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Drought Force
The Drought Force program helps both severely drought-affected farms with their workforce needs and unemployed rural workers with income support for drought related activity.
Drought Force, an extension of Work for the Dole, enables people who are laid off as a result of the drought – and other suitably skilled people from the local area – to receive income support while participating in drought mitigation activities on drought affected properties or working on community projects in drought affected communities.
People receiving income support who work 30 hours or more a week on a Drought Force activity will not have to look for work while participating in the program, may receive an extra $20.80 a fortnight and may access up to $1600 in training credits.
Producers can get involved by sponsoring a Drought Force activity on their farm.
Eligibility Requirements
Drought Force operates in Exceptional Circumstances and prima facie declared areas.
Participation is voluntary and open to anyone in affected areas in receipt of Newstart or Youth Allowance, Disability Support Pension or Parenting Payment. Other allowees and non-allowees may also volunteer. Those already participating in Work for the Dole can also request a transfer to a Drought Force activity.
Those who lose their job as a result of the drought can volunteer to participate immediately if they live in a drought affected area.
Job seekers who volunteer to participate for 30 or more hours a week will not have to look for work and will have reduced obligations with Centrelink.
For more information and to apply
Drought Force is administered by CWCs. Contact details for CWCs around Australia can be accessed on the Drought Force webpage of the Australian Government’s Workplace website or by calling the Drought Force Hotline on 1800 004 226.