ACT Services Access Card for asylum seekers
Adjusting to life in a new city, and indeed country, can offer many challenges – especially if you are an asylum seeker.
To help navigate your way through these challenges and ensure you are aware of, and can use all the services available to you, the ACT Government has developed the ACT Services Access Card specifically for asylum seekers.
Anyone who has a Protection Visa Acknowledgement letter from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is eligible for an ACT Services Access Card.
Each card is issued for a period of three months to the primary applicant, with additional cards provided to family members for use during the same three month period.
The card, a sample of which is pictured below in its actual size, can easily fit into your wallet or purse and can be used as a form of recognition when accessing services with the aim of providing an easier and faster experience and outcome.
Where to use your ACT Services Access Card
Outlined below is a list of services available for asylum seekers in Canberra and where you can use your ACT Services Access Card.
Transport
ACTION Buses
Policy: To provide asylum seekers with access to public transport through concession rate bus fares to ensure they are able to fully participate in our city.
Service description: All holders of the ACT Services Access Card are eligible for concession fares.
Phone: 13 17 10
Website: Action Buses Concession_application 
Deane’s Buslines (Oaks Estate residents only)
Policy: Providing asylum seekers with easier access to ACT town centres through a transfer agreement with ACTION Buses.
Service description: Deane’s Buslines provides concession bus fares for Oaks Estate residents transferring between Deane's Buslines services and ACTION Buses.
Phone: 6299 3722
Website: Deanes Buslines
ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme
Policy: The ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme subsidises the transport costs of eligible individuals who are unable to use public transport due to severe or profound activity limitations. This supports social inclusion and economic participation of community members who would otherwise be at risk of social isolation.
Service description: The ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme is available to those only with a demonstrated medical need.
Phone: 6205 1012
Website: ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme
Education
ACT public schools
Policy: The ACT Government, through the ACT Education and Training Directorate, provides high quality education services which are available for all children in Canberra, including asylum seekers.
Service description: Where eligible, asylum seekers may apply for a fee waiver to cover the costs associated with their children’s enrolment in local public schools. Asylum seekers who wish to enrol their children at an ACT public school should first contact the ACT Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Phone: 6205 6998 – ask for manager Nicole King
Website: Education Directorate International_Students
Useful link: Enrolment_procedures_for_temporary_visa_holders fact_sheet
CIT English language classes
Policy: Canberra Institute of Technology offers a range of classes and courses in English language to allow students to study English from an elementary level through to a more advanced level, preparing them for further study or work. This includes the free Adult Migrant English Program for eligible applicants.
Service description: Asylum seekers on bridging visas awaiting a decision from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on their application for protection are able to attend English classes at CIT.
Phone: 6207 4800
Website: CIT English language classes
ACT public libraries
Policy: To provide asylum seekers with access to information and other library services to help with their acclimation into Australian culture and the Canberra way of life.
Service description: ACT public libraries provide free English classes for all asylum seekers as well as the standard range of library services such as book borrowing, internet access and social groups.
Phone: 6205 9000
Website: ACT Public Libraries
Housing
Refugee Transitional Housing Program
Policy: Due to strict eligibility criteria, including providing proof of permanent Australian residency, public housing properties in the ACT are not available for asylum seekers. However, you may be able to access the Refugee Transitional Housing Program through which Housing ACT provides properties to Companion House and Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services for allocation.
Service description: The Refugee Transitional Housing Program provides short-term, on-arrival accommodation for newly arrived refugees in the ACT. The majority of properties are for refugees arriving under the Federal Government’s Humanitarian Settlement Services program, with only a small number allocated to eligible asylum seekers.
Phone: 6251 4550 or 6248 8577
Website: Companion House or Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT Inc.
Legal
Public Trustee for the ACT
Policy: The Public Trustee exists to provide permanent and secure trustee and administration services to all members of the ACT community. It has discretion to discount or waive fees for reasons of hardship, and other circumstances, taking into account the complexity of the estate administered.
Service description: All holders of the ACT Services Access Card can access Public Trustee services, including services to prepare a will or enduring power of attorney direction.
Phone: 6207 9800
Website: Public Trustee for the ACT
Healthcare
ACT public health services
Policy: To ensure asylum seekers who are Medicare ineligible are not deterred from seeking medical care because of an inability to pay fees.
Service description: Medicare ineligible asylum seekers are entitled to full medical care including pathology, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and outpatient services in the ACT’s public hospitals, as per Health (Fees) Determination 2007 (No 1). Patients receiving these services will not be billed. Medicare ineligible asylum seekers are also given the same access as Health Care Card holders, to public dental and community health services. However, some of these may incur a cost.
Phone: 13 22 81
Website: Health Directorate
Other helpful links
Public Health Services to Medicare Ineligible Asylum Seekers Policy
Community Health services directory
Dental services
ACT Ambulance Service
Companion House medical services
Policy: Companion House works with people who have sought refuge in Australia from persecution, torture and war related trauma, including through the provision of medical services and referrals for adults, young people and children.
Service description: Companion House medical services can provide general practice and primary health services for individuals in their first 12 months in Australia. Patients can then continue to use Companion House medical services until a community GP for referral is found in their local area.
Phone: 6251 4550
Website: Companion House
Email: emily.lambert@companionhouse.org.au
Where can I get an ACT Services Access Card?
ACT Services Access Cards are issued by the non-government organisation Companion House, under authorisation of the ACT Government. Its offices are located in the northern Canberra suburb of Cook. To receive yours, contact Companion House directly on –
Phone: 6251 4550
Address: 41 Templeton Street, Cook
Website: Companion House
Email: info@companionhouse.org.au.
Do I have to get an ACT Services Access Card?
No. The card is designed to make it easier for you to use the services available but it is not compulsory.
What are my rights and responsibilities?
If you lose your card, you should report it to Companion House immediately and you should also contact them when your card is approaching its expiry date, towards the end of its three-month issue period. You should also contact Companion House if your circumstances change, for example if your visa status changes. Additionally, you cannot transfer your card to family or friends.
Where can I get help as an asylum seeker in the ACT?
In addition to ACT Government services, there are a number of community organisations that offer support to asylum seekers. Their services are free and do not require the ACT Access Services Card. These organisations include:
Australian Red Cross
Red Cross House
Cnr Hindmarsh Drive & Palmer Street, Garran
Phone 02 6234 7600
actinfo@redcross.org.au
Canberra Refugee Support
actrefugee@gmail.com
Canberra Refugee Support
Companion House
41 Templeton Street, Cook
Phone 02 6251 4550
info@companionhouse.org.au
Companion House
Migrant & Refugee Settlement
Services of the ACT (MARSS)
Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre
180 London Circuit, Civic
Phone 02 6248 8577
marss@marss.org.au
Migrant & Refugee Settlement
Multicultural Youth Services
Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre
180 London Circuit, Civic
Phone 02 6100 4611
info@mys.org.au
Multicultural Youth Services
Further Information
For further information on ACT Services Access Card, contact the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs on phone (02) 6205 3153 or via email at omatsia@act.gov.au
For more information on ACT Government Assistance, including those administered by other Government agencies, go to the Assistance website
