The Prime Minister is set to announce today (Tuesday 1 February 2022) two new “bonus payments” for aged care workers. We’ll discuss those payments in next week’s article, once some details are available. In the meantime, here is a short summary of what we know about the payments so far, along with a recap on the other key grants and support payments currently available to residential aged care providers.

New Bonus Payments for Aged Care Workers

The Prime Minister is set to announce the details about these payments on 1 February 2022. Information released ahead of the announcement indicates that:

• two payments of up to $400 each will be paid to aged care workers in government-subsidised home care and to aged care workers providing direct care, food or cleaning services in government-subsidised residential care
• the first payment will be made in February 2022
• the payments are intended as an incentive to keep aged care workers in the industry.

More information: ABC News: Aged care workers to receive two payments to help retain staff amid COVID outbreaks.

Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment

Under this scheme, three payments are available to registered nurses who work in residential aged care:

Standard 12-month payment: the 12-month payment is available to registered nurses who work for the same employer over the following time periods:

• 1 November 2021 – 31 October 2022
• 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2023

Full-time nurses can receive $3,700. Payments for part-time/casual nurses will be determined on a pro rata basis.

Standard six-month payment: The six-month payment is available to registered nurses who work for the same employer for the following time periods:

• 1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022
• 1 May 2023 – 31 October 2023

Full-time nurses can receive $1,850 (half of the 12-month payment). Payments for part-time/casual nurses will be determined on a pro rata basis.

Additional Payment: an additional payment per year of up to $2,300* is available to registered nurses who are eligible for the 12-month or six-month payment above, and meet one of these criteria:

• work in a rural or remote area (classified MMM 3-7)
• hold a relevant formal postgraduate qualification (Graduate Certificate or higher)
• take on additional leadership or training responsibilities in their workplace.

*$1,150 for nurses who received the six-month standard payment; pro rata for part-timers and casuals.

How to Apply: After the closing date for each eligibility period, aged care providers will apply for the payment on behalf of eligible staff. The provider will then provide the payments as part of the nurse’s salary.

Other Factors: Registered nurses who work in non-direct care roles such as management are still eligible for the payments. Other direct care workers, such as personal care workers, enrolled nurses and allied health professionals are not eligible for the payment.

More information: ACE: Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Loyalty Bonus; Department of Health: Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment to reward clinical skills and leadership.

Business Improvement Fund

According to the Department of Health, “The Business Improvement Fund gives short-term grants to eligible aged care providers who are experiencing financial challenges. The grants support small to medium size providers (7 or fewer facilities) located in regional, rural and remote areas.”

Round 1 of the Fund closed on 30 April 2021. The fund paid “more than $100 million to support over 200 residential aged care providers to improve their operations and viability.”

Round 2 is now open. Applications close 30 March 2022. Apply via Grant Connect.

To be eligible you must be a current approved residential aged care provider that:

• has operational residential aged care facilities in Australia including all NATSIFAC residential providers, and local government residential providers
• has received and submits independent business advice (either from the Commonwealth-funded, Business Advisory Services Program, other independent business advisory service or has had a review conducted by the Department of Health’s Financial Monitoring program). If your business advisory report is more than 12 months old it will need to be updated.

More information: Department of Health: Structural Adjustment Program.

COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant (GO4863)

According to the Department of Health, “the COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant reimburses providers for additional eligible costs incurred in managing a direct impact of COVID‑19. The grant has now been extended to 30 June 2022.”

Providers are eligible to apply if they have:

• one or more residents, clients or staff members who have had a COVID-19 test and been required to isolate as result (regardless of whether the result is positive or negative)
• incurred eligible expenses during that period of isolation (from the date of an associated COVID-19 test until the period of isolation ends) between 28 May 2021 and 30 June 2022.

Applications are open now and close 30 June 2022. Apply via Grant Connect.

More information: Department of Health: Additional support available under COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension Grant (GO4863).