Financial Assistance

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Financial Assistance for Victoria's Drought Affected Farmers

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Exceptional Circumstances (EC)
Eligible farmers in EC declared areas can access income support payments, business interest rate subsidies (full EC only) and the Victorian Government’s EC municipal rates subsidy.

Fact Sheets, maps of areas covered by EC declarations and the relevant dates can be viewed at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (external link).
To access EC support farmers need a certificate that their farm is in an eligible area. These are available via Centrelink Drought Assistance (external link) on 132 316.
For information on EC income support contact Centrelink Drought Assistance (external link) on 132 316.
For information on EC business interest rate subsidies (full EC only) contact the Rural Finance Corporation (external link) on 03 5448 2600.
For information on the Victorian EC municipal rate subsidy contact DPI on 136 186.

Financial Counselling
Financial counselling is available from one of Victoria’s Rural Financial Counselling services. Rural Financial Counsellors can provide free, independent financial assessment for farming families and small rural businesses. This includes services for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The Victorian Government has funded (Future Farming Statement) three additional financial counsellors in northern Victoria.
For information on Rural Financial Counselling in your area contact DPI on 136 186 or visit the Rural Financial Counselling Service Programme (external link).

Financial Support for Beekeepers
Information on financial support with a specific emphasis on beekeepers (PDF 38KB).

Utility Concessions
Eligible low-income households may also be able to access concessions on their utility bills. For eligibility information contact the Department of Human Services on 1800 658 521 or at DHS Concessions (external link).

How do regions apply for exceptional circumstances?
DPI will provide advice and information to industries, communities or local government regions who are preparing EC applications for consideration by the Federal Government. Information on EC applications is available at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (external link) or by contacting DPI on 136 186.

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