More than 900 additional First Nations people in remote Australia will have access to residential and home aged care services close to family, home or country, thanks to Morrison Government funding.
The Government is providing $105.7 million to expand the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) program – a 2018–19 Budget initiative.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, today announced the first round of expansion funding under this program – up to $46 million to increase the number of home care places delivered through the NATSIFAC program in remote and very remote areas.
"Aged care providers are invited to apply for funding under the expanded NATSIFAC program’s first grants round, which is designed to improve access to culturally-safe aged services in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," Minister Wyatt said.
"The program funds service providers to provide flexible, culturally-appropriate aged care to older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people close to home and community. Service providers can deliver a mix of residential and home care services in accordance with the needs of the community."
The program is being expanded progressively over the next four years.
"Home care enables senior Australians receiving aged care to live independently in their own homes and familiar surroundings for as long as possible," Minister Wyatt said.
"This initiative is about flexibility and stability. It is improving access to aged care for older people living in remote and very remote locations, and enables more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to receive culturally-safe aged care services close to family, home or country, rather than having to relocate hundreds of kilometres away.
"At the same time, it helps build the viability of remote aged care providers through funding certainty."
Applicants can apply for new or additional home care places under the NATSIFAC program or approved providers can apply to convert their existing Home Care Packages, administered under the Aged Care Act 1997, to home care places under the NATSIFAC program.
Applications close on 26 November 2018.
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