Who is eligible?
In summary: to be eligible for a Tasmanian Companion Card you must be able to demonstrate all of the following:
- you have a significant, permanent disability;
- due to the impact of your disability, you are unable to participate at most community venues and events without a companion carer;
- you have a lifelong need for this level of support; and
- you live in Tasmania.
Additional important information
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 events without a companion carer, 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 attendant care support from a companion can be demonstrated.
Attendant care support from a companion 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.
A Companion Card is issued in the name of the person who has the disability. Service providers, organisations or potential companions are not eligible to apply for a Companion Card.
There are no income or assets tests applied to applications for a Companion Card.
For more information see frequently asked questions.
