$34 million for Dementia and Aged Care Services research

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, MP, says $34 million in grants are now being offered to eligible organisations for innovative projects that will support older Australians to access the care they need, where and when they need it.

Other priority areas for funding include better support for services targeting people from diverse backgrounds, better support for services targeting people from diverse backgrounds, developments that support innovation in aged care, support for activities that focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and capital support for activities that focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This funding will help to identify barriers that restrict access and choice for consumers in the current aged care system and make sure the special needs of consumers from diverse backgrounds are met, both appropriately and sensitively,” Minister Wyatt said.

“This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex.”

Minister Wyatt said the projects will help the aged care sector remain flexible and adapt to new needs as Australia’s population ages.

“The 2015 Intergenerational Report reveals that the number of people aged 85 years and over will grow to nearly 2 million by 2055. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also project that by 2050, around 900,000 Australians will have dementia,” Minister Wyatt points out. “These grants will help strengthen the capacity of our aged care sector, consumers and their families to prepare for future challenges.”

Successful applicants will receive funding for time-limited projects through to 30 June 2019.

Applications for the DACS Research and Innovation Funding Round are currently open and will close at 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on 20 December 2016.