Following the July 2025 announcement detailing the $139.8 million sheep industry transition assistance package, several programs have now been implemented.
Progress has been made across key sub-programs within the Producer and Supply Chain Program, aimed at assisting sheep producers and supply chain businesses to transition away from live sheep exports by sea.
Sheep Industry Strategy Development and Implementation Plan: The Future Flock and WA Roadmap to 2028 (Sheep Producers Australia)
Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) is leading the development of an industry-led, government supported national strategy, promoting direction, confidence and growth in the national and Western Australian sheep meat and wool industry.
The Future Flock is the development of a national strategy to deliver a clear and unifying vision for the sheep meat and wool industries. The Future Flock will:
- Unite national and state priorities: To define challenges and opportunities through broad consultation to build sector-wide consensus and ownership.
- Leverage what exists: Build on existing strategies and consultations to align stakeholders on shared industry priorities.
- Foster collaboration and a community of practice: Connect producers, processors, exporters, researchers, government and farm service providers in open, ongoing dialogue to develop a whole-of-supply chain plan.
- Use evidence and economic analysis: Use economic analysis and evidence-based insights to identify the most impactful industry pathways and forecast the outcomes of resource allocation.
- Deliver a living plan: The finished product will be an interactive online framework that remains accessible, adaptable and relevant while serving as a communication and advocacy tool.
- Demonstrate impact: Embedded monitoring, evaluation and reporting to track progress, adapt to change and ensure accountability and effectiveness.
The WA Roadmap to 2028 is a forward-looking plan to guide Western Australia’s sheep industry through the transition away from live sheep exports by sea.
The WA Roadmap will be grounded in strong economic analysis and will draw on past consultation and look openly at the challenges and opportunities ahead. The WA Roadmap will shape a clear, practical path for growth, innovation and sustainability across WA’s sheep industry.
If you’re part of Australia’s sheep meat and wool industries – breeding, finishing, trading, processing, shearing, transporting, financing, advising or researching, then you are strongly encouraged to take an active role in helping to shape The Future Flock and the WA Roadmap to 2028.
You can be involved by:
- Visiting the WA Roadmap website to learn more
- Subscribe for news and updates at The Future Flock website (go to the bottom of the page).
- Visit the ‘Have Your Say’ page on The Future Flock website, where you can provide input, via written submissions or by answering questions developed by our facilitators, to help the WA Roadmap reflect the industry as much as possible. Keep an eye out for details on how to participate.
- Attend a workshop to test ideas and priorities for the WA Roadmap. Workshops will be held in early 2026 with various industry and grower groups and their members.
- Participate in a short online survey at The Future Flock website . There are separate surveys for sheep producers, farm services and processors and exporters to help ensure The Future Flock reflects the experience and work of the industry.
Support for Research and Development Extension Program: MUSTER Program (Grower Group Alliance)
Grower Group Alliance (GGA) was awarded $4.0 million to expand extension services and grower group activities showcasing alternative sheep farming systems and practices.
GGA has launched the MUSTER program, designed to strengthen the capability and confidence of Western Australian sheep and wool producers by extending relevant, evidence-based best practice knowledge.
By taking a producer-led approach, MUSTER aims to deliver practical, evidence-based solutions that help WA’s sheep and wool producers prepare for the future with confidence.
GGA is currently engaging with grower groups, researchers, and industry experts through a co-design process to pinpoint the knowledge, information and technologies that will support farmers and deliver impact.
If you are a researcher or industry expert with specific experience in Research, Development, Extension and Adoption within the sheep and wool sectors, consider contributing to the design of MUSTER by completing the co-design form on the MUSTER website.
Shearing Industry Transition Program (WASIA)
The WA Shearing Industry Association (WASIA) has been awarded $2.2 million to develop expanded year-round employment options for Western Australian shearing contractors and their staff. The Beyond the Shed program will:
- assist contractors to diversify their business
- coordinate specific training in each region to enable shearing teams to undertake a broader range of seasonally complementary work
- promote this newly skilled local workforce to rural and regional businesses.
By expanding employment options "beyond the shed," the program aims to increase retention rates within the industry (a "train to retain" approach), improve the confidence of shearing teams to competently and safely undertake work outside of wool harvesting, support local communities, and provide farmers with a skilled local workforce.
More information on WASIA’s Beyond the Shed program will be available in early 2026.
Supply Chain Capacity Program: Now Closed
Grant applications for Round 1 of the Supply Chain Capacity Program closed on 22 October 2025. The program is designed to assist producers and processors fund capital works that increase the capacity, efficiency and productivity of the sheep supply chain in Western Australia.
Applications are now being assessed and it is anticipated that successful projects will be announced in early 2026. For more information on the program, visit WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Farm Business Transition Program: Now Closed
Grant applications for Round 1 closed on 1 December 2025 for the Farm Business Transition Program, supporting sheep producers to increase on-farm adoption and uptake of alternative farming systems and practices
Funding is available to support the development of business plans tailored to individual farm business circumstances and for a range of activities including infrastructure upgrades, equipment purchases, training, adoption of innovation and alternative management practices amongst others.
Matching co-contributions from grant applicants are required with grants capped at $75,000 per applicant.
Applications are now being assessed and it is anticipated that successful projects will be announced in Q2 2026. For more information on the program and to check for further funding rounds, visit agriculture.gov.au/2028.
Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program: Now Closed
Grant applications for the Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program closed on 1 December 2025. The program provides support for livestock transport businesses, including those who have made investments in transportation of sheep and the delivery of essential export related goods such as feed, bedding, water systems, veterinary supplies and handling equipment specifically for the live sheep export by sea trade, to transition to other transport-related activities which may require further investment.
Matching co-contributions from grant applicants are required with grants capped at $40,000 per applicant.
Applications are now being assessed and it is anticipated that successful projects will be announced in Q2 2026. For more information on the program and to check for further funding rounds, visit agriculture.gov.au/2028.
Community Wellbeing Program: Announcement
Applications for the $1.5 million Community Wellbeing Program closed on 24 July 2025. The program fosters community wellbeing by supporting activities that promote resilience in WA communities affected by the phase out of live sheep exports by sea.
This program is administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Successful recipients were announced on 3 October 2025. The successful recipients include:
- Rural Aid: to support individuals and their families through one-on-one counselling services, an in-school program, and program coordination ($825,254)
- Blue Tree Project: to build mental health awareness and community cohesion through a program of engagement and local events ($278,156)
- Holyoake: to upskill agricultural communities and networks to support individuals through mental health training ($396,590).
