Latest round of ACCAP grant opportunities now open

Applications are now open for the latest round of the federal government's Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

The Department of Health and Aged Care has made a further $300 million in infrastructure grants available to assist residential aged care facilities in regional, rural and remote areas with upgrades, new builds or staff accommodation.

The Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said “the choice to enter residential aged care shouldn’t mean a choice to leave your community.”
 
“Older people should be able to access the care they need, regardless of where they live or what services they need.
 
“This $300 million funding package will improve access to quality aged care from the regions to the bush, and for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationwide.
 
“This is also about building thriving, prosperous communities, with funded projects generating new job opportunities across the construction and care sectors.”

This is the third round of ACCAP funding the government has made available as part of an ongoing commitment to the improvement of regional, rural and remote aged care, with $966.5 million to be made available before June 30, 2028. After which, Labor has pledged to make at least $161 million available per year on an ongoing basis.

A total of $385 million in ACCAP grants were injected into the sector in 2024, helping to fund 128 projects.

In December, the Department of Health released the results of Round 2, which included $50 million dedicated to the support of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Half of that was allocated to five Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to support and improve services delivered by the National Aboriginal and Flexible Aged Care Program, an initiative designed to facilitate more culturally specific care to First Nations communities in rural and remote Australia.

Another $25 million went towards the construction of a new 100-bed aged care home for First Nations people in Perth.

The recently released report into aged care for First Nations communities by Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner Andrea Kelly highlighted the significant challenges facing older Indigenous Australians and the urgent need for accessible, high quality, responsive and culturally safe care.

ACCAP grants are available to aged care providers in regional, rural and remote locations (MM 2 to MM 7) but also for MM1 metropolitan areas if the funds will be used to provide “specialised or targeted care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

Applications close 20 May 2025 at 2pm (AEST).