Healthy North Coast is proud to support the Australian Government’s Strengthening Medicare – General Practice Grants Program as one of the 31 Primary Health Network (PHN) organisations entrusted with administering the grants in the local region. Eligible general practices in the North Coast area can apply for one-time grants of $25,000, $35,000, or $50,000 based on their practice size. GP practices not currently accredited against the RACGP standards will be eligible for $25,000.
Application packs will be sent out by Healthy North Coast over the next two weeks, and general practices have until 5pm on June 15, 2023, to submit their applications. The grants aim to provide much-needed funding for improvements in digital health, infection prevention and control, and general practice accreditation.
‘We understand the growing pressure faced by our general practice and AMS staff in meeting the healthcare needs of our community,” said Monika Wheeler, Chief Executive of Healthy North Coast.
‘Our region has weathered multiple challenges, from managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters, and our primary health services have risen to the occasion time and time again.’
Ms Wheeler added that the Strengthening Medicare grants will enable general practices to invest in technologies that enhance the connectivity of the health system, improve infection control processes to minimise risk for patients, and support quality and patient safety in general practices.
‘While our general practice staff welcomed the 2022 announcement and will undoubtedly benefit from the funding, it is ultimately our community members who will reap the greatest rewards,’ Ms Wheeler explained.
‘The grants will help us to enhance patient experience, provide safer health services through improved infection control, and ensure quality and patient safety in our general practices.’
In addition, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) are also eligible to apply for Strengthening Medicare grant funding through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).
Healthy North Coast encourages all eligible general practices in the North Coast region to take advantage of this opportunity to access much-needed funding and make meaningful improvements to their healthcare services.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
