The next Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) officially opened this week, with more than 10,000 national residential aged care places and 475 Short-Term Restorative Care places available for 2016-17.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Sussan Ley strongly encouraged existing and prospective aged care providers to apply.
“The new places being allocated this year will allow successful applicants to provide Australian Government-funded aged care services, according to the level of care needs of the client,” said Minister Ley, noting that this is the first ACAR to include Short-Term Restorative Care places.
“The Short-Term Restorative Care Programme aims to reverse or slow ‘functional decline’ in older people and improve their wellbeing,” she said.
“This new care type builds on the success of the existing Transition Care Programme, which assists older people to return home after a hospital stay.”
Also being offered as part of the 2016-17 ACAR is up to $64 million in capital grants under the Rural, Regional and Other Special Needs Building Fund.
“These grants aim to encourage greater investment in areas of high need, with up to $11.5 million earmarked to support access to residential aged care for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” said Minister Ley.
All applications must be received by the Department of Health by 11:59pm (AEST) Friday 28 October, 2016. For more information, visit www.health.gov.au/