Page Content
Drought Assistance
Drought assistance is available to farmers, their families, rural communities and certain small businesses.
Anyone wishing to enquire about assistance should call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 or the Murray-Darling Basin Assistance and Referral Line on 1800 050 015.
The types of financial, personal and business assistance measures provided by the Australian Government and other organisations are listed below.
Drought Assistance Guide
A compilation of drought assistance measures provided by the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
Exceptional Circumstances assistance measures
Exit Grants
The Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grant of up to $150 000 will assist farmers who have endured severe drought conditions for several years and are considering their options outside farming.
Income Support
Personal income support payments through Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment.
Interest Rate Subsidies
Farm and small business support through Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidies.
Support for farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin
The Australian Government is supporting irrigators and dryland farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin that have been affected by reduced water allocations.
Support for Small Businesses
Exceptional Circumstances income and business support for eligible small businesses.
Professional Advice and Planning Grants
Grants of up to $5500 (GST inclusive) for drought affected farm businesses to access professional business and financial planning advice.
Farm Management Deposits
Farm Management Deposits are a financial risk management tool for farmers to help smooth the uneven income streams that are common in agriculture due to climate and market variability.
Farm Help
Short-term financial assistance for farming families to obtain off-farm income or re-establish outside of farming.
FarmBis
Assistance for farmers to participate in business and natural resource management learning activities.
Tax Relief
Special taxation measures and concessions available to farmers affected by drought.
Support for Communities
Assistance for Isolated Children
Additional assistance of up to $1000 is available under the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Additional Boarding Allowance. An ongoing supplementary allowance of $1000 for all students who receive an AIC Distance Education Allowance is also available. For further information, view the AIC website, call the Centrelink AIC Hotline on 13 23 18 or contact your local Centrelink branch.
Additional funding for Schools in Exceptional Circumstance areas
Additional funding of up to $10 000 per school for both government and non-government schools in rural and regional Exceptional Circumstances declared areas. For further information, contact the please contact the Capital Policy & Rural Education Section on 1300 363 079.
Rural Financial Counselling
Free and impartial financial counselling for farmers, fishers and small businesses.
Social and Emotional Counselling
Free counselling services for families and individuals suffering stress as a result of the drought.
Employment Services
Job Search support, training and access to Newstart allowance arrangements for rural workers in drought affected areas.
Drought Force
A program that helps both drought affected farms with their workforce needs and unemployed rural workers with income support for drought related activity.
CWA Emergency Aid Grants
Emergency aid grants for drought affected rural families and communities, administered by the Country Women’s Association.