Seniors Card will actively seek to expand the range, number and regional spread of Business Partners who participate in the Seniors Card program so that member satisfaction with the discount and value opportunities is ever increasing.
The program will seek to attract businesses located in all regions throughout the state that offer goods and services which encourage the active and healthy participation of seniors in all aspects of life.
Seniors Card will ensure, to the best of its ability, that those businesses associated with the program are of a suitable standard and operate within the expectations of the general community in relation to current ethical and social standards and expectations.
In recruiting business partners, Seniors Card recognises the cultural diversity of older people in NSW and will recruit businesses that are relevant to a diverse range of older people.
Approval Process
All Business Partners must apply to participate in the program by completion of the Business Application Form. The form is available from: Seniors Card office, Seniors Card Call Centre, DADHC offices, Department of State & Regional Development Offices, Government Access Centres, Local Member of Parliament Offices, and the Business Partner Area on the Seniors Card website.
Businesses who apply for inclusion in the program must enter all mandatory fields on Business Application Form. Australian Business Number (ABN) checks are made confirming Registered Trading name.
Businesses will be required to submit to a business reputation and license vetting process by Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to ensure integrity, and high standard of reputation and credibility of the business and its operations.
Businesses must agree to and sign the Partner Terms & Conditions specified on the application form. Online Terms & Conditions agreement can occur.
Seniors Card requires businesses to offer a valid discount or value added offer to members. Each business is treated individually. A minimum 5% discount or equivalent in value added offer is required although a minimum offer of 10% or equivalent in value added is encouraged.
Businesses are required to clearly articulate and honour their discount offer to members for the 12-month period.
Seniors Card will expect that all businesses reflect the current ethical and social standards and expectations of the general community.
Businesses will be recruited consistent with current policy initiatives and strategy directions of the Department.
The following set of criteria help to define the suitability of businesses seeking partnership. Seniors Card will accept business partner applications except in the following circumstances:
Businesses that engage in illegal or deceptive conduct;
Businesses for which the dominant trade is manufacture, supply, marketing and/or retail of products or services that on reasonable grounds can be considered contrary to public or government policy or public health and safety;1
Businesses with poor Business Reputation ratings as notified by the Office of Fair Trading.
Seniors Card reserves the right to refuse any application including those which generate complaints to the Office of Fair Trading or those that do not reflect current ethical and social standards of the general community.
Franchised and chain stores must be registered under the company's head office with a unique business ID number. All chain store locations are listed under outlets.
Direct Mail partners must be a registered business partner and subject to processes and principles outlined in the Seniors Card Direct Mail Policy.
Promotion
Website Approved Business Partners are all listed automatically by category on the Seniors Card website under the 'Find Discount' Page. This service is offered at no cost to the business. Each approved business introduced to the program receives a Business Partner Kit, which contains: Welcome letter, Point of Sale material, and Discount Directory information.
Discount Directory
With the exception of NSW government agencies, it is preferred that all advertisers in the annual Discount Directory are business partners that offer Seniors Card members discounts on goods and services. Businesses must agree to and sign additional Terms & Conditions specified on the advertising rate brochure.
Targeted Business Categories
Seniors Card has Key Business Partner categories identified in research and Seniors Card overall objectives:
Retail - Shopping centres, supermarkets, food chains and franchisers.
Travel - Airlines, holiday package tour companies, public & private transport, car rental, accommodation.
Lifestyle - Fishing, social & ethnic clubs, home improvements, gyms, health centres & exercise classes.
Government - Local Government Agencies (LGA), swimming centres, libraries, sport & recreation facilities, transport operators, museums
Providers of goods and services for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
Providers of goods and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities.
Targeted Regions
An annual recruitment strategy will be prepared which will consider:
level of coverage of businesses across geographic areas,
location of reflected communities,
level of inclusion of key business partner categories,
current policy directions.
1 For example, tobacco companies and tobacconists would be excluded but retailers that sell cigarettes as part of a wider business would not.
