Information for Businesses, Organisations and Government Services

Improve customer service, better inform staff and customers and create a more inclusive society by becoming National Assistance Card Aware.

About The National Assistance 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 may need assistance or support.

Are you National Assistance Card Aware?

Download our dedicated information pack to learn about the ways your business, organisation or government service can get involved.

Download Your Information Pack

A 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

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Why might a cardholder show you their Card?

There are many reasons why a person may choose to show their Card:

  • To request your understanding and patience
  • To communicate their needs (for example: needing extra time to complete an activity or task)
  • Because they are feeling overwhelmed, confused, disoriented or unsafe

How to respond when shown a National Assistance Card

If you are shown a National Assistance Card, please:

  • Read the card and ask the cardholder how you can assist them
  • Be friendly and respectful and use clear and concise language

If required or requested by the Cardholder, you can also:

  • Scan the QR code on the back of the Card to find out more about the cardholder and how you can assist them
  • Call the cardholder’s nominated contact person
  • Assist the cardholder to access emergency services, for example, ambulance or police

Relevant Questions

What is the National Assistance Card?

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

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

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.

Who can apply for the National Assistance Card?

Disability

The National Assistance Card is available to all people in Australia living with brain injury.

In Tasmania the Card is being trialled with the autistic community.

The National Assistance Card Service hope that, in the future, the National Assistance Card will be available to all people in Australia with disability and health conditions.

Please note: As part of your application, you must provide a supporting document from a medical or allied health professional that verifies any disability or health condition you choose to list on your Card.

Age

There are no age restrictions for applying for the National Assistance Card.

The Card is available to children and adults.

You can read more about who is eligible to apply for a Card here.

What does the National Assistance Card look like?

Example of the Front of the Card (above)
Brain Injury Trial (National): Example of the back of the Card (above)
Scan the QR code to view an example of written and video additional information
Autism Trial (Tasmania): Example of the Back of the Card (above)
Please note: issued Cards will include a personalised QR code

Why might a cardholder show their National Assistance Card?

There are many reasons why a person may choose to show their Card:

  • to communicate their needs
    (for example: needing extra time to complete an activity or task)
  • because they are feeling overwhelmed, confused, disorientated or unsafe.

The cardholder may choose to show:

  • the front of their Card only.
    This means they would appreciate your understanding and patience while they communicate to you the assistance they require.
  • both the front and back of their Card.
    The back of the Card includes some of the areas where the cardholder has difficulty, and a QR code, which, when scanned, may link to additional information.

Are you National Assistance Card Aware?

Download our dedicated information pack to learn about the ways your business, organisation or government service can get involved.
Download Your Information Pack →