Industry Affiliation

Affiliates are organisations, events or activities that officially register to participate in the Companion Card program. 

In summary, affiliates agree to:

• issue a Companion Ticket at no charge to cardholders who require a companion to provide attendant care support to participate at their venue/activity; and
• display the Companion Card logo in a prominent position and/or in promotional material, where possible; and
• abide by the Companion Card Affiliate Terms and Conditions (PDF) / Terms and Conditions (Word).

Benefits of affiliation
Some of the benefits of affiliation are:

• Affiliation helps your organisation meet its legal obligations under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth).
• Affiliation will present a positive public image for your organisation.
• You will be meeting your social responsibility by incorporating the human rights of people with a disability into your ticketing policies and practices.
• The Companion Card, if adopted by a venue/activity, provides evidence that the organisation has taken steps to remove discriminatory policies or practices.  (Note: it would assist organisations to demonstrate this by implementing a range of policies to ensure accessibility of their venues).

Who should affiliate?
The Companion Card program was developed with an initial focus on recreation, leisure, social and cultural venues and activities, but is open to participation by other industries.

Disability anti-discrimination legislation applies to all organisations, regardless of their size or the type of service provided.  If your organisation charges an admission or participation fee for its service, you should consider affiliating with the Companion Card program.

It is important to remember that disability anti-discrimination legislation applies to your organisation regardless of whether or not you are a registered affiliate of the companion card program.

Affiliation process
To affiliate with the Companion Card program:

• Read the Tasmanian Companion Card Industry Handbook.
• Complete the Companion Card Industry Affiliation Form and return to the Disability Bureau.

Your organisation will be officially registered as an affiliate on the Companion Card database, and you will be sent a range of promotional materials and details regarding the Companion Card security features.

Affiliation is free
Administration of the program is funded by the Tasmanian Government through the Disability Bureau, Department of Premier and Cabinet. Affiliation with the Companion Card program is free.