Today the National Cabinet agreed on temporary funding to support Aged Care providers, residents, staff and families.

Building on the package of measures announced last week, additional funding of $444.6 million is expected to strengthen the industry, with specific mechanisms to reinforce the aged care workforce.

It will include:

• $234.9 million for a COVID-19 ‘retention bonus’ to ensure the continuity of the workforce for aged care workers in both residential and home care.
• This will mean a payment of up to $800 after tax per quarter – paid for two quarters – for direct care workers.
• Two payments of up to $600 after tax per quarter – for two quarters – for those who provide care in the home.
• Payments will be delivered to providers to pay their workers and part-time workers will be paid a pro-rata rate.
• $78.3 million in additional funding for residential care to support continuity of workforce supply.
• $26.9 million for a temporary 30 per cent increase to the Residential and Home Care Viability Supplements and the Homeless Supplement. This includes equivalent viability funding increases for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers, Multi-Purpose Services and homeless providers.
• $92.2 million in additional support to home care providers and organisations which deliver the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, operating services including meals on wheels. This will include services for people in self-isolation such as shopping and meal delivery.
• $12.3 million to support the My Aged Care service to meet the surge in aged care specific COVID-19 enquiries, allowing for additional staff to minimise call wait times.

Read more:

Measures to support Senior Australians and those who care for them