The NSW Government is celebrating 30 years of the Seniors Card by making it digital via the Service NSW app. The Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government stated that the digital Seniors and Seniors Savers Cards will make life easier for seniors by taking the hassle out of everyday transactions.
The Minister noted that seniors have already embraced the Service NSW app through programs like Dine & Discover NSW and the Digital Driver Licence, and this digital option provides them with greater choice and flexibility. The Service NSW app is secure and convenient, and digital cards and credentials mean there is one less thing for customers to carry around with them.
The Minister for Seniors stated that the program has been providing savings since its inception in 1992, including on gas and electricity. He noted that the Government has brought this service, which has been beneficial for easing the cost of living for seniors, “into the twenty-first century”.
When this initiative was first introduced by the then Premier of NSW, John Fahey, 250,000 seniors had access to discounts and rebates from 320 goods and service providers. Now, it is one of the largest programs of its kind in Australia, with 1.8 million seniors able to access discounts and rebates at more than 6,500 shops, travel, entertainment and professional services. The digital cards will be opt-in only and customers will continue to receive a physical card.
The Service NSW App enables easy access to government services, vouchers, licences and more using the Service NSW app. The app provides:
- COVID Safe Check-in
- COVID-19 digital certificate
- Vouchers
- Register a positive rapid antigen test result
- Seniors/Senior Savers Card
- Digital licences
- Vehicle registration checks and renewal
- Fines and demerits
- Licence or credential verifier
For example, in 2020, the Service NSW app rolled out the use of QR codes to help capture guest information and make check-ins at venues easier. The information is stored securely for NSW Health officials to access quickly if contact tracing is required.
Businesses are encouraged to use the app. The service is free and will help businesses comply with public health orders. Around 400 businesses initially trialled the QR code check-in process, with the app passing an independent privacy review. Close to 2.2 million customers have the Service NSW app on their mobile phones.
The Minister for Customer Service stated that customers should download the latest version of the app. Moreover, customers can use their Service NSW app to complete several transactions, so it makes sense for them to be able to use it to check in to venues as well.
Later, OpenGov reported that tradespeople in NSW have a more convenient and secure way of giving their customers peace of mind when showing their work credentials in digital format through the Service NSW app. The NSW digital contractor licence is the second trade licence and credential to be digitised, following the launch of the digital white card in April 2021, which has more than 185,000 people using it in the Service NSW app. The latest updates make it easier for people across NSW to do business, and safety features in the app ensure that customers have proof they are getting their service from legitimate people.
