Latest update – June 2025
The review of the Seniors Card Program is complete. Recommendations from the review are being implemented and used to inform ongoing work and future planning for the Seniors Card Program, noting the significant cross-government work and investment required through future budget cycles.
A Seniors Card Program Reference Group has been established, creating a forum to collaborate across relevant ACT Government directorates and Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT as the contract supplier. This body will be a key forum as we work through the forward work program.
Background
As an age-friendly city, we recognise older Canberrans as valued members of our community. We support people to lead productive and active lives as they age.
Commissioning is our opportunity to ensure the ACT Seniors Card Program is effectively meeting the needs of our growing population with the ACT being home to more than 50,000 people who are over 60 years old.
The ACT Seniors Card is part of an Australia-wide scheme that recognises the valuable contribution of older people in their local community.
Permanent residents of Australia residing in the ACT aged 60 years or over who work fewer than 20 hours per week in paid employment can currently apply for an ACT Seniors Card.
Government representatives, community service providers and the business community as well as people with lived experience have helped inform changes to the ACT Senior Card program.
From October 2022 to March 2023, a review of the ACT Seniors Card Program examined the experiences and views of card holders, non-government organisations, businesses, involved ACT Government stakeholders and the Canberra community. To this end, the following modes of engagement were used:
- A YourSay Conversations survey was open for the period 14 November 2022 to 6 February 2023;
- Four library drop-in sessions were held to support individuals to complete the survey in-person; and
- Engagement with the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA).
We’ve released a listening report and a written report on what we heard during the consultation period.
On 1 June 2023, 16 stakeholders from across the community, government and business sectors came together to consider the findings and recommendations from the review of the program and chart a path forward to deliver a fit-for-purpose program that meets existing and emerging community needs. The workshop aimed to discuss and prioritise findings and recommendations of the review to inform future delivery. We explored lived experiences, insights from other jurisdictions and assessed potential models for delivery of the Seniors Card over the next decade. A post-workshop listening report [PDF 527KB] [Word 336KB] has been prepared in line with discussion.
Key documents
We are referencing the following plans, strategies, and frameworks in this cycle:
Page updated: 27 Jun 2025
