If you are aged 18 or over you can apply for and use your $25 Dine & Discover vouchers anytime.
You don’t need the Service NSW app to apply for them – you can do that online at service.nsw.gov.au – but you will need the four separate QR codes (which are easiest to read on the app, using a smartphone) to actually spend them.
To receive the four $25 vouchers you will need to apply online or at a Service NSW office and have your ID verified
Step 1: Register
It’s much easier with an online MyServicesNSW account, otherwise you’ll need to call 13 77 88 and/or go into a Services NSW office to verify your ID first.
To create an online MyServicesNSW account you need an email address and Australian mobile number to use for verification. This takes 5 minutes.
You need to log in to this account to begin.
On the Services NSW app, select vouchers, or if you are on the Services NSW homepage you’ll need to scroll to find ‘highlights’, then come down to select ‘apply’.
You need to verify two forms of ID online – you’ll be prompted to allow your camera to scan your driver’s licence and Medicare card, but if you don’t have one of these, there are other options including passport and birth certificate.
Once these are scanned successfully, you will need to provide personal details such as address, phone number and email address.
Once submitted, the automated system should send you a note to say your vouchers are being processed and will arrive within one hour.
Applying for the vouchers takes about 10 minutes and they are emailed to you within the hour – so why aren’t we using them?
Step 2: Redeem them
You should receive an email confirming your application has been approved.
The email will have the four $25 vouchers in a PDF and they will also appear under ‘vouchers’ in your MyServicesNSW account in the Services NSW app.
To redeem the four vouchers you need to present them – only one per visit – to the business you want to dine with or ‘discover’ and they need the QR code for each.
Again, it’s easiest to show the QR codes from the app on your smartphone, but you can also show the code from the confirmation email (mentioned above) or even print out the voucher and QR code on paper and present that.
A crucial step is finding where you can spend them: the Services NSW app and servicensw.gov.au has a search bar where you can find where to spend them, searching by postcode, suburb or business name.
You cannot spend all four $25 vouchers on a meal: only two of the vouchers can be used for eating in – but only one per visit.
So that means you have to sit down to eat at a restaurant or pub – you cannot use a voucher to pay for takeaways.
The other two voucher are meant to be spent with ‘entertainment’ businesses including sports venues, art galleries, live music venues, cinemas and cruises.
Some companies that specialise in ‘experiences’ are accepting the vouchers towards the cost of their activities, such Red Balloon.
An obvious shortcut to finding where to spend your vouchers is to ask the place you want to visit if they accept them.
Dine & Discover fails
Paying for something worth under $25 – you won’t get change
Trying to pay for a $50 meal with 2 vouchers after your meal – you can only use one at a time
Applying if you are aged under 18
You cannot use the vouchers to:
redeem for cash
trade or repay a debt
use for takeaway meals
pay for online orders
use for alcohol
buy tobacco
buy drugs
spend on gambling
use them at a business that isn’t registered to accept them