Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services will be able to apply for funding to improve health-related infrastructure, with the Australian government committing $10 million towards upgrading health infrastructure in Indigenous communities.

It comes as the latest round of grants to eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) becomes available through the nationwide Service Maintenance Program (SMP), which aims to enhance the safety of, and access to primary health care across the country, particularly in remote and very remote communities.

The SMP is a partnership through the Australian Government's Indigenous Australians' Health Programme, co-designed with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) working with the ACCHS sector.

NACCHO chief executive Pat Turner said the funding is paramount in ensuring improved health outcomes for First Nations Austrralians and addressing priority reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

"This funding supports the critical role that ACCHOs play and the contribution they make every day in improving health outcomes for our people," Ms Turner said.

"I am pleased to see that this funding is being delivered in line with the Priority Reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, where programs and services are developed in genuine partnerships with our people and funding is invested to build the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.

"The infrastructure funding need in our sector remains a critical pressure-point and NACCHO will continue to advocate for increased funding for our sector."

Whilst aiming to deliver better access to high quality, fit for purpose, culturally appropriate health care for Indigenous Australians the scheme also provides funding for accommodation improvements to help attract and retain clinical staff in communities across Australia.

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said the current funding announcement addresses the need to modernise much ACCHS infrastructure, which is dated and in need of repair.

"The existing stock of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service infrastructure is 20-40 years old and is in significant need of repair, reconstruction or enhancement," she said.

"This funding means First Nations communities will have better access to quality healthcare in facilities which are fit for purpose and culturally appropriate."

"These important grants are in addition to a game changing $120 million investment in major capital works at community‑controlled organisations, announced by our Government at the last Joint Council On Closing The Gap."

Grant applications opened yesterday and close on 27 April, 2023.