The Department of Customer Service has kicked off a pilot program to integrate COVID-19 digital vaccination certificates into its ServiceNSW app.
Announcing the Program’s launch, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole said ServiceNSW customers in Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Lismore would be the first to trial the technology before it was rolled out across the State.
Mr Toole said the Program focused on staff and visitors at a number of clubs and aged care facilities, as well as selected taxi companies.
“Up to 500 customers, to be selected by the businesses involved, will participate in the pilot across Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Lismore,” Mr Toole said.
“Customers will have the convenience of checking in to a venue and showing proof of vaccination status on the one app,” he said.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service, Victor Dominello said that while it was possible for people to show their vaccination certificate on their smart phones, given there were over six million people using the ServiceNSW app “this was a smart extra service for the citizens of NSW”.
Mr Dominello (pictured) said there were already three ways for people to download their vaccination passport, but the pilot Program was about making life easier for people and business.
“In a week of being granted access to the Australian Immunisation Register information, we have already begun successfully testing internally ahead of this regional pilot, but we also need to ensure we have the right checks and balances in place,” he said.
“The ServiceNSW app will include a number of security measures to help compliance officers and businesses with checking and validating a customer’s vaccination status, including a NSW Waratah logo hologram and rotating QR codes, similar to the Digital Driver Licence.
“Integrating the vaccine certificate onto the ServiceNSW app will be optional.”
Mr Dominello said people could also use the Express Plus Medicare app, the digital wallet on their phone or a paper certificate from Services Australia to prove their vaccination status.
He said the integrated check-in and proof of vaccination ServiceNSW app update was expected to roll out from next week (18 October).
