Claim your funding now

By Yasmin Noone

The federal government’s new health and aged care flexible funding system, announced in this year’s budget, is now open for business.

As of yesterday, all health and aged care organisations will now have to apply for new money through any of the six flexible funding streams which form part of the new system.

Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, said the new grants system will enable the majority of grant holders to move to a single agreement with the Department of Health and Ageing, reducing their administrative and reporting burden.

She also stated that the consolidation process has not resulted in any reduction in the funding available – all existing funding has been included in the new flexible funds, and existing funding arrangements will not be affected as they will continue at least until their expiry.

“A strategic review of the administrative arrangements in the health and ageing portfolio last year recommended consolidating 159 smaller programs into 18 larger, flexible funds,” Minister Roxon said.

“Over time, the new system will enable the majority of grant holders to move to a single agreement with the department, reducing their administrative and reporting burden.

“These changes will particularly benefit funding recipients who hold grants under a number of programs and currently face separate program guidelines, different reporting requirements, and multiple contact points within the department.”

But not all organisations are happy about the changes. Alzheimer’s Australia has been campaigning against uncertainty the new system will bring the advocacy and policy body for sometime now.

Its Fight Dementia campaign, which to-date has included a march on Parliament House in Canberra and a dedicated website, aims to pressure the federal government into guaranteeing funding for the cause beyond 2013 – the year in which its current funding arrangements end and the date in which the organisation must move over to the new system and apply for money under one of the flexible funding streams.

CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia, Glenn Rees, said the introduction of the new flexible funds also means the termination of the Dementia Initiative in the 2011 budget.

“It is too soon to say whether this will result in reduced funding but elements of the Initiative already seem to have disappeared – for example, dementia research grants. What is certain is the funding for the Dementia Initiative is not guaranteed,” Mr Rees said.

“As a result the capacity to plan for dementia services is reduced and it will become difficult to address new priorities.

“Alzheimer’s Australia has adopted the Fight Dementia Campaign and has already submitted to the federal government a five-year plan to address dementia that could be funded across a number of the flexible funds as an integrated approach to addressing key priorities including early diagnosis of dementia, improve access to dementia quality care, reduce the number of people with dementia through investment in research and reduce the risk of dementia.

“The cost is $500 million over five years or a two per cent increase in expenditure.  In line with the minister’s media release, we will seek a single agreement to cut down administration and ensure a coordinated approach to the major health issue of this century.”

The six new funding streams now available include the Chronic Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Fund; Communicable Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund; Health Systems Capacity Development Fund;   Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund; Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Funds; and Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grants Fund.

Specific funding details

Chronic Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund
This fund will support targeted action on chronic disease prevention and service improvement, particularly within the primary care and community sectors.

Communicable Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund

This fund will support activities aimed at preventing blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections and promote appropriate treatment and management. The grants will support broad based health promotion activities as well as activities targeted at the specific population groups most affected by these diseases.

Health System Capacity Development Fund

This fund will support activities which assist health consumer, rural, student, professional and other organisations; build the primary care evidence-base; and/or support population health improvements.
Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund

This fund will support activities that promote healthy and active ageing, respond to existing and emerging challenges including dementia care, and better support those services targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund

This fund’s primary objective is to support prevention of substance misuse and to promote service improvement within the drug and alcohol and related sectors.

Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grants Fund

This fund’s primary objective is to better promote and support drug and alcohol treatment services across Australia to build capacity and to effectively identify and treat mental illness and substance misuse, particularly among those affected by homelessness or the risk of homelessness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and vulnerable groups including people from rural and remote locations.

For information on how to apply, visit www.health.gov.au

Applications for the flexible funds close 2.00 pm (EDST) Friday 23 December.