About Companion Card

What is it?

Companion Card is a card issued to people with a permanent disability who require attendant care support which allows a companion to enter free of charge to participating venues and activities.
The card itself is credit-card size incorporating the same polymer technology used to produce Australian ‘plastic’ bank notes and has a photo identifying the cardholder.
In South Australia the Companion Card is free and is valid for ten years.

Why has it been developed?

The concept was first developed by the Victorian Network on Recreation and Disability (VICNORD) in response to continued concern from people with a disability who found the fees of many entertainment, leisure and recreation venues and activities to be prohibitive when having to be accompanied by a companion and also found them to contravene existing legislation.
To promote the rights of people with a disability to fair ticketing.
To create a simple and consistent method of identifying people who legitimately require attendant care support to participate at venues and activities.
To assist commerce and industry and the community to comply with existing legislation.
Under South Australian Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth) , it is unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability who requires the assistance of a companion.

The Companion Card® is co-managed by the South Australian Government Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and National Disability Services South Australian Division. The Companion Card® is a registered trademark owned by the State of Victoria. © Copyright State of Victoria