AUSTRALIA | The Australian Government has invested another AUD 300 million as part of the second round of its Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
The Australian Government will invest a further AUD 300 million in infrastructure grants to support residential aged care services in regional, rural and remote locations, with a new round of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program now open.
This funding will help ensure that older people can access quality and safe aged care services, regardless of where they live.
Grants can be used by residential aged care providers for a range of purposes – from upgrades, extensions and new builds to delivering purpose-built staff accommodation.
Providers located in all regional, rural and remote areas (MM 2 to 7) can apply. Grants are also available to help specialist providers build and improve services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in any location, including major cities (MM 1).
The Albanese Government has continued to invest funding at unprecedented levels to support providers outside of major cities to provide older people with more comfortable and modern amenities, more liveable spaces and more appropriate cultural care.
Last year, the government delivered AUD 385 million in funding under Rounds One and Two, which supported 128 infrastructure projects nationwide, mostly in regional, rural and remote locations.
Aged Care Minister Annika Wells said that the choice to enter residential aged care shouldn’t mean a choice to leave a community.
“Older people should be able to access the care they need, regardless of where they live or what services they need. This AUD 300 million funding package will improve access to quality aged care from the regions to the bush, and for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationwide,” said Wells.
“This is also about building thriving, prosperous communities, with funded projects generating new job opportunities across the construction and care sectors.”
This announcement followed an earlier investment this week of AUD 12.5 million to tackle dementia with a funding package that will support people living with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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