Future Drought Fund
Recognising that drought is an enduring feature of the Australian landscape with significant economic, social and environmental impacts, in 2020 the Australian Government established the Future Drought Fund (FDF). The Fund provides $100 million a year in secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives that help farms and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.
The Victorian Government is partnering with the Australian Government to deliver two programs, the Farm Business Resilience program and the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program.
Farm Business Resilience program
The Farm Business Resilience program provides farmers with the opportunity to develop a plan for their farm business. Participants will improve their skills and knowledge to better prepare for and manage risk, adapt change and strengthen their farm business’ resilience.
For more information on the Farm Business Resilience program, visit the Farm Business Resilience Program web page.
Regional Drought Resilience Planning program
The Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) program is delivering 9 regional drought resilience plans across Victoria by working collaboratively with a broad range of regional stakeholders, including local governments, regional organisations, the agricultural sector and local drought resilience adoption and innovation hubs.
Each plan identifies the actions needed to improve regional drought resilience. As there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building drought resilience, the program supports regions to develop drought resilience plans that reflect their own regional landscapes, communities and economies.
The plans build on existing planning, identify actions to prepare for future droughts, and draw out regional needs and priorities to inform future investment.
Three plans are published and now available through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund pages.
- Wimmera Southern Mallee Drought Resilience Plan
- Gippsland Drought Resilience Plan
- Goulburn Drought Resilience Plan
There are 6 regions to publish regional drought resilience plans, including Barwon, Great South Coast, Central Highlands, Mallee, Loddon Campaspe and Ovens Murray.
Following plan publication, an implementation grants program commences, awarding a $380,000 grant to a regional organisation to kick-start implementation of plan actions.
In early 2024 the following organisations were successful and are now working to coordinate and deliver some priority actions identified in their plan over a 12-month period. We congratulate:
- Wimmera Southern Mallee Development
- Food & Fibre Gippsland
- Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
For further information email drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Drought Research and Adoption Program
The Drought Research and Adoption Program will support networks of researchers, primary producers and community groups to enhance drought resilience practices, tools and technology. Eight hubs across Australia have been funded for four years.
Agriculture Victoria is a member of the Victorian consortium, led by the University of Melbourne, that will host the Victorian hub.
For further information visit the Vic Drought Hub website or email info@VicDroughtHub.org.au.
Further information about each program will be published on this webpage as it becomes available.
More information on the Fund from the Australian Government is available on Future Drought Fund.
For further information about the programs in Victoria contact 136 186 or email drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
