Retail Advisor Scheme

What is the scheme?
By 31 December 2013, all Australians will have made the switch to digital TV enjoying more channels and better sound and picture quality than ever before.

Consumers are encouraged to look for information and advice at electronics stores where retail staff have been approved as Digital Advisors by the Australian Government.

Under the Retail Advisor Scheme, participating retail stores can nominate staff to complete an assessment module to become approved Digital Advisors. Digital Advisors will provide information to consumers about the digital switchover in general, as well as more specific information on their local switchover area, the meaning of Government product labels and the full range of options to get digital ready.

What are the benefits to my business?
By participating in the Scheme, retail stores will be associated with the 'Get Ready for Digital TV' campaign which will continue until 2013. The campaign will direct consumers to seek information from participating retailers.

A list of participating retailers is also available on the Digital Ready website.

What does the scheme entail?
Under the Scheme, a retail store will sign a legal agreement to join and must comply with the following conditions:

• at least one approved member of staff is available to the public at all times (including lunch breaks, so that, in effect, a minimum of two approved staff would be required);
• once approved, staff are clearly identifiable to consumers by wearing the Government’s Digital Advisor badge;
• provision to consumers of accurate and complete information, as delivered in the assessment materials, including canvassing of all options available to consumers if requested or if consumers demonstrate they do not know them;
• use and application of the logo and any associated material as per the agreement;
• Government digital switchover labelling on products is not obstructed by labels applied in-store;
• digital switchover labelled products are accurately reproduced and referenced in store catalogues and advertising; and
• retail catalogues and printed material using the digital switchover logo and labelling artwork clearly indicates which store is participating in the Scheme.

Retailers will have six months upon signing the agreement to comply with these conditions. Stores will be under no obligation to stock products carrying the digital switchover label under the supplier licensing scheme. The Retail Advisor Scheme is not available to retailers operating door-to-door or other roaming type businesses.

How much does it cost?
Licensed retailers will not be required to pay any fee to the Digital Switchover Taskforce to participate in the Scheme. Assessment for retail staff will consist of a number of modules which can be completed in one or several sessions.

How do I join?
If you are interested in joining the Scheme please fill in an application form and email it to switchover_retailers@dbcde.gov.au or fax to 02 8023 3776

The application form can be downloaded by selecting one of the options below:

Application form (RTF 1,904 kb, PDF 1,511 kb).