Cards on the table

Seniors’ Discounts and Concessions

Seniors Card, Seniors Card +Go, Seniors Business Discount Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner’s Card, Carers’ Cards, Companion Cards, etc.

Concession cards – they are one of the few practical benefits of ageing. Usually available once you turn 60 or 65, these are offered by the state and federal governments to people no longer working full time to help balance their household budgets.

But ask anyone for a list of the actual benefits for each card, and you’ll more than likely be greeted by a brick wall. It seems having possession of a card merely means you could qualify for certain discounts – so long as the various agencies (electricity, gas, rates, etc) offer them to you. And if you talk to any government agency, there is nothing set in stone and options can change at any moment.

The first thing to do, once you are nearing the magic age, is apply for the respective cards ahead of time so that you can have access to the maximum discounts or concessions they might offer. And then, ask, ask, ask – anyone and everyone: your friends at the tennis or bowling club, your mates at the gym, your neighbours. Word of mouth seems to be the fastest and most reliable way to find out what actually works – because everyone is thrilled to get a bargain and very ready to let you know that they have been able to work their way through the minefield of potential red tape.

Seniors Card

Available through the state government, this is perhaps the handiest card to have giving you access to hundreds of discounts such as supermarket shopping, dining out and car registration. There are also discounts available in hair and beauty salons, accommodation, car hire and more.

Interested in local history? Pick up a Discovery Guide at the library to visit museums and historic places and ask for a VIP Museum Card for 10% off your next entry at participating Sunshine Coast museums, visit www. heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

You can also save hundreds of dollars each year on life and health insurance, heading aids, car registration, electricity, gas, rates and your mortgage.

Postage stamps are half-price once you have obtained a MyPost Concession card through Australia Post. Cardholders are eligible to purchase up to 50 concession stamps each year as well as discounts on Mail Hold and Mail Redirection services.

Having a Seniors Card or a Seniors Business Discount card can also give you access to the Senior Shopper –a free online and phone-shopping service that helps members save on a variety of purchases through a ‘power in numbers’ concept.

Some local outlets that offer a discount include:

Shine Beauty parlours in Caloundra, Sippy Downs and in Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore – 10% off.

Araxi Hair Salons in Kawana and Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore – 10% off haircuts.

Novotel Twin Waters – 10% off accommodation outside peak periods

Ingenia Holidays Rivershare at Diddillibah – 10% accommodation outside peak periods.

Avis Car Rental in Maroochydore, Noosa and Caloundra – 10% discount depending on dates and vehicle availability.

White’s IGA supermarkets at Baringa, Bli Bli, Mooloolah, Mt Coolum and Peregian Beach – 5% off on showing your Seniors Card.

IGA Wises Road, Buderim – 5% off your bill.

Some popular restaurants such as the Brightwater Hotel and Buderim and Mountain Creek Taverns offer special priced seniors’ menus rather than a discount. If you spend more than $4 on any order at McDonald’s stores, your card entitles you to a free small coffee, tea, or soft drink.

The celebrated Irwin family-owned Australia Zoo at Beerwah/Glasshouse Mountains offers a healthy discount for seniors ($47, down from $59), while Aussie World theme park at Palmview also offers a discount ($30, down from $38). Most cinemas have special seniors’ discounts and movie mornings.

Cinebuzz membership at Event Cinemas (Birch, Carroll & Coyle at Sunshine Plaza) is free, with the first session of the day dedicated to Senior Members with tickets at $10 each plus discounts on cinema snacks.

To qualify for a Seniors Card, you must be a resident of the state where you are applying, be more than 60-years-old and not work more than 35 hours a week in paid employment.

Seniors Card + Go

This is simply a Seniors Card combined with a Go public transport card on the reverse. Very handy to have the two linked.

Remember, the bottom line with concession cards is to put you pride in your back pocket and every time you pay money for something, ask if you are eligible for a discount. Just work on the premise that nobody knows what you want until you ask for it!