For families of children with disabilities, getting out and enjoying everyday activities can sometimes come with extra costs — particularly when a child needs a parent, carer or support worker with them to participate safely. That’s where the Companion Card can make a real difference.
The Companion Card is an Australian program designed for people with significant and permanent disabilities who require lifelong attendant care to participate in community activities.
Put simply: when a Companion Card holder pays for their own ticket at participating venues and activities, their companion can attend for free.
That could mean one less ticket to pay for when heading to the movies, visiting an attraction, attending a sporting event, seeing a show or using participating public transport. For eligible NAPA families, it’s definitely a card worth knowing about!
The Companion Card belongs to the person with the disability, rather than their carer.
When visiting a participating business, venue or event, the cardholder purchases their usual ticket and presents their Companion Card. The person providing their support then receives a companion ticket at no additional charge.
You might be surprised by just how many organisations participate in the Companion Card program. Depending on where you live and travel, participating organisations can include cinemas, theatres, museums, zoos, theme parks, sporting venues, recreation centres, festivals, events and public transport providers.
Look for the Companion Card logo when booking or purchasing tickets, or check directly with the venue before you visit. It can be particularly useful when planning family holidays or outings. Even though your card may have been issued in your home state, it can be used with participating organisations interstate too.
Eligibility requirements are designed for people who have a significant and permanent disability and require attendant care support to participate in most community activities.
Importantly, the Companion Card isn’t based simply on having a disability or receiving NDIS funding. Each state and territory has its own application process and eligibility requirements. If you think your child may qualify, the best place to start is with the Companion Card program in the state or territory where you live.
Companion Cards are managed individually by each Australian state and territory, so applications need to be made through your local program.
If your child requires significant ongoing support to access the community and you haven’t looked into the Companion Card before, it may be worth checking their eligibility.
Once you have one, remember to keep it handy — and when you’re planning your next family adventure, always check whether the venue accepts Companion Cards. You may find there are more opportunities to use it than you realised!
Information in this article is general in nature and eligibility requirements and program conditions may change. Please refer to your state or territory’s official Companion Card program for the most current information.
At NAPA, we’re always looking for useful resources that can make life that little bit easier for our families.
