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.