Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure: Residential Aged Care Home Support Grant Program

Overview

The grant program is part of the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure, Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS) Outcome 2.3 Pharmaceutical Benefits, which responds to recommendation 38 of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, that aged care providers should actively seek to engage allied health practitioners, including pharmacists, by 1 July 2024. The Measure provides funding to community pharmacies and residential aged care homes (RACHs) to employ on-site pharmacists to work in RACHs. On-site pharmacists will: review medications to reduce medication related harm, work with RACH staff to improve health outcomes of residents and build confidence with families/carers, and support aged care providers to meet many of the Aged Care Quality Standards. Participation in the Measure is voluntary.  Aged care is a key priority for Primary Health Networks (PHNs) commissioning. The grant program provides funding for PHNs to assist RACHs to engage aged care on-site pharmacists to work in a clinical role to improve medication management for residents. The program objectives are to: increase uptake of aged care on-site pharmacists by RACHs around Australia and improve access to aged care on-site pharmacists in RACHs. The intended program outcomes are improved medication management and safety in RACHs, and integration of aged care on-site pharmacists with the RACH health care team.  To view the grant opportunity documents, please select the red "Grant Opportunity Documents" button on the left-hand side.