Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers can now access two new major grant opportunities to help increase the availability of key services and culturally safe care for First Nations people.
The CHSP Growth Funding 2024–25 Grant Opportunity (GO6887) and CHSP First Nations Growth Funding 2024–25 Grant Opportunity (GO6888) have been launched to help expand entry-level aged care services for older people, particularly those in rural or remote areas with limited access to critical services.
The CHSP Growth Funding 2024–25 Grant Opportunity is a targeted growth round with up to $100 million available to increase the availability of domestic assistance, home maintenance, allied health and therapy, and transport services. It is available from October 1, 2024.
The Department of Health and Aged Care also hopes the Grant Opportunity will attract new providers delivering similar services under the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to the CHSP sector to create more cost-effective service delivery.
More information is available here.
Meanwhile, the CHSP First Nations Growth Funding 2024–25 Grant Opportunity will invest $10 million to expand the delivery of culturally safe CHSP services for First Nations older people. The focus is on increasing the availability of culturally safe CHSP aged care services for First Nations people provided by First Nations people.
Data shows that 14% of Australia’s First Nations population accessed home support through the CHSP in 2021-22, compared to just under 4% who had a Home Care Package (HCP).
Access to entry-level support in regional and remote communities is particularly important for First Nations people as it allows them to age independently within a culturally safe setting, surrounded by family. Many of the most remote services are provided through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFAC).
The Department said Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations with experience across aged care, disability and primary health care are eligible to apply.
Successful providers will receive a grant agreement for October 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and will be included in the 2025–2027 CHSP funding extension process. Applications close on May 31 via GrantConnect, which can be found here.
