Free and discounted services for asylum seekers
Apply for an ACT Services Access Card card to get cheaper electricity, public transport, health care and public education.
You can get help with the cost of living for you and your family while you’re waiting to get a protection visa.
To get this help, you need an ACT Services Access Card.
You can use the card to show you are eligible for cheaper or free ACT Government services. This means you won’t need to tell your story every time you need to use a service.
What you’ll get
You can use the ACT Access Services card to get:
- help with your energy bills
- cheaper transport on buses and light rail
- free health care
- free school fees at ACT public schools
- free English language classes
- free legal help to write a will.
Check if you can get a card
To get a card, you must have a Protection Visa Acknowledgement letter from the Department of Home Affairs.
Cards for family members
Children under 12 years old do not need their own card. Their names will be on their mother or father’s card.
High school aged students and other adults in your family can get their own card.
On the card
The card has:
- your photo
- your date of birth
- card registration number
- card expiry date.
Get a card
Companion House issue ACT Services Access Cards.
To get a card, visit Companion House between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday.
Your card will last 12 months. If you are still waiting for a protection visa after 12 months, you can get a new card from Companion House.
Get an ACT Services Access Card at Companion House.
If you lose your card
You can get a new card at Companion House.
Using your card
You can use your card with the following services.
Cheaper or free buses and light rail
You can get concession fares on Transport Canberra buses and light rail. A concession fare means a cheaper ticket to travel. To travel on Transport Canberra buses and light rail, you must buy a MyWay card.
Buy a concession MyWay card from Transport Canberra.
Cheaper buses if you live in Oaks Estate
If you live in Oaks Estate, you can get a concession bus fare when you transfer between CDC Canberra buses and Transport Canberra buses.
Learn how to get a concession fare when you transfer buses.
Taxi travel for physical disability
If you have a disability that makes it hard to use public transport, you may be able to get help to pay for a taxi. This help is called the ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme.
Apply for the Taxi Subsidy Scheme.
Help with your energy bills
You can get $750 off your electricity or gas bill. This help is called the Utilities Concession.
You apply for this through your energy supplier. They will add this money to your energy account to reduce your bill.
Apply for the Utilities Concession.
Free public school
Your children can go to an ACT public school. You do not need to pay a fee.
Find out about enrolment for asylum seekers.
Free English language and vocational classes
You can get free English language classes to improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Apply for English classes at Canberra Institute of Technology
You can also get career advice and some other courses to get you started with vocational training.
Contact CIT.Student.Support@cit.edu.au.
ACT public libraries
You can borrow books, get English classes and use the library internet for free.
Health care
You can get some free medical and health care through Canberra Health Services. This includes dental, mental health and surgery at ACT public hospitals.
Learn about Canberra Health Services.
Emergency medical care
For an emergency call 000 for an ambulance.
You can also go to your nearest emergency department at:
Writing a will
You can use the Public Trustee and Guardian services to write one free will.
Contact the Public Trustee and Guardian for the ACT.
If you have trouble using your card
Tell us if your ACT Services Access Card does not work for any of the services on this page.
- Email the Office of Multicultural Affairs at oma@act.gov.au
- Companion House at info@companionhouse.org.au
Help translating this information
If you have difficulty speaking or understanding English, you can contact us through the free Translating and Interpreter Service.
When you call the service, they will call us for you and interpret your questions.
Call 13 14 50