National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program

NATSIFACP services: 

• recognise, respect and support your unique cultural identity
• meet your needs, wants and rights. 

What care does the NATSIFACP provide?

NATSIFACP services provide culturally safe care in an aged care home or in your home, depending on your needs and the needs of the community.  

Culturally safe care could include: 

• buildings suited to cultural activities and ceremonies
• access to bushland gardens
• involvement of the local community in aged care planning
• care delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• respect for cultural traditions, such as men’s and women’s business. 

Where is care provided?

The types of flexible care available through the NATSIFACP vary depending on the service and your needs. All types of care can be provided to support day-to-day tasks to help you restore or maintain your independence.

Care can be provided flexibly according to your assessed need and may include care in your home, an aged care home or the community. It could include a range of services on a permanent (ongoing) basis or provide short-term (non-ongoing) help, or respite care on an emergency or planned basis in an aged care home or in the home or community.

Aged care homes

Aged care homes support you with everyday tasks, personal care and nursing care. They provide:

• accommodation – your room and all the things that come with it, such as your furniture, equipment and bedding
• a comfortable environment and surroundings – including access to the natural environment or outdoor access and bushland gardens, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts
• services to meet your day-to-day needs – meals, laundry, social and cultural activities, cleaning, heating and cooling, and upkeep of the grounds and building
• personal and clinical care – help with bathing, eating, medications and health treatments, and special bedding, nursing, speech therapy, podiatry (foot care) and physiotherapy. 

Care in your home or community

Home is where you might feel most comfortable and be with family and friends. But as you get older, but you may need some extra help to stay at home.

Care in your home or community can be:

• clinical care – nursing, occupational therapy and podiatry
• independence – help with showering, taking medications, transport and respite care
• everyday living – cleaning, gardening, shopping and meal preparation.
• group activities – recreational activities such as bus trips, art and crafts, games, singing and dancing

It also includes services that support culturally safe care, such as help to join in cultural activities, and access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors, traditional healers and bush medicines. 

List of NATSIFACP providers 

How does NATSIFACP work?

You may be eligible if you are 50 years or older and:

• are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and
• are accepted by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community where you live or come from.  

Registering with My Aged Care via phone or face-to-face channels is the first step for accessing NATSIFACP services. You will then need to be assessed and approved for the program through a My Aged Care assessment organisation.  

When you are approved for NATSIFACP services, your provider will develop a care plan with you. It will identify your needs, preferences, goals and the types of services you’ll receive. The care plan includes a cultural support plan that describes how the provider will deliver care in a culturally safe way. These plans include strategies to maintain privacy and dignity, individual interests, customs and beliefs, independence and family connectedness. 

The provider will also draw up an agreement for you to sign. It outlines fees, start date, confidentiality and how to make a complaint or end services.

Read more about receiving a NATSIFACP assessment outcome.

What does NATSIFACP cost?

The Australian Government subsidises the cost of aged care and home support services. You may be asked to contribute to the cost of your care if you can afford it. But you will never be denied care because you can’t afford it.

How much you pay depends on your financial situation. The government sets the maximum fees for care. Any fees should be explained to you. The amount charged forms part of the agreement between the you and the service provider.  

The maximum fee charged to you should not be more than 17.5% of the annual single basic aged care pension for home care, or 85% of the annual single basic aged care pension for an aged care home.

Other support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In addition to NATSIFACP, other support is available. This includes language support such as interpreters, the Elder Care Support program, and the National Aged Care Advocacy Program.

Learn more about support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.