The NSW Government will provide free rapid antigen tests (RATs) to vulnerable communities and expand its existing program to include those accessing tests through the Federal Government’s Concessional Access Program, which is due to finish at the end of July.
The expanded program would allow eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW to access 10 rapid antigen tests over three months up until 31 October 2022.
The free rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available to:
- people with disability, immunocompromised people, and their carers
- eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW:
- Pensioner Concession card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card
- Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care card)
- Department of Veterans Affairs Gold, White or Orange cards.
Get them from your NDIS or DCJ contracted service provider
If you are an eligible priority client, RATs are available:
- through organisations contracted by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to provide services to priority clients
- if you’re registered for NDIS, RATs are available through your NDIS disability provider, if that provider is a not-for-profit charity or non-government organisation.
If your provider requires an additional supply of RATs, they can get more information from the Department of Communities and Justice coronavirus website.
Get them from your neighbourhood or community centre
If you’re a Senior Concession Card holder, or you are not getting RATs through your DCJ contracted provider, or NDIS provider, you can get free RATs by going to any one of 210 neighbourhood and community centres across the state.
To find one, check your suburb in this A-Z list.
PDF and Excel versions are also available.
Tests will be available through 210 neighbourhood and community centres located across the state.
For more information and to find neighbourhood and community centres providing rapid antigen tests, visit Free rapid antigen tests for people with disability and the immunocompromised.
How do I get them?
Either you or your carer can go to the nearest neighbourhood or community centre to collect them.
People with disability or immunocompromised, or your carer need to self-declare your disability or that you‘re immunocompromised. There’s no need to provide your name or personal details.
Commonwealth Concession Card holders need to show their concession card.
How many can I have?
For people with disability or immunocompromised, this may vary depending on your need, but we recommend you collect up to 1 month’s supply, based on two RATs per week. That’s a total of 8 RATs per person per month.
If you have multiple carers coming into your home, you may require more RATs so that all your carers can test themselves before visiting you.
Concession Card holders can access 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months up until 31 October 2022.
