The Albanese Government, through Cancer Australia, will open the 2025 grant round of the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program.
First Nations people are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and are approximately 40 per cent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. Addressing long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within cancer services is crucial to improving outcomes and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access care, supported by local expertise.
The grant program will invest up to $18 million over three years (2024-25 to 2026-27) to support partnerships between mainstream cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to improve the delivery of culturally safe cancer care.
This program aims to ensure communities receive high-quality cancer care in ways that are culturally safe and tailored to meet local needs, aligned with the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.
Improving the delivery of culturally safe cancer care builds on the Albanese Government's commitment to close the gap in First Nations cancer outcomes and experiences. The program aims to address long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within mainstream health services where specialist cancer care is delivered to ensure First Nations people can access and complete high-quality treatments and experience better outcomes.
The grant program strengthens partnerships between cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations. These partnerships will empower local communities to guide health services in providing culturally accessible and responsive care across the cancer care continuum.
Individual grants of up to $700,000 over two years (2025-26 to 2026-27) are available in the 2025 grant round to support mainstream cancer services working collaboratively with community-controlled organisations to develop and implement culturally safe, accessible and community-informed cancer care.
Applications are open now until 3 February 2026.
