Companion Card for businesses FAQs

Affiliated businesses are businesses, organisations, events or venues that have registered with the Companion Card program.

An affiliated business agrees to:

• issue a Companion Ticket at no charge to cardholders
• display the Companion Card logo in a prominent customer service area and in promotional materials where possible
• abide by the Companion Card affiliated businesses terms and conditions.

Note: Disability anti-discrimination legislation applies to your business or organisation whether or not you’re a registered affiliated business of the Companion Card program.

Yes. There is no fee for becoming an affiliated business. It’s a program of good will and community inclusion.

To be an affiliated business, you must agree to:

• issue a minimum of 1 Companion Ticket at no charge to cardholders
• accept a Companion Card issued in any Australian state or territory
• have your business details listed on the NSW Companion Card website
• abide by the Companion Card terms and conditions for affiliated businesses.

Your business or organisation will absorb the costs related to providing a Companion Ticket.

A Companion Card allows free entry for the cardholder’s essential companion. It is, in essence, a two-for-one ticketing deal. However, some businesses will allow more than one support person in for free if the person with a disability requires the extra support.

The Companion Card is not for everyone with a disability. It’s for people with a lifelong, significant and permanent disability who are unable to participate in most community activities without attendant care support.

There’s no expiry date for affiliation; it’s ongoing. Affiliated businesses can withdraw from the program by contacting the NSW Companion Card. You’ll then be removed from the Companion Card affiliated business database.

The Companion Card has a rigorous application and audit process to prevent misuse. The card displays the cardholder's name and photograph, and card number. 

The card incorporates a number of security features that are provided to businesses and organisations when they join the program. These can be used to verify cardholder information when taking phone bookings and selling tickets.

Affiliated businesses can choose whether, and how, they want to incorporate the card's security features into their ticketing policies and practices.

The card itself is constructed with the same polymer technology used in Australia's 'plastic' banknotes. This makes it virtually impossible to accurately reproduce.

If an affiliated business suspects misuse of the Companion Card, you should call the NSW Companion Card team immediately on 1800 893 044.

It’s recommended that affiliated businesses develop their own complaints procedure to deal with issues relating to the Companion Card. If appropriate, the organisation’s existing complaints- handling procedure may be applied.

If affiliated businesses have a complaint regarding alleged misuse of a Companion Card, they should note the card details, if possible, and lodge the complaint directly with NSW Companion Card so we can investigate.