Assistance grants support rural aged care providers
First Nations, rural and remote communities will benefit from a $135 million investment to improve access to aged care.
This investment from the federal government is intended to directly support aged care providers located outside of major cities, to build and modernise services so older Australians can access the aged care they need.
Round 1 of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) will deliver 76 infrastructure projects to upgrade aged care homes, build new staff accommodation, improve services for older people at risk of homelessness and enhance cultural care for older First Nations people.
More than $60 million will be awarded across 30 locations to support aged care providers to upgrade and expand their aged care homes, increase the number of beds and improve home care service delivery to better meet the needs of First Nations communities in remote and very remote locations.
In addition, $49 million will support 27 providers to address shortages in staff accommodation to attract and retain more workers so they can better meet 24/7 RN requirements, increase care minutes and reduce reliance on agency staff.
“These grants are about creating more home-like environments for residents giving them access to comfortable and modern amenities, more liveable spaces and less shared rooms," said Anika Wells, Minister for Aged Care.
“We want older people to feel at home, to be safe and have the support they deserve regardless of where they live.”
The federal government is also providing $22 million in funding to support eight specialised services to improve access to aged care for older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
A further $3 million will enable 11 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers to deliver more culturally appropriate care in First Nations communities.
A second round will open in June 2024. This round will broaden eligibility to all regional, rural and remote locations and will have a continued focus on improving access to quality aged care services for First Nations communities nationwide, including in urban settings.
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