Government pledges $221 million for First Nations aged care
The Federal Government will invest millions into helping First Nations Elders access aged care, with $106 million to provide face-to-face support and $115 million to build culturally safe aged care facilities over four years.
In conjunction with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Government will work with Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations to help older First Nations people and their families navigate finding suitable aged care, with a workforce of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people across Australia providing this support.
Additionally, four National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) services in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland will receive money to build purpose-built, culturally safe aged care facilities.
“A First Nations workforce that supports older First Nations people will enable a system that is more accessible and better able to focus on the aged care service needs of our diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The program will also deliver cultural safety guidance to providers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
According to Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, First Nations people frequently experience barriers to aged care.
“Lack of culturally safe care, a complex system, ongoing trauma, and social and economic disadvantages all contribute to older First Nations people accessing aged care services at a rate lower than needed.
