$250 million to improve regional, rural and remote aged care

The Albanese Government is investing $250 million to improve access to quality aged care homes in regional, rural and remote communities through Round 2 of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

This investment will fund 52 infrastructure projects to upgrade or build new aged care homes outside of major cities and enhance cultural care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

52 projects will receive funding to deliver more than 400 additional beds and provide for higher needs like dementia care.

The ACCAP grants will also directly support not-for-profit providers and small community-based operators to modernise their aged care homes and create employment opportunities.

$50 million is allocated specifically to support older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, including:

• $25 million to support 5 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver quality care under the National Aboriginal and Flexible Aged Care Program across regional and remote Australia
• $25 million to build a new 100-bed aged care home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Perth, a first of its kind for this region.

This $250 million dollar investment builds on the $134.9 million allocated in Round 1 to support 76 infrastructure projects, mostly in rural and remote locations.

For more information about the ACCAP grants, future rounds and funded projects, visit: www.health.gov.au/accap  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:

“Older Australians deserve access to safe and quality aged care services—regardless of where they live.
 
“Round 2 of ACCAP will help rural and remote aged care providers to deliver appropriate cultural care and create more home-like environments, with comfortable and modern amenities, more liveable spaces and fewer shared rooms.

“The Albanese Government continues to invest grant funding at unprecedented levels to support aged care providers outside of major cities, along with those that deliver specialist services.”