The Albanese Government, through Cancer Australia, will open the 2025 grant round of the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program.
First Nations people are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and are approximately 40 per cent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. Addressing long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within cancer services is crucial to improving outcomes and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access care, supported by local expertise.
The grant program will invest up to $18 million over three years (2024-25 to 2026-27) to support partnerships between mainstream cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to improve the delivery of culturally safe cancer care.
This program aims to ensure communities receive high-quality cancer care in ways that are culturally safe and tailored to meet local needs, aligned with the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.
Improving the delivery of culturally safe cancer care builds on the Albanese Government’s commitment to close the gap in First Nations cancer outcomes and experiences. The program aims to address long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within mainstream health services where specialist cancer care is delivered to ensure First Nations people can access and complete high-quality treatments and experience better outcomes.
The grant program strengthens partnerships between cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations. These partnerships will empower local communities to guide health services in providing culturally accessible and responsive care across the cancer care continuum.
Individual grants of up to $700,000 over two years (2025-26 to 2026-27) are available in the 2025 grant round to support mainstream cancer services working collaboratively with community-controlled organisations to develop and implement culturally safe, accessible and community-informed cancer care.
Applications are open now until 3 February 2026.
For more information on the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program and other Cancer Australia initiatives visit Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes | Cancer Australia
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister the Hon Rebecca White MP:
“This investment demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by supporting services that deliver care in a way that respects and reflects culture and community.
“Through this program, we are investing not only in better cancer care but in stronger partnerships between health services and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. These collaborations are essential to ensuring care is culturally safe, community-led, and responsive to people’s needs.”
Quotes attributable to Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia:
“The Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care program aims to reduce the burden of disease by supporting innovative projects that improve access, outcomes, and culturally safe services.
“Respectful and inclusive, culturally safe care can only be achieved through genuine collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This new round of funding will support mainstream health services working closely with, and learning from, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which is key to achieving lasting and meaningful change.”
