FAQs

GOT A QUESTION ABOUT MEMBERSHIP? WE HAVE THE ANSWER

Why do people become members of COTA Seniors Voice? To:
1. Belong

to become a part of the COTA 'family' and become involved in the organisation eg by volunteering
to meet with and connect with others
to be provided with information and opportunities to improve their lifestyle and well being
to increase their participation in the community

2. Benefit

have exclusive access to the COTA Rewards & Savings Program

3. Be Heard

on behalf of older South Australians, COTA Seniors Voice advocates, lobbies and influences both State and Federal Government, t he business sector and the general community on issues affecting older people such as the pension, superannuation, health, transport, housing, aged care and more. Their interests are represented by COTA Seniors Voice via a wide range of forums, committees, consumer advisory groups and research bodies.
COTA Seniors Voice currently sits on over 50 government and non-government committees to represent older South Australians.
Over the last 20 years, COTA Seniors Voice has been centrally engaged in every major aged related South Australian State Government policy.
have COTA Seniors Voice raise awareness of the contributions that Seniors make

Each of the above in isolation or in combination attracts people to become a member of COTA Seniors Voice.

Who can join COTA Seniors Voice as a member?
Anyone can join COTA Seniors Voice, irrespective of their age or where they live. They don't have to be a senior - just support the work that COTA does and what it stands for.

Can I give membership as a gift?
Yes. Either gives us a call on 1300 1400 50 or Click Here to apply for a gift membership on line.

How can I join COTA Seniors Voice?
People can join COTA Seniors Voice by:

filling in a Membership Application form and posting it back (no stamp required)
ringing 1300 1400 50 and providing details over the phone will take less than 5 minutes
joining online
in person at COTA Seniors Voice’s office at 45 Flinders Street or at level 7, 33 Franklin Street - from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

How can I pay for membership?
People can pay for their COTA Seniors Voice membership by:

credit card
debit card
money order
personal or bank cheque
cash

How long is membership for?
12 months from the day the application is processed and payment received.

Can I pay for more than one year’s membership?
Yes. Membership can be paid for more than 12 months - but must be in 12-month increments.

What is the cost of membership?
Single for 12 months = $24
Joint for 12 months = $32

What if I'm not happy with my membership?
Once a member, if for any reason you're not happy, simply let us know within 30 days of receiving your member card and if we can't rectify the problem, we'll give you a full refund of your membership fee.

What is the Free Post Reply Paid Number for COTA Seniors Voice Member Services?
Reply Paid 1392 Adelaide SA 5001. No stamp required.

How long does it take to get a membership card?
Within two weeks of receiving / taking an application, a new member pack will be received by the member.

What can new members expect to receive once they have joined and when?
Each member receives a new member pack, which contains:

a “Welcome to COTA Seniors Voice Membership” letter
a personalised member card - one for each member if joint membership
a 144 page Ambassador Card Savings Directory
immediate access to all the COTA Seniors Voice member benefits
the benefits of the work that COTA Seniors Voice does in influencing Government, business and the community in general

What happens at renewal time?
About two weeks prior to the month in which the renewal is due, we will contact members by letter advising their membership is due for renewal.

Members are given a number of methods to renew their membership.

What happens if I need a replacement Savings Directory or Membership Card?
Simply call COTA Member Services on 1300 1400 50 or email us on membership@seniorsvoice.org.au to request another one.

How does COTA Seniors Voice lobby Government on behalf of its members and the general public?
The interests of people over 50 are represented by COTA Seniors Voice via a wide range of forums, committees, consumer advisory groups and research bodies. COTA Seniors Voice for example, currently sits on over 50 government and non-government committees to represent older South Australians.

In what ways has COTA Seniors Voice influenced Government and Business in the past?
Over the last 20 years, COTA Seniors Voice has been centrally engaged in every major aged related South Australian State Government policy. Recent achievements include:

Age Pension reform - increase in both the couples and single pension; part of Fair Go for Pensioners Campaign
Free transport for seniors - seniors with a SA State Government issued Seniors Card are able to access free public transport inter-peak times week days and all times on weekends and public holidays
Reciprocal transport arrangements for seniors – seniors can now go interstate and access concessional travel on public transport anywhere in Australia
Lobbying Telstra to discontinue its $2.20 administration fee for phone bills paid over the counter or via mail - which affected many older people
Influenced SA Government to maintain price controls on electricity and gas - in the face of Commonwealth Government push to remove them
Influenced SA Government to add water to the regulatory control of ESCOSA - subject to legislation going through Parliament in 2010