Drought, disaster and rural support

Farmers and rural communities face many risks to their business. These include droughts, floods, pests and diseases, and other market disruptions.

There are programs and services to help you prepare for, manage and recover from these events.

Rural support

Find help in hard times.

• Farm Household Allowance

  Check if you’re eligible for up to 4 years of support. For farming families experiencing financial hardship.

• Rural Financial Counsellors

  Call 1300 771 741 for free, independent financial counselling. For eligible primary producers and small businesses experiencing or at risk of hardship.

• Mental health services

  Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or find other mental health support.

• Recovery Connect

  Find out about help from other governments, organisations and charities. For those affected by drought or disaster.

Prepare for change

You don’t need to be in hardship to be eligible.

• Farm Management Deposit Scheme

  Set aside income in good years that you can draw on when you need it.

• Farm investment and other loans

  Apply for low-cost, low-interest Regional Investment Corporation loans. For farm businesses and farm-related small businesses.

• Tax deductions

  For fencing, dams, pumps, silos, bins, landcare operations and carbon sink forests.

• Income tax averaging

  Even out your income and tax payable to allow for fluctuations.

You don’t have to go it alone

Do you want to know more about:

• diversifying your production
• managing price and input risks
• farm exit and succession plans
• structuring your business in a tax effective way
• accessing rebates and concessions
• expanding your off-farm income
• maintaining soil moisture and ground cover
• new farm practices and technologies
• other financial, social and personal support?

While you decide what is best for your business, there are people you can talk to about your options. They include:

• farm industry groups
• banks, accountants and agronomists
• federal, state and local governments
• charities and other non-government organisations.

Drought

Our Future Drought Fund helps farmers and rural communities prepare for drought. This is along with other rural support listed earlier on this web page.

Support in your state or territory

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory

Everyone has a role to play in drought

The sooner you seek support, the easier it will be to stay or get back on track.

Living with drought – who can help and how

Living with drought – how your accountant can help

Fact sheet download

You can also find this help and support listed in our downloadable fact sheet.

Flood

If you’re affected by flood, follow all instructions given by authorities. Call 000 if you are in immediate danger.
Visit the National Emergency Management Agency website for the latest flood related support.

Check if you’re also eligible for other rural support listed on our web page.

Market disruptions

Find up-to-date advice on other risks or disruptions.

• Japanese encephalitis
• Foot-and-mouth disease
• Lumpy skin disease

Case studies

• Future Drought Fund case studies of drought resilience
• NSW farming families’ use of Farm Business Resilience Planning
• VIC farmer’s use of Farm Household Allowance
• Tasmanian farmer’s use of Regional Investment Corporation loan
• WA farmer case studies in regenerative agriculture
• QLD grazier case studies of climate adaptation

Stay informed

Visit our media centre for the latest updates on drought, disaster and rural support.