Our work

Signed by all Australian governments, the 2020–25 Addendum to National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) aims to improve health outcomes for all Australians and ensure our health system is sustainable.

This program funds Primary Health Networks to engage culturally appropriate mental health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This scholarship scheme encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake undergraduate or graduate entry studies in pharmacy at an Australian university.

Accelerated Research has been consolidated into the Emerging Priorities and Consumer-Driven Research initiative under the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan. This initiative supported researchers working to develop new treatments and cures for debilitating conditions, in areas of identified unmet need.

The Active ingredient prescribing (AIP) initiative helps ensure consistent information about prescription medicines is used when health practitioners prescribe and dispense medicines for their patients.

Trachoma still occurs in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We work with the affected states and territories to identify, treat and prevent this condition. We also report to the World Health Organization’s program to eradicate trachoma across the world.

Each year, the AST Program supports 15 advanced skills posts for general practitioner (GP) registrars, rural generalist (RG) registrars and fellowed RGs or GPs. Learn about the program, who is eligible, and how to participate.

The After Hours Review investigated the need for primary care after‐hours services, the current state of these services, and successful models. The final report provides options for immediate improvements and longer-term reform.

The Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) provides grants to build, extend, or upgrade aged care services or to build staff accommodation where older Australians have limited or no access.

We are digitising, modernising, automating and better connecting aged care to streamline work for providers, and to give older people, their families and carers control over their care. This work, under the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029, supports major reforms to improve aged care.

This framework sets out how our aged care system can meet the diverse needs of all older Australians. It includes action plans for government, aged care providers and consumers. It also provides resources to help providers meet the goals of the framework.

This program provides Diploma of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing, and Master of Nursing (Graduate entry) students with high-quality clinical placements in the care and support sector.

We provide access to funding for community pharmacies and residential aged care homes to employ on-site pharmacists to work in residential aged care homes.

An independent capability review looked at whether the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) has what it needs to effectively regulate the aged care sector. The Australian Government is considering the review’s recommendations.

We are making changes to aged care. Our vision is to deliver the highest quality person-centred care for older people, where and when they need it.

Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia is a new research centre funded to conduct research with aged care workers, providers, researchers and people who use aged care services. Findings will be used to create innovative solutions for the aged care sector to ensure best possible care.

These trials explored different ways of helping people understand and engage with the aged care system. Lessons from these trials have helped us decide the best way to support people to navigate aged care.

The scheme involves volunteers visiting older people to provide friendship and companionship. Find out how it works, how to become a volunteer and how to request a visit.

People with intellectual disability can get a health assessment once a year that is supported by Medicare. The annual health assessment helps identify unmet health needs and preventable conditions.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to human and animal health and is happening now. The more we use antibiotics, the more chances bacteria have to become resistant to them and are harder to treat. We all need to take action to preserve antibiotics and reduce the threat of AMR.

This program supports patients who face extra costs to preserve their fertility (for future treatment such as IVF) because they have cancer or are at risk of passing on a genetic condition. It provides funding to help with the cost of freezing eggs, sperm or embryos (cryostorage).

The Australian Brain Cancer Mission is investing $126.4 million to support research into brain cancer. It aims to double the survival rates and improve the quality of life of patients with brain cancer.

The Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program aims to ensure all people with cancer have access to high quality and culturally safe care.

We are establishing an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to improve our response to public health emergencies.

We are linking data in the Australian Immunisation Register with other Australian Government datasets as part of the Person Level Integrated Data Asset. This combined data can help answer important policy and research questions on immunisation in Australia. Learn more about this project.