Federal election threatens Support at Home funding for thin markets

A brand new grant opportunity for home care providers operating in thin markets has opened to provide financial relief for the transition to Support at Home program.

However, the grant comes with a notable caveat on the eve of an election announcement: If an election is called before the grant process finishes, the funding opportunity could be cancelled entirely.

The Australian Government initially committed $900 million last September to support eligible Home Care Package (HCP) and Short Term Restorative Care (STRC) providers with the Support at Home transition.

This included $300 million in infrastructure funding made available through the ongoing Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

The remaining $600 million would be accessible through a 2-year thin market grant to support financial viability, with funding available from July 1, 2025.

The newest grant opportunity, Support at Home Thin Markets (rural, remote and specialised) 2025-26 (GO7600) differs slightly from initial details as it is just one year of one-off funding. The total amount available is $297,400,000.

As per GrantConnect, it is open to existing HCP and STRC providers in thin markets (Modified Monash areas 3, 4,5, 6 or 7). Providers can also hold a valid Specialisation Verification for aged care services (excluding Specialisation Verification for People who live in rural or remote areas), or have submitted an application for Specialisation Verification that is pending approval.

“For providers that operate in thin markets, the costs of delivering care and services can be particularly high in regional and remote locations and / or when delivering specialised services,” the application page states.

“This grant opportunity provides 1 year of one-off funding in 2025-26, to HCP and STRC providers operating in identified thin markets (rural, remote or specialised), that is supplementary to fee-for-service revenue and can be used flexibly for appropriate business and service delivery expenses.”

Additional eligibility requirements are available here.

The new grant comes at the perfect time, with just three months remaining before Support at Home begins on July 1. Home care providers face a range of obstacles in meeting new requirements, ranging from the need to upgrade information, communication and technology (ICT) systems to strengthening processes aligned with incoming Quality Standards and the new Aged Care Act.

Unfortunately, organisations who desperately need the funding might never see it.

With many predicting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will call a Federal election on March 28, the grant opportunity features a major caveat:

“Potential grantees are advised that an election for the House of Representatives may be called before this grant process has been concluded. If an election is called and the House of Representatives is dissolved, then caretaker arrangements will apply to the business of government,” it states.

“By convention, decisions are not taken during this period that would bind an incoming government and limit its freedom of action. Consequently, potential grantees need to be aware that any grant processes which have not been concluded before the caretaker period, or which commence during the caretaker period, may experience delays in finalisation and could potentially be revised or cancelled.”

With the grant opportunity to close on April 23 at 2PM ACT local time, there is a risk that no decisions will be made before an election occurs. An election can only occur on May 3, 10 or 17.

This tight timeframe will leave home care providers hoping that any decision is made quickly, or that there is no drastic outcome that results in the loss of necessary funding.