AUSTRALIA | Aborigional and Torres Strait Islander People are the focus of new funding announced by the Albanese Government's aged care reforms.
The Albanese Government has invested AUD $250 million to improve access to quality aged care homes in regional, rural and remote communities through Round two of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP). This investment will fund 52 infrastructure projects to upgrade or build new aged care homes outside of major cities and enhance cultural care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Fifty-two projects will receive funding to deliver more than 400 additional beds and provide for higher needs like dementia care.
The ACCAP grants will also directly support not-for-profit providers and small community-based operators to modernise their aged care homes and create employment opportunities.
Of the funding, AUD $50 million is allocated specifically to support older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders. This has included AUD $25 million to support five Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to deliver quality care under the National Aboriginal and Flexible Aged Care Program across regional and remote areas of Australia.
A further AUD $25 million has been allocated to build a new 100-bed aged care home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Perth, a first of its kind for the region.
This AUD $250 million investment has built on the AUD $134.9 million allocated in Round One to support 76 infrastructure projects in rural and remote locations.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said that older Australians deserve access to safe and quality aged care services, regardless of where they live.
“Round two of ACCAP will help rural and remote aged care providers to deliver appropriate cultural care and create more home-like environments, with comfortable and modern amenities, more liveable spaces and fewer shared rooms,” said Minister Wells.
“The Albanese Government continues to invest grant funding at unprecedented levels to support aged care providers outside of major cities, along with those that deliver specialist services.”
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