In?Home Care Program Funding - Application Extension

Question

Senator O'SULLIVAN: Minister, do you accept that a one-off grant does not address the underlying structural funding issues with the in-home care program? Senator Walsh: We have listened to the in-home care providers about their concerns about sustainability and some of the pressures that they're facing. We are really pleased to be able to provide this grant. It is a sustentation approach, and we understand that there's more work to do to stabilise the program. It's an incredibly important program for around 800 families who can't access early learning in other ways. As both the secretary and the deputy secretary have said, we have this large service delivery price project underway where we're looking at the costs of delivering early learning in various settings, including in isolated settings, including settings involving cohorts that are disadvantaged. That work is important; it's necessary and it will help inform future work and future decisions of government, including in relation to this program. Senator O'SULLIVAN: The window for providers to get in their application is extremely tight. I think it's a week, seven days-is that right? Ms O'Connor: That's correct. Senator O'SULLIVAN: Do you think that's sufficient? Ms Crane: We have done an industry briefing session with the respective providers and we're already seeing applications come in. They haven't raised, to my knowledge, any concerns about the timeframe that was proposed. Senator O'SULLIVAN: I haven't seen the application, so I don't know how onerous it is, but it does seem to turn around quickly. Is there scope for people if they need an extension? Can you put that on record. Ms Crane: As with all grant programs, the guidelines are set. That includes the timeframe for lodgement. It would have to be a question on notice, on whether there's any room to move on that, but the actual- Senator O'SULLIVAN: The answer might come after the due date though. That's the only problem. Ms Crane: As I said, the industry briefing sessions have not raised any concerns about the process or that timeframe. The fact that we've got applications already indicates that people are making it through that process quite quickly.

Answer

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Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000687.pdf (opens in a new tab)