Government Initiatives and Support Services for Victoria's Drought Affected Farmers

There are a range of Government Initiatives to support farmers in times of need. These include Exceptional Circumstances provisions, specific drought-support initiatives and other general support services. At all times farmers have free access to both personal and financial counselling services. The Guide to Services provides an overview of services with specific contact details to aid people accessing drought related support in Victoria. More detail on individual initiatives is below. To view the Adobe Acrobat files below, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader (external link). New Initiatives - October 2009 Farm Improvement Grants - Provides a grant to implement business improvements for eligible farm businesses that receive Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payments from Centrelink.

Municipal Rate Subsidy - Provides a subsidy of up to 30% on municipal rates and charges payable by eligible farmers who receive Emergency Payments (EPs) or EC Relief Payments (ECRPs) from Centrelink.

Water Rate Rebate - Provides water rate relief for farmers who are receiving less than 30% allocation of their entitlement on 1 December 2009.

Drought Extension Support - Provides advice and information for farm businesses in the Northern Irrigation Region with essential decision-making including targeted advice for the dairy industry.

Drought Apprentice Retention Bonus (DARB IV) - Provides support for the retention of apprentices employed in businesses that are located in EC areas and derive the majority of their income from primary production or servicing primary producers.

Transition Support Service - Provides an intensive and personalised case management support service (life coaching) to farmers accessing the Rural Financial Counselling Services (RFCS) in northern Victoria.

Ongoing Initiatives

Horticulture Grower 1-2-1 Business Advisory Program - Provides one-on-one business support services to horticultural producers in the Sunraysia and Goulburn Valley districts. This service is available to all horticultural producers and is free.

Drought Relief for Community Sport and Recreation Program (external link) - Provides grants to help local communities maintain local community sport and develop sustainable approaches to water management of sports grounds and other sport and recreation facilities.

Synthetic Surfaces Program (PDF 35KB) - Will provide funding for strategically placed and targeted “drought proof” playing and training surfaces to allow a regional sporting competition to continue regardless of availability of water.

Planning for Change (PDF 25KB) - This initiative will support industries and local communities to identify consequences of drought and to deliver solutions to local challenges.

Rural Women, Drought and Climate Change initiative - Community Engagement Officers with a focus on women and drought have been appointed in five rural regions in the Department of Planning and Community Development Local Teams. More information is available at the Rural Women's Network (external link).

Case Management Approach (PDF 40KB) - Extending the case management approach to supporting farmers through drought and adjustment (including those culturally and linguistically diverse clients).

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 (external link) on 132 316.
For information on EC income support contact Centrelink (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.

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.

Financial Support for Beekeepers

Information on financial support with a specific emphasis on beekeepers (PDF 38KB).

Concessions for people on low incomes

Eligible low-income households may be able to access a range of concessions such as on their utility bills and the purchase of non-mains domestic water For eligibility information contact the Department of Human Services on 1800 658 521 or at DHS Concessions (external link).

Personal Counselling
There is a range of counselling and personal support services available for people experiencing personal or family pressures as a result of drought or other issues. Dealing with stressful events is often helped by talking it over whether with a local GP, clergy, telephone help lines or local counselling and support services.

Personal and family counselling hotlines available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• Lifeline on 131 114
• Mensline on 1300 78 99 78
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800