With the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home going live, many providers have not yet had the chance to look into the Thin Markets Grant announced this week.
What is the Thin Markets Grant?
The grant provides additional funding to Support at Home providers delivering services in regional areas, or to providers supporting specialised cohorts. There is $100m available nationally. The loading ranges from $1.42 to $25.04 per participant per day depending on location.
You can find the full grant information here:
Who is eligible?
Providers delivering Support at Home services to participants in MM3 to MM7, or those with relevant specialisation verification.
What can the funding be used for?
Funding can be used for business expenses that support viability in thin markets. This includes workforce, operational costs and investment in digital systems that improve service delivery or reduce administration.
Why this matters
For providers working across regional and rural areas, the grant may offer meaningful support at a time when costs and workforce pressures continue. In the previous round earlier this year, 321 grants were awarded nationally, averaging around $277,000 per provider. Successful applications typically receive grant agreements within twelve weeks. Applications for this round close on 14 January 2026.
We have reviewed our industry dataset and identified nearly 250 organisations that meet the criteria. Your organisation may also be eligible if you are delivering services to Support at Home participants in MM3 to MM7.
If you would like an eligibility check or some support interpreting the criteria, we are happy to help. Please drop us an email.
