Financial support

Farmers’ Drought Fund

This program delivers additional drought support for farm families and communities under two components.

Household Financial Relief – is provided through the CWA of Victoria's Drought Relief program

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of Victoria is providing household financial relief up to a maximum of $3,000 per individual applicant and/or household and is available for farming families, farm workers and contractors that are drought-affected and reliant on farming as their primary source of income.

This program is open to eligible farming families, farm workers and contractors in the following locations:

Wellington and East Gippsland

Eligible farm businesses located in Wellington Shire and East Gippsland Shire.

Far North West Victoria – Millewa

Eligible dryland farm businesses located in the far North-West corner of Victoria, generally known as the Millewa and surrounding areas.

This incorporates the following towns and locality areas in the Mildura Shire: Carwarp, Cullulleraine, Lindsay Point, Meringur, Merrinee, Neds Corner, Wargan and Werrimull.

Goulburn Murray Irrigation District

Eligible irrigation farm businesses, including those that have transitioned from irrigation production systems to dryland production since 1 July 2018, located in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID).

For more information and to access the CWA of Victoria Drought Relief program:

Visit cwaofvic.org.au/drought-relief.

Call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

$12 million for an On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant program to invest in on-farm drought preparedness and resilience, and farm business planning.

Grants of up to $10,000 per farm business are available to boost farmers’ access to professional services whilst enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure.

Eligible farm businesses can apply for:

• up to $5,000 for business decision making activities (with no-contribution required)
• up to $5,000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required)

This program is open to eligible farm businesses in the following locations:

Wellington and East Gippsland

Eligible farm businesses located in Wellington Shire and East Gippsland Shire.

Far North West Victoria – Millewa

Eligible dryland farm businesses located in the far north west corner of Victoria, generally known as the Millewa and surrounding areas.

This incorporates the following towns and locality areas in the Mildura Shire: Carwarp, Cullulleraine, Lindsay Point, Meringur, Merrinee, Neds Corner, Wargan and Werrimull.

Goulburn Murray Irrigation District

Eligible irrigation farm businesses, including those that have transitioned from irrigation production systems to dryland production since 1 July 2018, located in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID).

For more information and to access the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant program:

Call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425.

Visit ruralfinance.com.au.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

Farm Machinery Improvement Grants

The Farm Machinery Improvement Grants program assists dryland farm businesses in the Millewa region and surrounds to maintain essential on-farm machinery and equipment to meet key operational requirements and prepare for the 2020 growing season.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available per eligible dryland farm business located in the Millewa.

Eligible farm machinery includes machinery and equipment that supports cropping or grain production, including but not limited to harvesting, sowing and seeding. They may include tractors, harvesters, seeders and hay baling equipment.

Essential repairs include, but are not limited to, essential maintenance and repairs to meet safety standards, repairs to fix or replace broken/non-operational parts.

The Farm Machinery Improvement Grants program is available to dryland farm businesses in the Millewa.

This incorporates the following towns and locality areas in the Mildura Shire: Carwarp, Cullulleraine, Lindsay Point, Meringur, Merrinee, Neds Corner, Wargan and Werrimull.

Call the Victorian Farmers Federation on 1300 882 833.

Visit vff.org.au.

This program will remain open until 28 August 2020 or until program funds are fully expended.

The Victorian Government is waiving the $235 application fee for new domestic and stock bore construction licences (BCL) for landholders in eligible areas of Victoria.

This initiative will help landholders secure their domestic and stock water supply needs in areas experiencing drought and dry conditions.

The program is available to landholders in Wellington and East Gippsland shires and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District region from 2 October 2019.

For more information, or to apply for a new bore construction licence:

Visit waterregister.vic.gov.au.

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)

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 (RIC) - Drought Loan

(Australian Government)

The Australian Government has established the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).

The RIC offers a Drought Loan of up to $2 million to assist farmers to prepare for, manage and recover from the effects of drought.

Call 1800 875 675.

Visit Regional Investment Corporation.