The Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities’ Drought Communities Programme (DCP) is being extended, and local councils will have access to a pool of $75 million allocated in 2018-19 to support drought-stricken communities.

The Australian Government announced on Sunday that additional funding for the program would initially provide $1 million in grants funding to 60 individual councils to provide immediate and short-term support for their communities.

Eligible projects can include:

• Employing local contractors to undertake repairs and maintenance
• Upgrading or building new community facilities
• Holding events and undertaking drought-relief activities
• Carting potable water into communities for drinking and bathing

A list of eligible councils is available on the Department’s website; however, the program is currently being updated to reflect the extension.

More Information

Farm Household Allowance

Help for farmers and their families experiencing financial hardship.

The amount of the allowance will depend on your circumstances.

Eligibility :To apply, you must:
– be a farmer or the partner of a farmer
– meet an income and assets test
– be willing to enter into a Financial Improvement Agreement to help you improve your financial circumstances.

Please visit the agency website for more eligibility criteria.

Program Status :Applications may be made at any time.
Agency :Department of Human Services
Web :http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/farm-household-allowance

The Rural Research & Development for Profit programme aims to realise productivity and profitability improvements for primary producers through:

generating knowledge, technologies, products or processes that benefit primary producers
strengthening pathways to extend the results of rural R&D, including understanding the barriers to adoption
establishing and fostering industry and research collaborations that form the basis for ongoing innovation and growth of Australian agriculture.

Round one research projects must address one or more of the research priorities, which fall into four areas:
Increase the profitability and productivity of primary industries
Increase the value of primary products
Strengthen primary producers’ ability to adapt to opportunities and threats
Strengthen on-farm adoption and improve information flows

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/innovation/rural-research-development-for-profit

We know that finding out what is going on the the industry can be difficult. Events, courses and funding opportunities are spread out across so many websites, social media platforms, flyers and direct email and endless searches on Google often leave us feeling overwhelmed and a little lost!

BOOST is an online database connecting you to the vast array of opportunities across the Australian agricultural industry.

http://www.thefarmtable.com.au/other-assistance/