4.4 - Discretionary Grant Programs

The Department administers funds for a number of discretionary grant programs. Discretionary grants are payments where the Portfolio Minister or paying agency has the discretion to determine whether or not a particular applicant receives funding and may or may not impose conditions in return for the grant. The payment can be made to an organisation or individual. This definition includes program grants as well as ad-hoc and one-off payments and excludes:

• service agreements, which are treated as contracts rather than grants;
• intra-Commonwealth government funding;
• payments to states and other government agencies;
• Specific Purpose Payments, inter-government transfers;
• payments to overseas aid organisations;
• Government income support programs;
• emergency payment programs;
• grants under commercial industry development programs (including increasing research and development, and assisting exporters);
• grant programs specifically for educational institutions and medical research institutions;
• grants approved by Commonwealth bodies outside the General Government Sector; and
• payments of a specific sum of money or fixed percentage of shared funding to an organisation or individual that are made according to a Cabinet Decision, a letter from the Prime Minister, or a determination of a Ministerial Council.

During 2006–07, the Department committed funding through 1,839 discretionary grants totalling $446.0 million. This is an increase from 2005–06 of 11.6 per cent. The largest variance is located within Outcome 8 – Indigenous Health, which has increased funding by $39.1 million or 12.0 per cent. The increase is due to the roll-out of a number of new initiatives and capital works projects associated with the expansion and enhancement of Indigenous Health. Other variations are primarily due to reclassification of grant programs as discretionary following clarification with the Department of Finance and Administration on the application of the Discretionary Grant guidelines. These larger variations can be located at Outcomes 5, 6, 10 and 15.

Table 4.4.1: Discretionary Grant Payments by Outcome and Program Groups in 2006–07

Outcome	Outcome Description and Program Group	Total Expensed for 2006–07 $
Outcome 1 - Population Health	The incidence of preventable mortality, illness and injury in Australians is minimised
	Chronic Disease – Early Detection and Prevention	300,000
	Communicable Disease Control	3,976,482
	Drug Strategy	7,774,835
	Immunisation	292,000
	Public Health	791,895
	Outcome 1 Total	13,135,212
Outcome 2 - Access to Pharmaceutical Services	Australians have access to cost-effective medicines
	Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness	591,430
	Outcome 2 Total	591,430
Outcome 3 - Access to Medical Services	Australians have access to cost-effective medical services
	Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision	1,584,304
	Outcome 3 Total	1,584,304
Outcome 4 – Aged Care and Population Ageing	Older Australians enjoy independence, good health and wellbeing. High quality, cost-effective care is accessible to frail older people, and their carers are supported.
	Ageing Information and Support	97,680
	Community Care	134,613
	Culturally Appropriate Aged Care	5,015,553
	Residential Care	29,448,570
	Outcome 4 Total	34,696,416
Outcome 5 - Primary Care	Australians have access to high quality, well-integrated and cost-effective primary care
	Primary Care Education and Training	232,100
	Primary Care Financing, Quality and Access	600,273
	Primary Care Policy, Innovation and Research	373,990
	Outcome 5 Total	1,206,363
Outcome 6 - Rural Health	Improved health outcomes for Australians living in regional, rural and remote locations
	Rural Health Services	5,500
	Outcome 6 Total	5,500
Outcome 8 - Indigineous Health	Improved access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to effective primary health care and substance use services and population health programs
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health	364,021,985
	Outcome 8 Total	364,021,985
Outcome 10 - Health System Capacity and Quality	The capacity and quality of the health care system meet the needs of Australians
	Chronic Disease – Treatment	622,713
	e-Health Implementation	19,255,212
	Health Information	4,844,981
	Palliative Care and Community Assistance	4,384,791
	Research Capacity	100,000
	Outcome 10 Total	29,207,697
Outcome 12 – Health Workforce Capacity	Australians have access to an enhanced health workforce
	Rural Workforce	177,666
	Workforce	80,514
	Outcome 12 Total	258,180
Outcome 15 – Biosecurity and Emergency Response	Australia’s health system has coordinated arrangements to respond effectively to national health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, terrorism and natural disasters
	Health Emergency Planning and Response	50,269
	Surveillance	654,523
	Outcome 15 Total	704,792
Departmental
	Departmental grants are generally for promotional activities:
	Outcome 1 - Population Health	550,000
	Outcome 13 - Acute Care	35,000
	Departmental Total	585,000
	Total Administered and Departmental	445,996,879