health Professionals as listed on the application form, sign any new information and provide their contact details for verification. This does not have to be the same person who verified the original application form.
Please note that original documents cannot be returned to you. Any new information you provide, along with the information obtained in your original application, will be forwarded to the Companion Card Review Panel for its consideration. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their review in writing.