The Albanese Government is investing $135 million to improve access to quality aged care services in First Nations, rural and remote communities.
This investment directly supports aged care providers located outside of major cities, to build and modernise services so older Australians can access the aged care they need.
This investment builds upon the $115 million to build four culturally safe, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care services in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
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.
$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.
We are providing $22 million in funding to support 8 specialised services to improve access to aged care for older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
$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.
Rural and Remote Services | Specialist Homeless Services (Metropolitan) | |||||
State | Grant Funding | Funded Projects | State | Grant Funding | Funded Projects | |
| NSW | $7,325,642 | 9 | NSW | $13,641,923 | 4 | |
| VIC | $11,514,365 | 5 | VIC | $7,492,443 | 3 | |
| QLD | $18,383,217 | 10 | WA | $990,000 | 1 | |
| WA | $19,804,869 | 10 | Total | $22,124,366 | 8 | |
| SA | $19,195,794 | 8 | ||||
| TAS | $16,367,742 | 9 | ||||
| NT | $20,187,392 | 17 | ||||
| Total | $112,779,021 | 68 | ||||
A second round will open in the first half of 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 urban settings.
