Publications/Applications
Welcome to the WA Companion Card
Who can apply?
The Companion Card is for people with a significant disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.
Attendant care support includes significant assistance with mobility, communication, self-care, or learning, planning and thinking, where the use of aids, equipment or alternative strategies do not enable the person to carry out these tasks. It does not include providing only reassurance, social company or encouragement.
The requirement for attendant care to access most events does not include requiring support to deal with infrequent, unexpected or unpredictable events. The Companion Card was not developed to overcome or compensate for any particular venue's lack of accessibility; including the absence of ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, appropriate signage or captioning, etc. Responsibility for these access issues remains with venue and activity operators.
The Companion Card is not issued to every person who has a disability. The card is issued to people who can demonstrate that they would not be able to participate at most venues and activities without a companion, and that this need is life-long. Companion Cards cannot be issued if the applicant may become independent in the future as a result of treatment/management, training, recovery or developmental improvements. Companion Cards can only be issued when an ongoing need for a companion can be demonstrated.
There are no income or assets tests applied to applications for a Companion Card, and people may apply irrespective of their employment status or nationality.
Application Criteria
Companion Card applicants must meet criteria developed.
In summary, you can apply for a card if:
- You live in Western Australia; and
- You have a significant disability, which may include issues related to ageing and psychiatric illness; and
- Due to the impact of your disability you would be unable to participate at most community venues or activities without attendant care support; and
- Your need for this level of support will be life-long.
Facilities, organisations or companions are not eligible to apply for a Companion Card. Cards will only be issued to, and will remain the property of, the person who has a disability. This enables the cardholder to choose whom they prefer to take as a companion to each venue/activity.
How to apply?
The following steps outline what you need to do to apply for a Companion Card.
- Read the Western Australia Companion Card Cardholder brochure, which will assist you to decide if you should apply.
- Complete a Companion Card Cardholder Application Form.
- Attach two, high quality, passport-sized photographs of yourself to your application form.
- Have both your application form and your photographs signed by the relevant Health Professional / Service Provider as outlined in the application form.
- Mail your form to the Companion Card program, which will process your information and inform you of the outcome of your application. The people involved in your application may be contacted to verify the accuracy of the information provided.
You can telephone the Companion Card Information Line on 1800 617 337 to request the Cardholder brochure and the Cardholder Application Form to be sent to you.
For further information about applying, you can also link to Frequently Asked Questions, About the Application Process.
return to top The Companion Card® is supported through the State Government of Western Australia through the Disability Services Commission. The Companion Card® is a registered trademark owned by the State of Victoria. © Copyright State of Victoria.