Concessions in Tasmania

This page is about concessions available to DVA clients in Tasmania.

Who is eligible for a concession?

The organisation that offers the product or service, e.g. your local council, decides what sort of concession is offered and to whom it is offered. DVA Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) and Veteran Gold Card holders are usually eligible for concessions, but it is important to contact the organisation offering the concession to confirm your eligibility.

Health concessions

Treatment Cards

If you have a Veteran Gold or White Card you should always use this card for medical, hospital, pharmaceutical and allied health services. You can use your physical card or a digital version.  You can access a digital version of the White Card and the Gold Card in MyService. If you have linked your MyService account to myGov, you can also add your Veteran Card to the wallet in the myGov app. 

If you don’t have a MyService account it is easy to get one. Go to the MyService page to find out how.

Once you have a MyService account, you can add your Veteran Card to the myGov app.  This video explains how to do so. 

Transcript: How to add your Veteran Card to the myGov wallet.

Concession providers can find out more in myGov community resources.

Pharmaceutical benefits

The rates quoted are current from 20 September 2024.

PCC holders are eligible for medication under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at $7.70 per prescription. Your pharmacist can tell you which medicines are listed under the scheme. Premiums charged by manufacturers may apply to some alternative brands/medicines. Once you have spent the PBS Safety Net threshold amount on PBS medicines, you will receive free PBS medicines for the rest of the year.

National Diabetes Services Scheme

You can receive a range of Australian Government approved products at a reduced price. For more information, visit the National Diabetes Services Scheme website or contact the scheme on 1300 136 588.

Hearing services

The Office of Hearing Services provides vouchers which enable you to get hearing assessments and devices from hearing service providers of your choice. This includes the cost of fitting the device. For more information, contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 726, email hearing [at] health.gov.au (hearing[at]health[dot]gov[dot]au) or visit the Hearing Services Program website.

Dental Services

PCC holders are eligible to receive subsidised dental services. For more information, please contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Oral Health Services Tasmania webpage.

Patient Travel Assistance Scheme

PCC holders are eligible for financial aid if you need to travel more than 50 kilometres one way to access dialysis or oncology services; or 75 kilometres one way to access specialist medical services. Aid is only available if the services are not provided in your local area and the costs are not met by other organisations, such as the Motor Accident Insurance Board (MAIB), workers’ compensation, or DVA. For more information, please contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme webpage.

*Note: For travel relating to the treatment of accepted disabilities you should use your DVA treatment card (Gold card or White card). For more information, refer to Reimbursing travel expenses under VEA.

Visual Aids

PCC holders are eligible for subsidies of 70 per cent on scheduled items, such as lenses, basic frame and extras, low vision aids, non-cosmetic contact lenses, prostheses and intra-ocular implants. Conditions apply and there is a dollar limit per item.

Gold Card holders and White Card holders eligible for treatment of eye disabilities through DVA and people with private health insurance are not eligible. For more information, contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Community Equipment Scheme (CES)

PCC holders may be eligible for this scheme, which provides equipment to help people with disabilities live independently and safely in the community. You must have a long term or indefinite duration disability or require equipment as part of discharge from a hospital or residential care. You will not be eligible if you receive equipment from other government funded programs or have received compensation for the injury. For more information, contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Orthotics/prosthetics

A reduced contribution charge for orthotic and prosthetic services is provided to eligible PCC holders whose costs are not met by other organisations such as MAIB, Worker's Compensation or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Clients are charged for more advanced and specialised technology. For more information, please contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Lymphoedema

PCC holders may be eligible for financial aid if you need compression garments to help manage lymphoedema. For more information, contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Wigs

PCC holders may be eligible for financial aid to buy wigs for cancer and alopecia patients. Holders of a DVA Gold or White card should contact DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) to check their eligibility for provision of a wig. For more information, consult your medical specialist, or contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Enteral feeds and supplements

PCC holders who have serious medical conditions that affect their ability to meet nutritional requirements with normal food and drink may be eligible for tube feeds and oral nutrition supplements at subsidised cost. The subsidised supplements are only available if you are not eligible for financial aid from any other government-funded program, including DVA. For more information, contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Continuous Positive Airways Pressure Program

PCC holders may be eligible for financial aid for people who have been clinically assessed as having a sleep-related breathing disorder which requires a continuous positive airways pressure machine. For more information, consult your medical specialist or contact the Department of Health on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

Transport Concessions

Public transport

PCC holders are entitled to a concession on normal public transport fares. Holders of a DVA Gold Card embossed with ‘TPI’ or ‘EDA’ are entitled to free travel. Registration with Metro Tasmania Greencard is required. For more information, contact Metro Tasmania on 13 22 01 or visit the Metro Tasmania Greencard website.

Spirit of Tasmania

PCC holders are entitled to a pensioner passenger fare, subject to availability. For more information, contact Spirit of Tasmania on 1800 634 906 (TTY 1800 555 677) or visit the Spirit of Tasmania Pensioner Eligibility webpage.

Bass Strait Islands air travel concessions

A rebate of 50 per cent of the cost of one return trip to Northern Tasmania per financial year is available to residents of Bass Strait islands who are aged 65 or over and have a PCC. For more information, contact Passenger Transport on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Bruny Island ferry service concessions

PCC, Gold Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) holders are entitled to discounted fares. The card holder must be the driver of the vehicle. For more information, contact Bruny Island Ferry on 1300 127 869 or visit the SeaLink Bruny Island website.

Taxi Travel — Transport Access Scheme

PCC, Health Care Card and CSHC holders who have a permanent lifelong disability are eligible to receive taxi subsidies under the Transport Access Scheme. DVA Gold Card holders are not accepted as they are issued for rebates on medical treatment only and are not income or asset tested. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

*Note: For taxi travel relating to the treatment of accepted disabilities you should use your DVA treatment card (Gold card or White card). For more information, refer to Reimbursing travel expenses under VEA.

Household Concessions

Australia Post

Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on redirecting mail and deliver some items that aid the sight of people with a vision impairment free of charge, or at a discounted rate, for Gold, White and Orange card holders.

For more information, contact Australia Post on 13 76 78 or visit the Australia Post website.

Telstra

Telstra offer a number of concessions to PCC holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information, visit the Telstra Home Phone webpage or contact Telstra on 1800 676 442.

Electricity

PCC holders receive a rebate on electricity costs which is administered by Aurora Energy on behalf of the Department of Health. For more information, contact Aurora Energy on 1300 132 003 or visit the Aurora Energy website.

Life Support Electricity Discount

Aurora Energy provides an electricity discount to eligible customers who use an approved life support system, or live with someone who uses one. For more information, contact Aurora Energy on 1300 132 003 or visit the Aurora Energy website.

Heating Allowance

Service pensioners and age pensioners receiving the maximum rate of pension are eligible for a means tested allowance to help with heating costs for wood, oil, gas and electricity. For more information, contact the Department of Communities Tasmania on 1800 300 068 or visit the Department of Communities Tasmania Heating Allowance webpage.

Rates

A 30% reduction on local government rates and charges (capped at a maximum amount each year) is available to a pensioner who, on 1 July each year, holds a PCC or Gold Card inscribed with TPI or War Widow/Widower. For more information, check with your local council or visit the Tasmanian Government Concessions website.

Vehicle Concessions

Drivers’ Licences

PCC, Health Care Card, Gold Card and White Card holders are eligible for a discount on their drivers’ licence fee. There is no licence fee for people 65 and over, however there is a small charge if a photo is needed. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor Vehicle Registration

PCC, Health Care Card, Gold Card and White Card holders are eligible for discounts on motor vehicle registration fees for motor vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, trailers (including caravans) and motorcycles. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor Tax — 40% rebate

PCC, Health Care Card, Gold Card and White Card holders are eligible for a 40% rebate on motor tax for goods vehicles (such as utes and vans) under 4.5 tonnes that are not used for trade or business. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor Tax — 100% rebate

Veterans receiving Disability Compensation Payment at the TPI rate are eligible for a 100% rebate on motor tax for a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass less than 4.5 tonnes which is not used for trade or business. This concession only applies to one vehicle registered in the name of the eligible person. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor vehicle registration compulsory third party insurance

PCC, Health Care Card, Gold Card and White Card holders are entitled to a concession on MAIB third party insurance for motor vehicles (other than motorcycles) under 4.5 tonnes. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor Vehicle Duty

Veterans receiving Disability Compensation Payment at the TPI rate are entitled to a 100% exemption from duty on vehicle registration applications and transfers. This concession only applies to one vehicle registered in the name of the eligible person. For more information, contact the Department of State Growth on 1300 135 513 or visit the Tasmanian Transport Services website.

Motor Vehicle GST exemption

Once every 2 years or 40,000 km, eligible veterans are entitled to GST exemption on the purchase of a new car. GST exemption is also available on spare parts necessary for the running of a motor car. For more information, refer to Supply of Cars and Car Parts GST Free.

Other Concessions

Recreational Sea Fishing Licences

PCC holders are entitled to a 50% discount on the licence application fee. For more information, contact the Recreational Fisheries Section on 1300 720 647 or visit the Recreational sea fishing licences webpage.

Recreational Angling Licence

PCC holders are entitled to a discount on angling licences. For more information, contact the Inland Fisheries Service on 1300 463 474 or visit the Tasmanian Inland Fisheries Service website.

Recreational Game Licence

PCC holders are entitled to a 20% discount for recreational game licences for deer, wallaby, mutton-bird, pheasant, wild duck and brown quail. For more information, contact Game Licences on (03) 6165 4305, visit the Wildlife Management webpage, contact the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment on 1300 368 550 or visit the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.

Firearm Fees

PCC holders are entitled to a 20% rebate on fees. For more information, contact the Department of Police and Emergency Management on (03) 6173 2720 or visit the Tasmanian Police website.

TasTAFE

PCC holders are entitled to concessions on the normal tuition fees. For more information, contact TasTAFE on 1300 655 307 or visit the TasTAFE website.

Adult Education Course Concession

PCC holders are entitled to concessions on fees for most Adult Education courses. For more information, contact Adult Education Tasmania on (03) 6165 5600 or visit the Adult Education Tasmania website.

Wills

There is no charge for PCC holders where the Public Trustee is appointed sole executor. For more information, contact the Tasmania Public Trustee on 1800 068 784 or visit the Tasmania Public Trustee website.

Recreational Activities

Concessions are available for a number of parks and recreational sites throughout Tasmania. Check with the provider to see if you are eligible for a concession.

More Information about Concessions

Tasmanian Seniors Card

The Tasmanian Seniors Card is issued free and provides access to savings on a range of goods and services provided by participating businesses. For more information, contact the Tasmanian Seniors Card on 1300 135 513 or visit the Seniors Card webpage.

Tasmanian Government Concession Guide

The Tasmanian Government publishes a concession guide that outlines the various concessions available to Tasmanian residents. For more information, visit the Department of Premier and Cabinet website.

Moving Interstate

If you have recently moved interstate, and not received a new concession or treatment card reflecting your state of residence, please contact us.  Some state government concessions require your card to match your state of residence.