Increased support
The assistance measures below will help farm families, farm businesses and rural communities prepare for, manage through and recover from drought.
Rural Financial Counselling Service
Helping you find and apply for funds. With an extra $5 million to support increased demand for our free services.
Drought Communities Programme
Support for local infrastructure projects, to create new opportunities in drought-affected communities.
We also provide enhanced social and community support including mental health support and counselling, for drought-affected farming families and communities. The Drought Communities Programme is being implemented by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.
Ongoing measures
We continue to offer these ongoing support measures for farmers and rural communities:
- Farm Management Deposits (FMD)
- Taxation measures
- Farm Business Loans (now through the Regional Investment Corporation)
- Pest and weed management
Check FarmHub. This new service helps connect Australian farmers with support during tough times, such as drought.
The delivery of the drought and rural assistance programs including those announced through the White Paper, is being led by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, in partnership with a number of other Australian Government agencies and the state and territory governments.
State and territory assistance
State or territory governments also have additional programs to assist farmers in hardship, including those affected by drought.
More information and contact details are available at the Drought assistance contacts page.