Companion card provides free access to Armidale pool for carers
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Photo: From left, pool attendant William Vale, Christine Foord and Mayor Cr Peter Ducat at the Monkton Aquatic Centre, which now accepts Companion Cards to provide free access to carers of people with a disability. |
Armidale's Monkton Aquatic Centre has opened for the 2009 summer swimming season and this year pool goers with a severe disability and their attending carers are set to benefit from Armidale Dumaresq Council's participation in the Companion Card Scheme.
The Council's Aged and Disability Worker Christine Foord said the Companion Card Scheme was currently being rolled out across NSW and would now allow the carer of a person with a disability to attend venues or events free of charge when they were accompanying the person in their care.
"Previously, people with a severe disability who required the assistance of a carer at all times, have had to pay not only their own entry fee but that of their carer if they wanted to attend a recreational venue such as the local pool," Mrs Foord said. "This adds to the financial burden of people with a disability and their families."
Mrs Foord said that a reduction in the overall cost of an outing for the person with a disability and the carer would no doubt be an inducement for them to attend not only the Monkton pool but also any other participating venues in Armidale.
Only one Companion Card will be issued to an eligible person for use by their carers. To be eligible, the person must have a life-long, severe or profound and permanent disability and are thus unable to participate in most community activities without the attendance of care support.
"Attendant care support includes significant assistance required with mobility, communication, self-care, or learning and planning, where the use of aids, equipment or alternative strategies do not enable the person to carry out these tasks independently," Mrs Foord said. "The card is not provided to those people who only require social support, assurance or encouragement."
ADC Mayor Cr Peter Ducat said it was very pleasing that the Council had entered into the spirit of Companion Card and agreed to trial the scheme for a year.
"Armidale has a large number of community members who require the permanent assistance of a carer, and hopefully the introduction of the Companion Card will ease some of the financial burden experienced by people with a disability, who in most cases are living on a pension or limited incomes," Cr Ducat said.
Application forms for Companion Card are available at Armidale Dumaresq Council's Administration Building and at Kent House.
For further information contact Christine Foord on 6770 3804.
Contact details
Christine Foord
Tel: 02 6770 3804
council@armidale.nsw.gov.au
