Am I eligible for a Companion Card?

You may be eligible for a Companion Card if you:

  • live in Tasmania and are a permanent resident of Australia
  • can demonstrate you have a lifelong and permanent disability
  • can demonstrate that you need a high-level of support from a companion carer at community events and activities

If you answer yes to all the below questions, you may be eligible to apply for a Companion Card.

Eligibility checklist

You must live in Tasmania and be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia

You will need to provide your Tasmanian address in your application. If you are not an Australian citizen, but are a permanent resident, you will also need to provide your visa category details to prove your residency.

You must demonstrate you have a significant, permanent disability that meets the card eligibility

The Companion Card is not for every person who has a disability. It is also not for everyone who receives support through a NDIS package. Some examples of accepted eligible conditions or diagnoses:

  • Severe Autism – as defined by a CARS >36 or DSM V level 3 Assessment
  • Autism in combination with intellectual disability
  • Moderate to severe intellectual disability – as defined by a psychological assessment FSIQ <50
  • Down Syndrome
  • Significant and severe conditions that cannot be controlled by medication 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
You must demonstrate that you need a high level of support

You need to provide reports or other evidence with your application. High level of support to attend an event can include:

  • significant assistance with mobility, communication, self-care or learning
  • where the use of aids, equipment or other alternatives does not allow you to participate.

A card is not issued to people who need support occasionally to participate in events or activities. It is not issued for those that need encouragement or reassurance to participate.

Conditions or diagnoses that are not eligible:

  • Conditions that change over time, so support needs are not consistent
  • Conditions that happen occasionally (episodic), where care is only needed “just in case” (for example, epilepsy, risk of cardiac arrest, or falls)
  • Mental health conditions that may improve with treatment (such as therapy or medication)
  • Situations where equipment or technology reduces the need for personal care (for example, walking frames or scooters)
  • Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Conditions where only a low level of support is needed (such as for reassurance or “just in case” help)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Autism where assessment scores show lower support needs (CARS score of 35 or less, or DSM-V score of 2 or less and an FSIQ of 70 or above)
  • Temporary conditions
  • Orthopaedic conditions (such as osteoarthritis or joint replacements)
  • Conditions that may improve with time, treatment, or support (such as surgery, rehabilitation, recovery, training or medication)
  • People who need help because a place or event is not accessible
  • Mild to moderate communication problems not directly caused by a disability (for example, language barriers)
  • Weight related conditions (such as obesity or anorexia)
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome