Rural aged care providers eligible for minor works grants

A new grant program to allow regional multi-purpose residential aged care providers to carry out minor capital works has opened.

The federal government program will disburse $40 million over two years to reinforce multi-purpose services (MPS) and follows recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Australia
has 179 MPS in outer regional and remote areas, in all states, the Northern
Territory and Norfolk Island, providing health and aged care services and offer
3688 flexible aged places in either residential aged care or home care
settings.

Senior Australians
and Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the minor works grants
will support MPS providers to provide better services to senior Australians
with dementia to remain in their communities, offer a more home-like and
comfortable environment, or upgrade their service to allow the delivery of
higher intensity care to people with more complex care needs.

Under the co-contribution
model, providers will be requiered to make a cash or in-kind contribution
towards each project.

Applications
for the MPS minor capital works grant round must be received on or before 11
August 2021.