NSW Govt Dining, Arts and Tourism Recovery Scheme

The Dine & Discover NSW scheme was designed to encourage community members to get out and about by using a voucher system in eligible New South Wales (NSW) businesses.  The Dine & Discover NSW scheme was created to assist dining, arts and tourism businesses to recover from the impact of COVID-19.  

In early February this year, the Dine & Discover NSW scheme was tested in The Rocks and Broken Hill and then in late February the scheme was piloted in the Sydney CBD, Northern Beaches and the Bega Valley.  The NSW Government is now asking businesses outside these areas to register as a Dine & Discover NSW business and to expect customers with vouchers from March as the scheme rolls out across the whole state.

From March, residents of NSW who are 18 years and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers through Services NSW, worth $100 in total. Two of the vouchers are for a dine-in meal at registered cafes, restaurants, wineries, clubs and pubs. The other two vouchers can be used at registered businesses who provide recreation, live music, arts venues or are cultural institutions. 

To access the vouchers, residents must have a MyServicesNSW account. NSW residents can download the Service NSW App before the vouchers become available from March but the vouchers need to be used in a Dine & Discover NSW registered business.   

Eligibility for business registration for the Dine & Discover scheme appears to be fairly simple. Businesses must operate in NSW, have an Australian Business Number, be registered for Goods and Services Tax, be registered with the NSW Government as a COVIDSafe business and must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.

To qualify for registration for the Dine & Discover NSW scheme, NSW businesses must operate in an eligible industry such as: restaurants, cafes, taverns, wineries, pubs, clubs, bars, sightseeing and scenic transport, museums, galleries and historic sites, cinemas, botanic gardens, zoos, nature reserves and wildlife parks, theatres and entertainment centres, performing arts operations, entertainment and theatres, amusement, theme and water parks, recreational activities such as indoor climbing, go-karting, mini-golf, bowling, billiards, ice-rinks, outdoor adventures, travel agencies and tours. 

When registering, Services NSW will provide businesses with instant confirmation that their registration has been received but business applications can take up to five days to be reviewed, and to be finalised. Businesses that are registered for the Dine & Discover NSW scheme are able to accept vouchers and redeem them through the Service NSW Business App.

Registered businesses will scan the customers QR code with their Services NSW registered device. The customer’s QR code may be either supplied digitally on a smart phone or as a printed version. Businesses will be able to accept more than one voucher for the same bill, as customers can combine their vouchers. Although, each customer can only redeem one voucher per business, per day. If the bill is less than $25, neither the customers or the businesses will receive any leftover amounts.

When interviewed about the potential ramifications of the Dine & Discover NSW scheme, Tony Flett, Rural Financial Counsellor of the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Deniliquin said, “The vouchers may make a difference between people going out or not.”  Tony went on to say, “Accessing the vouchers is one way that local people can do their bit to help regional businesses recover and it’s a good idea for businesses to take advantage of the scheme by registering for the Dine & Discover NSW scheme with Services NSW.”

Visiting the Service NSW web page and reading any conditions of the voucher’s use is advisable, as there are some conditions of use. If you have any questions about the Dine & Discover NSW scheme, please visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/dine-discover-nsw#dine--discover-nsw or give Services NSW a call on 13 77 88. 

Compiled by Sharon McInnes, from information listed on the Services NSW web page.