Streamlining positive and active ageing
Organisations in the aged care sector are called on to apply for health and ageing grants under a new streamlined system which was last week announced by Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon. A strategic review of the administrative arrangements in the health and ageing portfolio last year recommended consolidating 159 smaller programs into 18 larger, flexible funds.
Organisations in the aged care sector are called on to apply for health and ageing grants under a new streamlined system which was last week announced by Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon.
A strategic review of the administrative arrangements in the health and ageing portfolio last year recommended consolidating 159 smaller programs into 18 larger, flexible funds.
The Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund would support activities promoting healthy and active ageing. The fund would also reportedly respond to existing and emerging challenges including dementia care and better support those services targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
According to Ms Roxon, the announcement came after discussions were had on how to “make it easy” for many health and ageing organisations to deliver programs that “make a real difference” to Australian communities.
“Over time, the new system will enable the majority of grant holders to move to a single agreement with the department, reducing their administrative and reporting burden,” Ms Roxon said.
“These changes will particularly benefit funding recipients who hold grants under a number of programs and currently face separate program guidelines, different reporting requirements, and multiple contact points within the department,” she added.
