Funding to improve aged care access for First Nations Elders

The federal government has announced $106 million funding to provide face-to-face support for older First Nations people and $115 million to build culturally safe aged care facilities. This funding will be delivered over four years.

As a part of the initiative, the Trusted Indigenous Facilitators program will build a First Nations workforce to help individual older First Nations people, their families and carers to access aged care services that meets their physical and cultural needs.

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said, “The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended the government ‘ensure that the new aged care system makes specific and adequate provision for the diverse and changing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’ — and so we are doing just that.”

In partnership with the federal government, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation will work with Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations to assist older First Nations people and their families navigate and access aged care services. A workforce of around 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff across Australia will provide this trusted support.

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said First Nations communities experience many barriers when accessing aged care services.

“Lack of culturally safe care, a complex system, ongoing trauma, and social and economic disadvantages all contribute to older First Nations people accessing aged care services at a rate lower than needed.”

Wells said, “A First Nations workforce that supports older First Nations people will enable a system that is more accessible and better able to focus on the aged care service needs of our diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The program will also deliver cultural safety guidance to providers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

Four National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) services in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland will receive funding to construct culturally safe, purpose-built facilities.

“NATSIFAC services respond to the needs of local communities by not only providing quality aged care services and employment opportunities for First Nations people, it also provides staff housing to ensure workforce retention and projects to improve integrated health services,” Wells said.

“This grant funding empowers older First Nations people, communities and NATSIFAC providers to contribute to the development of contemporary building design, suitable for people living with dementia, limited mobility, cultural needs and aligned with social expectations.”

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