What is the DACS Fund?
The DACS Fund supports activities that respond to existing and emerging challenges in aged care, including:
- dementia care
- better support services targeting people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds
- special measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The Australian Government administers DACS funding for both:
- ongoing programs
- targeted, one-off community-led activities
Open processes are advertised on our grants and tenders page and GrantConnect. There are no current funding rounds open for the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund.
Why is the DACS Fund important?
The DACS Fund helps the aged care sector respond to the challenges arising from aged care reforms.
The DACS Fund:
- builds capacity in aged care to respond to these existing and emerging challenges
- better coordinates and aligns all Australian Government-funded dementia programs, making them more effective
- helps the Australian Government inform itself on aged care issues and policy development
What is the DACS Fund for?
The DACS Fund aims to support older Australians who are sick or living with medical conditions. It helps them to access appropriate care provided through the Australian Government-funded aged care system.
The DACS Fund priority areas include:
- older Australians with dementia and people at risk of dementia
- older Australians with diverse social and cultural care needs who are sick or experiencing or living with medical conditions
- special measures targeted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- activities that help the Australian Government inform itself about aged care
DACS funding is used for:
- several ongoing programs
- various targeted one-off community-led activities that meet DACS Fund aims, objectives and priorities
Who is the DACS Fund for?
We fund groups that align with the DACS Fund’s priority areas. These may include, but are not limited to:
- workforce groups providing services to older people, including health, allied health, and staff in aged care services
- people with dementia and their families and carers
- aged care providers, including those providing services to older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- researchers and academic organisations
- peak bodies
- advocacy groups who work with people living with dementia
DACS eligibility
Each grant round will have its own requirements. Check each grant’s opportunity guidelines for its eligibility requirements.
Who is involved in managing the program?
The Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians has overall responsibility for the DACS Fund.
The Department of Health and Aged Care manages the grants process and administers the funds.
If we invite applications for grants, a departmental delegate makes the final decision on proposals for activities in consultation with the Minister.
How does the DACS Fund work?
DACS grants are administered through the Community Grants Hub.
We:
- monitor the progress of DACS funding against policy outcomes to advise future policy development
- deliver DACS Fund grant processes according to the requirements of the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017
To apply, an entity would:
- read and follow the grant opportunity guidelines
- complete an application pack specific to their grant funding round
Our decision on who we award the funds to is based on:
- alignment with the aims and priorities of the DACS Fund
- value for money
- sustainability and scalability of the grant activity
- the submission containing a strong evaluation component
- the capability and capacity of the applicant to undertake the grant activity.
Funded projects
To see all funded projects, search for DACS on GrantConnect.
Contact
Aged care grants contact