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Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme
In-home assistance will be provided to eligible households in Mildura, regional South Australia, regional Victoria and regional Queensland.

When do I switch?

Household Assistance Scheme

For the vast majority of people, making the switch to digital TV will be a relatively straightforward and inexpensive exercise. However, the Australian Government understands that some people will need help to get ready for digital TV. The Government will therefore be providing in-home assistance to eligible households in the Mildura, regional South Australia, regional Victoria and regional Queensland TV licence areas. Lessons learned from these areas will help inform the broader approach taken for the rest of Australia.

What is the Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme?

The Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme will help eligible households to receive digital free-to-air TV signals. This package is free of charge, with a maximum of one per household (including if you move house or change residence) and will be provided by qualified government-contracted installers. It includes:

  • a high definition (HD) set top box;
  • the set up and installation of the set top box;
  • instructions on how to use it; and
  • any necessary upgrades to cabling and antenna systems, where eligible.

On 4 December 2009, Hills TechLife was announced as the successful contractor for the Mildura/Sunraysia switchover region.

On 16 June 2010, Hills TechLife and Skybridge (Australia) Pty Ltd, were both selected as the successful contractors in the Riverland, Spencer Gulf and Mt Gambier and South-East of South Australia and Broken Hill switchover regions.


Who is eligible?

You may be eligible for help provided:

  • You live in a household where you or your partner receives the maximum rate of one of the following payments:
    • Age Pension
    • Disability Support Pension
    • Carer Payment
    • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension, or
    • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Income Support Supplement.
  • You own a functioning TV.
  • You do not currently have access to digital TV on any of the TVs that you own or are borrowing. (If you can watch ABC 2 or SBS TWO, then you probably do have access to digital TV.)
  • You live in a TV licence area that is currently switching to digital.


Please note that the upgrading of external antennas or cabling can only be undertaken in situations where the eligible person owns their place of residence and the household is not located in a multi-dwelling unit with a shared antenna system.

Prior to receiving the Household Assistance Scheme, you will be required to sign an official declaration stating that you did not already have access to free to air digital television on any of the TVs that you own or are borrowing. Random checks are undertaken for quality purposes. Making a false declaration may lead to investigation by the Commonwealth for fraud.

Applying for the scheme

How do I apply?

Letters inviting potentially eligible households to opt into the scheme will be sent out approximately six months before each TV license area is due to switchover. The letter will invite you to contact Centrelink to check your eligibility.

If you are eligible, a qualified service contractor will then call you to make an appointment for a qualified installer to come to your home and provide the installation. They will send you a letter to confirm the appointment time. The service contractor or installer will not charge you for this service. If you have any doubts about the identity of the contractor, please call 1800 20 10 13.

Please note that the demonstration of the set top box by the installer and the reference material that they leave behind will be in English.

When can I apply?

The Household Assistance Scheme is available for six months before and one month after the switch to digital in your region. Check the rollout maps for information on when your region is switching.

Centrelink will write to potentially eligible customers inviting them to participate in the scheme approximately six months before their region is due to switchover. Potentially eligible households in the Mildura TV licence area received their letters from January 2010 to mid-July 2010. Letters for potentially eligible households in the regional South Australia and in Broken Hill TV licence areas will be sent out from July 2010.


Scheme Guidelines and Complaints Procedure

Household Assistance Scheme brochure

Centrelink will send letters to potentially eligible households inviting them to participate in the Household Assistance Scheme. The brochure accompanying the letter provides additional information about the scheme, details of who is eligible and how to apply.

Household Assistance Scheme - Regional South Australia and Broken Hill brochure - (pdf 348 kb)


User guides for high definition set top boxes provided under the Scheme

Under the scheme, the Service Contractor will supply, install and demonstrate the use of a high definition set top box in eligible households.

Mildura/Sunraysia

Hills TechLife will supply eligible households in the Mildura/Sunraysia TV licence area with a high definition set-top box. Households will also be provided with a ‘Quick set-up guide’ and ‘User’s Manual’ to assist with using the set top box. Copies of these guides are available below.

  • Quick set-up guide to connecting your set top box – (rtf 1,203kb; pdf 1,314 kb; word 606 kb)
  • Quick set-up guide to your remote control – (rtf 1,098 kb; pdf 1,883 kb; word 554 kb)
  • User’s Manual – (rtf 8 mb; pdf 734 kb; word 803 kb)

Regional South Australia and Broken Hill

The manuals and references guides for the high definition set-top boxes provided by Hills TechLife and Skybridge to households in Regional South Australia and Broken Hill will be made available on this website shortly.


More information about the Household Assistance Scheme is available from the Frequently Asked Questions