4.4 Discretionary Grants

The Department funds a number of discretionary grant programs. Discretionary grants are payments where the portfolio Minister or paying agency has discretion in determining 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 and is provided without expectation of a service to the Government in return for the grant. 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.

In 2007–08, discretionary grants were funded under the following outcomes and program groups. Information on funding to recipients by program group is available on the Department’s internet site, at <www.health.gov.au>.

Table 4.4.1: Discretionary Grant Payments by Outcome and Program Group in 2007–08

Outcome	Program Group
Outcome 1 - Population Health The incidence of preventable mortality, illness and injury in Australians is minimised	1.1 Chronic Disease - Early Detection and Prevention 1.2 Communicable Disease Control 1.3 Drug Strategy 1.6 Public Health
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	4.1 Aged Care Assessment 4.2 Aged Care Workforce 4.3 Ageing Information and Support 4.4 Community Care 4.5 Culturally Appropriate Aged Care 4.8 Residential Care
Outcome 5 - Primary Care Australians have access to high quality, well-integrated and cost-effective primary care	5.1 Primary Care Education and Training 5.2 Primary Care, Financing, Quality and Access 5.3 Primary Care, Policy, Innovation and Research
Outcome 6 - Rural Health Improved health outcomes for Australians living in regional, rural and remote locations	6.1 Rural Health Services
Outcome 8 - Indigenous Health Improved access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to effective primary health care and substance use services and population health programs	8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Outcome 10 - Health System Capacity and Quality The capacity and quality of the health care system meets the needs of Australians	10.1 Chronic Disease - Treatment 10.2 e-Health Implementation 10.3 Health Information 10.5 Palliative Care and Community Assistance
Outcome 12 - Health Workforce Capacity Australians have access to an enhanced health workforce	12.2 Workforce
Outcome 14 - 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 disaster	14.1 Health Emergency Planning and Response
Outcome 15 - Development of a Stronger and Internationally Competitive Australian Sports Sector and Encouragement of Greater Participation in Sport by All Australians	15.1 Sport and Recreation
Departmental Departmental grants are generally for promotional activities. Outcome 7 - Hearing Services	7.1 Hearing Services

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