Grant & Support Programs

There are a range of grants, financial supports and other assistance available from governments and agencies for dairy farming businesses.

This page presents information on such supports available from the Australian Government and relevant to all dairy farming regions, as well as some Victorian specific support.

Other supports are issue-specific or specific to each region – there are links to find out about what is available for specific regions below.

• GippsDairy
• Dairy NSW
• DairyTas
• DairySA
• Murray Dairy (Training and Development)
• Dairy Industry Bushfire Recovery Directory
• Manufacturing Resources and Support
• Dairy Industry COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Directory

Government assistance

The Australian Government and some state governments have made assistance packages available to farmers, listed here nationally and by state.

Australian Government assistance

The Australian Government has a number of assistance programs available to farmers.

A list of key drought assistance contacts within the Australian Government, as well as for each state and territory, is available here: Drought assistance contacts

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Provides free financial counselling to farmers who are suffering financial hardship. This program now includes a Farm Liaison Officer, who will help connect farmers, businesses and communities with the support of the RFCS and community assistance measures.

More info: Rural Financial Counselling Service

Regional Investment Corporation

Provides drought loans of up to $2 million for farm business owners affected by drought, or who want to prepare for drought.

More info: Drought loans

Farm Household Allowance

The Farm Household Allowance provides up to four cumulative years of support for eligible farmers and farmers' partners experiencing financial hardship. This package includes the opportunity to undertake a Farm Financial Assessment and Financial Improvement Agreement. It also includes two lump sum supplementary payments worth up to $12,000 for eligible households, with the assets threshold now increased from $2.6 million to $5 million.

More info: Farm Household Allowance

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Provides free financial counselling to farmers who are suffering financial hardship.

More info: Rural Financial Counselling Service

Managing weeds and pest animals

Provides funding to help manage the effects of pest animals and weeds in drought-affected areas. More info: Pest and weed management

Taxation measures

Provides assistance for drought-affected taxpayers across regional, rural and metropolitan areas to manage their tax.

More info: ATO Drought help

Victorian Government assistance

The Victorian Government supports Victorian dairy farmers to prepare and respond to drought. This includes technical, financial and personal support, for more information visit Drought support

Farm Debt Mediation

Makes it compulsory for banks and other creditors to offer mediation to Victorian farmers before commencing debt recovery proceedings on farm mortgages.

More info: Farm Debt Mediation Scheme

Look Over the Farm Gate Program

Provides health and wellbeing support for farmers and communities through community awareness and social and emotional wellbeing workshops and events in Central and East Gippsland and Northern Victoria.

More info: Look Over the Farm Gate

Drought Employment Program

Provides East and West Gippsland and parts of North East Catchment Management Authority with off-farm employment and training for farmers, farm workers and individuals affected by drought.
More info: AgVic Dry Seasons Support

On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants Program

Provides grants for Gippsland farmers to implement on-farm infrastructure to improve drought preparedness and management.
More info: AgVic Dry Seasons Support

Refocused Plan 2 Farm Program

Provides Murray Dairy farmers with assistance and support to make informed decisions about your farming future, including optimising investment and farm productivity.
More info: North Central Catchment Management Authority

Technical and decision-making support for farm businesses

Provides increased technical support to assist farm businesses manage dry seasonal conditions.
More info: AgVic Farmer Workshops