To be eligible for a Companion Card, your patient must demonstrate a significant and permanent disability with a lifelong need for a high level of support to participate in venues and events, in accordance to the Companion Card scheme.
The Companion Card is a program that promotes fair ticketing practices at participating business venues and events. It allows people with lifelong high level attendant care support needs to be able to attend a venue or event with a companion, who then receives a complementary ticket.
The business affiliation is voluntary and not all businesses or organisations opt in to become affiliates. The business affiliate is not reimbursed or compensated for the provision of the complementary ticket.
Completing the application form
In order to be eligible for a Companion Card your patient must demonstrate:
- a significant and permanent disability
- a lifelong need for a high level attendant care support to participate in venues and events, as defined by the Companion Card scheme.
Please include information on the assistance required when attending a venue or event. Do not include information on the assistance they require at home.
Applicants can apply for a Companion Card using an online form or hard copy form.
Online applications have two sections to complete. Part A will need to be completed by (or for) the person with disability who is applying for a card.
Part B will need to be completed by you as the applicant’s health professional. You can only access Part B after the applicant has completed Part A.
You will need the applicant's Application Number and surname, your AHPRA registration number and your full name (excluding titles or honorifics) to access the application form.
If the applicant uses a hard copy form, you will need to complete the health professionals component on the hard copy form only.
Eligibility Indicators of the Companion Card
Examples of accepted indicators of an applicant’s eligibility
- Severe Autism – as defined by a CARS >36 or DSM V level 3 Assessment
- Autism in combination with intellectual disability noted by an FSIQ <70
- Moderate to severe intellectual disability – as defined by an FSIQ <50
- Down Syndrome
- Significant and severe conditions that cannot be controlled by medication and/or other treatment/intervention
- Uncontrolled epilepsy with frequent seizures (e.g. More than weekly)
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Spinal Injuries – high level assistance
- Progressive neurological conditions – where the level of impairment/dysfunction is significant and advanced
- Cognitive issues where impairment is significant (e.g. advanced dementia / severe ABI)
- Major organ failure where treatment / transplant surgery is not possible
- Combination of conditions in applicants who are 90+ years old
- Legally blind, where visual acuity scores are less than 6/60 with corrected vision
- Motor neurone disease
- Primary progressive and Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Parkinson’s Disease – with mobility problems
- People receiving palliative carer / end of life support
Examples of indicators that are not accepted indicators
- Conditions which fluctuate in the level of dysfunction
- Autism with a CARS <36 or DSM V level 1 or 2 with no intellectual disability
- Mild (FSIQ 55 – 70) intellectual disability
- Conditions ‘episodic’ in nature, where support can fluctuate or where the attendant care is 'just in case’ (mental health conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, controlled epilepsy, cardiac arrest risk)
- Conditions where medication / strategies / interventions / supports / aids / assistive technology can help a person better manage their disability
- Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/ Attention Deficit Disorder/ High functioning autism
- Deaf or hearing impaired, or people with vision impairment that does not meet legal blindness
- Parkinson's with no mobility issues
- Orthopaedic conditions (arthritis / osteoarthritis/ joint replacements / obesity / morbid obesity)
- Conditions that have the potential to improve with time or treatment (e.g. surgery, rehabilitation, recovery, training or medication management)
- Conditions where the incapacity is temporary
- People requiring assistance due to accessibility limitations of a particular venue (e.g. stairs instead of ramps)
- Remitting/relapsing multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease – with no mobility problems