Honey Bee Compensation and Industry Development Fund

Registration fees for Victorian Beekeepers are as follows:

For beekeepers with up to 5 hives:

• no charge, if you register online
• $30 if you register and pay using the paper application form

For beekeepers with more than 5 hives:

• $30 to register 6 to 50 hives
• 60 cents per hive to register 51 or more hives

In accordance with Section 67(3) of the Act, the Minister for Agriculture may make payments from the HBCIDF for the following:

• administering the provisions of the Act relating to bees, from the capital of the Fund derived from registration fees
• programs and projects for the improvement and development of the apicultural industry in Victoria.

These payments can only be made once the Minister for Agriculture has considered recommendations from the Apicultural Industry Advisory Committee.

Apicultural Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC)

Under section 70(3) of the Act, AIAC consists of a maximum 9 members appointed by the Minister for Agriculture.

The AIAC currently consists of six members who represent the:

• Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF)
• Victorian Apiarists' Association Inc. (VAA)
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change (DEECA) Formerly known as the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).

Current members of the AIAC are:

• Ms Gail Rochelmeyer (Chair) – VFF nominee
• Mr Robert Arnts - VAA nominee
• Mr Robert McDonald - VAA nominee
• Mr Ashley Smith - VAA nominee
• Dr Lisa Cowan - DEECA nominee
• Mr Marc Higgins – DEECA nominee

Apply for a grant

Applications are currently closed. 

Applications for the 2022 Livestock Biosecurity Funds grant program were open between Thursday 27 October 2022 until 11.59 pm on Friday 23 December 2022.

A total of two project applications were successful in receiving a AIAC 2022 round grant. These include:

• Conference speaker on Varroa (Victorian Apiarists' Association)
• Co-funding to support continued delivery of the National Bee Biosecurity Program in Victoria (Biosecurity Victoria, DEECA)

For the latest information on the Livestock Biosecurity Funds grant program, please visit the Agriculture Victoria website.