What is the National Assistance Card

Find out what’s included on the Card and how to use it.
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About the Card

The National Assistance Card is a personalised card to assist people with disability and health conditions in the community.

The National Assistance Card can be used in everyday or emergency situations where a cardholder needs assistance or support.

Every Card is personalised

The Card includes a cardholder's:

  • First and last name
  • Pronouns (optional)
  • Photo
  • Date of birth
  • Nominated contact person's name and phone number (optional)
  • Braille indentations that spell NAC

Also printed on the Card:

  • Your primary disability and/or health condition
  • Up to five areas of difficulty chosen by the cardholder
  • A QR Code providing access to additional information that the cardholder has chosen to include
  • The Police Assistance phone number.

Example of the Card (Front)

The front of the National Assistance Card has a white background with a red border. In the top left corner is the National Assistance Card logo, which features a stylised square icon in blue and red alongside the text "National Assistance Card" with a registered trademark symbol. The top left features the National Assistance Card logo. Large text reads, “Your understanding and assistance is appreciated.” Below, it shows “First Name Last Name” and pronouns. In the top right corner is braille spelling “NAC”. On the right side of the card is a portrait photo placeholder shown as a blue silhouette of a person inside a rounded rectangle outline. Below the photo, there is text appear in small black font: "DOB: 01/02/1990"

Example of the Card (Back)

The back of the National Assistance Card has a white background with a red border. The content is arranged in two columns. In the left column, the following text appears in bold black: "I live with brain injury." Below this in regular weight: "I also have other disabilities and/or conditions." A second bold heading reads: "I may need understanding or support with:" followed by a bulleted list of five items: coordination difficulties, communication difficulties, anger management difficulties, being non-speaking, and sensory overload (light, sound, smell, touch). Below the list, a bold heading reads: "My nominated contact person" followed by two lines in regular weight: "Full name" and "Phone number." At the bottom are “Police Assistance Line: 131 444” and the website www.nationalassistancecard.com.au
In the right column, red text reads “Scan to understand my needs” above a QR code.

The National Assistance Card can:

  • Help cardholders communicate their unique areas of difficulty and the assistance they may need
  • Give cardholders greater independence
  • Assist cardholders to feel more confident in everyday social situations
  • Provide peace of mind for families and carers
  • Enhance community understanding of disability and health conditions
  • Support positive community interaction with cardholders.

Where can the Card be used:

The National Assistance Card can be used in everyday or emergency situations. Examples of where a cardholder may choose to use their Card include:

  • Shops, cafes, hotels and cinemas
  • Banks, Centrelink and other Government departments
  • Transport, such as airports, buses, trains, trams, taxis and Ubers
  • With family, friends and work colleagues
  • With first responders, such as police, ambulance or fire.

Important

The National Assistance Card is a communication tool. It is not an official identity card.

The National Assistance Card explains a cardholder's support needs. It does not give special legal rights or exemptions.

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Apply for the National Assistance Card

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