Do you have a companion card?
Do you or your child have a companion card?
The companion card is for "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."
Who is eligible for a companion card?
Companion cards are for people who have a "significant permanent disability" and who always need a companion to provide support so they can participate at most available community venues and activities.
Supports could be "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."
They ensure "people who are unable to attend venues and events without a companion to provide attendant care support, are not charged two admission fees".
This can be useful in many settings, including visiting your local public swimming pool, attending concerts and events.
If needed we can assist with "supporting information from the health professional or service provider is required regarding the applicant’s level of dysfunction in addition to the level and type of assistance required in the following areas (where relevant): cognition, mobility, communication and activities of daily living."
You might prefer to have your doctor or another therapist in your team help you with the application.
All information is taken from http://www.companioncard.org.au/ and is accurate at time of publication.
Shayna Gavin is a physiotherapist who is passionate about helping babies, children and young people learn functional skills so they can participate in life at home, school and in their community. Recognising that children do best in their own environments, she visits homes, schools, and leisure activities from football fields to ballet classes. She also has daily aquatic physiotherapy sessions available at two private swimming schools in Moonee Ponds and Greensborough, Melbourne. She combines principles of paediatric physiotherapy, Neuro Developmental Treatment / Bobath, motor learning, Sensory Integration and swimming teaching to address the individual needs of each child and their family. She loves providing professional development to physiotherapists, allied health and education professionals, allied health assistants and swimming teachers.
