About aged care worker COVID-19 leave payment grants
The government is committed to protecting older Australians in aged care, who are most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Supporting aged care workers to stay home when they test positive for COVID-19 reduces the spread of the virus among older people and other staff.
From 1 July 2023, Australian Government funded aged care providers and home care package providers can apply for new aged care worker COVID-19 leave payment grants of up to $750 per person per week. These grants:
- reimburse providers for leave paid to directly employed permanent or casual aged care workers
- cover employees who cannot work due to COVID-19 and have no other access to leave payments.
Who is eligible
Providers of Australian Government funded residential aged care and approved home care packages can apply for these grants, for permanent and casual aged care workers.
Providers cannot claim these grants for labour hire staff.
How the payments work – for providers
Reimbursement grant payments are paid to eligible residential and home care providers.
An eligible provider can claim a payment once every 3 months for each eligible worker they have paid, where there is no personal leave available.
Application for reimbursement will be available after 1 July 2023, and the claim periods are:
|
Claim period |
Dates covered |
Submission date |
|---|---|---|
|
One |
1 Apr 2023 to 30 Jun 2023 |
On or after 1 Jul 2023 and before 31 Mar 2024 |
|
Two |
1 Jul 2023 to 30 Sep 2023 |
On or after 1 Oct 2023 and before 31 Mar 2024 |
|
Three |
1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023 |
On or after 1 Jan 2024 and before 31 Mar 2024 |
How the payments work – for aged care workers
Individual aged care workers cannot apply directly for the payments.
You must discuss any leave requirements with your employer.
If you work for more than one provider, you must nominate an employer to receive the payment from, if approved. You cannot receive payments from multiple providers.
How much are the payments
Where the eligible worker has tested positive to COVID-19 and lost:
- at least 8 hours but less than 20 hours of work per week, a worker may be eligible for a payment of $450
- more than 20 hours of work per week, the worker may be eligible for a payment of up to $750.
How to claim
Aged care providers can apply through GrantConnect from 1 July 2023.
As part of the application, you must submit evidence showing:
- you have paid the worker for leave because of COVID-19 illness
- the worker had exhausted all other leave options.
The provider will receive the reimbursement payment once we approve the application.
More information will be available on the GrantConnect website once details are finalised.