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 a participating local community centre
You can get free tests at Service NSW service centres, or participating 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.
Get RATs from mobile Service NSW centres and recovery centres
If you're a Commonwealth Concession Card holder, living with disability, or are immunocompromised, or if you are a carer of someone who is, 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?
If you are eligible, you can go to your nearest Service NSW centre, or participating neighbourhood or community centres to collect RATs.
If you are living with disability or immunocompromised, you or your carer need to tell the centre that you have a disability or that you‘re immunocompromised. You do not need to provide your name or personal details.
Commonwealth Concession Card holders and those named on a holder's card must show the 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 2 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 3 months until 31 January 2023.
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.