Free rapid antigen tests to support vulnerable communities
To help with early detection and treatment of COVID-19, free rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available in NSW for priority cohorts.
To help with early detection and treatment of COVID-19, free rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available in NSW for priority cohorts including:
- people with disability, immunocompromised people, and their carers
- eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW:
- Pensioner Concession card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card
- Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care card)
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange cards.
Get RATs from Service NSW or local community centres
You can get free tests at neighbourhood and community centres if you are:
- living with disability or are immunocompromised
- a carer of someone with disability or who is immunocompromised
- A Commonwealth Concession Card holder.
You can get free RATs by going to a Service NSW service centre, or a neighbourhood and community centres, if you are:
- a Commonwealth Concession Card holder.
Get RATs from mobile Service NSW centres and recovery centres
If you're a Commonwealth Concession Card holder, you can get free RATs at Service NSW service centres, including mobile service centres and recovery centres.
Find a mobile Service NSW service centre.
If you’re a service provider and would like to participate in the free RAT distribution program you can get more information from the DCJ coronavirus website.
How do I get them?
People with disability or immunocompromised, or carers, can go to the nearest neighbourhood or community centre to collect RATs.
You or your carer need to self-declare your disability or that you‘re immunocompromised There’s no need to provide your name or personal details.
Commonwealth Concession Card holders can go to the nearest Service NSW service centre and show your concession card to collect RATs.
How many can I have?
For people with disability or immunocompromised, this may vary depending on your need, but we recommend you collect up to 1 month’s supply, based on two RATs per week. That’s a total of 8 RATs per person per month.
If you have multiple carers coming into your home, you may require more RATs so that all your carers can test themselves before visiting you.
Concession Card holders can access 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months until 31 October 2022.
Why are these kits free?
The NSW Government is committed to protecting those most in need in our community by providing RATs to vulnerable people.
You can read more in Ministers Coure and Maclaren-Jones media release.