You are here: Home > Agriculture > Farm management > Managing for and during drought > Dry seasons support > Financial support

Financial support

Dry season support

Support	Description	More information
Small Business Financial Counselling	One counsellor appointed for one year to support non-agricultural small businesses impacted by drought in Central and East Gippsland.	Call the Eastern Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1300 045 747.
Small Business workshops and bus	Planning workshops and mobile mentor services to support small businesses in Central and East Gippsland.	Call Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.
Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)	Additional funding to support the RFCS provide free financial counselling to farmers and small related businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship. Counsellors can assist applicants to apply for the Farm Household Allowance.	Call 1800 686 175 (toll free) or call: Western RFCS 1300 735 578 Eastern RFCS 1300 045 747 North East RFCS 1300 834 775 North West RFCS 1300 769 489 or visit our Rural Financial Counselling Service page.
Farm Household Allowance (Australian Government)^	The Australian Government makes an income support payment available to eligible farmers and their families experiencing financial hardship.	Call 132 316 or visit the Human Services website.
Farmer Assistance Hotline (Australian Government)	Information on the Australian Government's support services available to farmers and rural communities.	Call 132 316 or visit the Human Services website.
Farm Debt Mediation	The scheme makes it compulsory for banks and other creditors to offer mediation to farmers before commencing debt recovery proceedings on farm mortgages.	Call the Agriculture Victoria Information Line on 136 186 or visit our Farm Debt Mediation page. Email: farm.debt@ecodev.vic.gov.au
Regional Investment Corporation Farm Business Concessional Loans (Australian Government) ^	The Australian Government has established the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC). From 1 July 2018, farmers will need to apply to the RIC for the Australian Government’s farm business concessional loans. The RIC will offer two loan products for eligible farm businesses in Victoria: Drought Loans and Farm Investment Loans	Call 1800 875 675 or visit Regional Investment Corporation.

^ Eligibility criteria and loan amounts have recently changed.