Clubs Helping to Improve the Social Lives of Those with Disabilities

The card itself is the size of a credit card, with the name and a photo of the holder — the person with the disability. When the card holder buys a ticket for themselves at selected venues and facilities around NSW, their companion gets free entry. A companion is a person who provides attendant care, which could be a partner, family member, friend, volunteer or paid carer.

Becoming an affiliated business is free. When you sign up as an affiliated business, you can use the Companion Card logo on your premises and marketing materials, which will show your customers that you are committed to helping people with disabilities be more active and engaged in your community.

The Companion Card helps to provide social inclusion and community access for all. Accepting the card also helps businesses meet certain obligations under anti-discrimination legislation, provides connection to an extensive and often untapped market, and helps you identify customers who may need significant help from a carer to participate in activities and to visit your venue.

What is Attendant Care Support?

Attendant care includes significant assistance with mobility, communication, self-care or planning where the use of aids, equipment or alternative strategies does not enable the person to carry out tasks independently. Attendant care does not include providing reassurance or encouragement, nor can it be for infrequent or unexpected events or medical emergencies.

The Companion Card cannot be issued to people who only require attendant care for social support, reassurance, encouragement or just-in-case-type of scenarios.

Affiliation is FREE. Businesses and organisations that affiliate with the scheme are provided with promotional materials, as well as an entry in the searchable online database used by cardholders.

A number of NSW clubs have already become affiliated businesses with the Companion Card, including:

• Auburn Tennis and Recreation Club
• Ballina RSL
• Bankstown Sports Club
• Bexley RSL Club
• Blacktown RSL
• Cabra Bowls
• Cabra-Vale Diggers
• Campbelltown Catholic Club
• Campbelltown RSL
• Club Central Hurstville
• Club Central Menai
• Club Engadine RSL
• Club Kirrawee
• Club Mudgee
• Club Rivers
• Cronulla RSL
• Dee Why RSL Club
• DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club
• Grawin Club in the Scrub
• Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club
• Hurstville RSL Club
• Kingsgrove RSL Club
• Laurieton United Services Club
• Liverpool Catholic Club
• Liverpool Golf Club
• Mittagong RSL
• Mounties
• North Ryde RSL
• Oatley RSL & Community Club
• Pelican RSL Club
• Penshurst RSL Club
• Petersham RSL
• Ramsgate RSL
• Revesby Workers Club
• Sharks Leagues Club
• Springwood Sports Club
• St George Leagues Club
• St George Masonic Club
• St George Sailing Club
• St Johns Park Bowling
• The Juniors Kingsford
• The Masters Club
• Tigers Sydney Markets (Balmain Leagues Club)
• Yamba Bowling Club

If your club is an affiliated businesses with the Companion Card, tell us about your experience at [email protected].