National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program

What is the program?

This program funds aged care services to:

• meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• allow them to remain close to home and community

Most of these services are in rural and remote areas.

Aged care service providers and organisations can apply for funding through grant rounds. 

To find out more about these services for yourself or an older person you care for, go to support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Why is the program important?

We want older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to feel culturally safe when they receive aged care.

This means we need aged care services that:

• recognise, respect and support their unique cultural identity
• meet their needs, wants and rights

What services does the program provide?

The program funds residential and home care services that are:

• flexible
• culturally appropriate
• acceptable to and accessible by the community

Most services under this program are in rural and remote areas.

How does the program work?

Service providers must:

• deliver a mix of aged care services that meets community needs
• follow policies and practices that support culturally appropriate care
• help people to stay connected with their family and community
• support individual interests, customs, beliefs and cultural backgrounds

To give culturally appropriate care, providers may do various things like:

• have buildings suited to cultural activities and ceremonies
• provide access to bushland gardens
• employ Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples to provide care
• include the local community in aged care planning
• respect cultural traditions, such as men’s and women’s business

Read the program manual and the exit pathway to find out more.

How do you apply for funding?

We advertise funding rounds on Grant Connect. To get automatic emails about new grant listings, register as a Grant Connect user.

Our funding rounds may be open to all organisations or targeted to certain organisations. We hold targeted funding rounds when there is a need for specialised services or services in a certain location.

Find out more about the entry pathway into the program.

Who works with us on the program?

The Department of Health manages and develops policy for the program. We also organise grant rounds and funding for the program.

Funded aged care service providers deliver the services.

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