Pilot of Drought Reform Measures in Western Australia

Important info

The Farm Exit Support Program is fully subscribed and is now closed to new applications.

The initiatives under the WA Pilot of drought reform measures, including the Farm Family Support program, are scheduled to close on 30 June 2012. Approved payments under the Building Farm Businesses Grants will continue until 30 June 2014.

Conditions and application closure dates will vary for the different measures under the WA Pilot, view the FAQs.

For more information view the critical dates of WA Pilot closures web page or phone the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16. 

About the WA pilot and its measures

The Australian Government, in partnership with the Western Australian Government, is conducting a pilot of drought reform measures in part of Western Australia.

The WA Pilot is testing a package of new measures developed in response to the national review of drought policy. The measures are designed to move from a crisis management approach to risk management. The aim is to better support farmers, their families and rural communities in preparing for future challenges, rather than waiting until they are in crisis to offer assistance.

On 10 May 2011 the government announced the extension of the WA pilot for 12 months to 30 June 2012. Approved payments made under one measure— Building Farm Businesses —will continue until 30 June 2014. From 1 July 2011, the WA Pilot region covers an expanded region that includes the entire south west of Western Australia.

WA Pilot — uptake and expenditure as at 31 March 2012

Program Jurisdiction Phase 1
Expenditure
($m)		 Phase 2
Expenditure
($m)		 Phase 1
Uptake		 Phase 2
Uptake
Farm Planning WA Government 2.659 0.769 374 farm businesses completed Farm Planning courses in 2010—11. 262 farm businesses have completed training in 2011—12 and a further 361 have been approved to participate.
Building Farm Businesses2 Commonwealth 6.268 7.346 119 farm businesses received grants in 2010—11. 270 farm businesses have been approved to receive grants in 2011—12.
  WA Government 0.775 0    
Farm Family Support3 Commonwealth 5.103 7.839 450 farm families received assistance in 2010—11. A further 227 farm families have received assistance in 2011—12 in addition to recipients from 2010—11.
Farm Exit Support Commonwealth 0.1414 0.9895 5 farmers were granted an exit grant in 2010—11. 8 farmers have received a grant in 2011—12.
Beyond Farming6 Commonwealth 0.083 0.217 20 mentors trained.
17 farmers registered to be matched. 14 farmers with mentors.		 20 mentors continuing with top-ups/training as required. 30 farmers registered. 26 matched. 97+ mentoring discussions at rural events.
Stronger Rural Communities Commonwealth 0.896 0 8 grants were provided to agriculture dependent rural communities in 2010—11. Uptake of program available from Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
  WA Government 0 0.650    
Farm Social Support – Rural Support Initiative7 Commonwealth 1.513 3.164 Rural Services Officer customer contacts 8 269 with 927 farm or home visits. Rural Social Worker customer contacts 1 404 with 233 farm or home visits. Rural Services Officer customer contacts 10 324 with 866 farm or home visits. Rural Social Worker customer contacts 1 744 with 163 farm or home visits.
Farm Social Support – Rural and Regional Family Support Service8 Commonwealth 0.945 1.922 2 293 clients received services. 3 236 clients received services.
Farm Social Support – Online Counselling for Rural Young Australians Initiative Commonwealth 0.777 N/A9 37 clients from pilot region used service. 229 clients from pilot region used service.10

1 All expenditure provided reflects administered expenditure (except for the Rural Support Initiative). The Australian and WA Governments have committed a budget of approximately $81 million for a two year trial of measures under the WA pilot. The full budget of $81 million includes departmental budgets.
2 Building Farm Business grants are paid in installments over a number of years.
3 Farm Family Support expenditure includes two components; fortnightly payments and the ancillary benefits, such as health care cards and youth allowance for recipients’ dependents.
4 Farm Exit Support budgeted for only a single grant in 2010—11; however, provision was made for additional demand to be funded through the Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grant program, which funded the remaining four grants.
5 The Farm Exit Support program has been closed to new applicants as there are sufficient unprocessed claims on hand to exhaust the full program expenditure.
6 Beyond Farming expenditure reflects the total commitment per financial year rather than expenditure to date.
7 The Rural Support Initiative has no administered expenditure; this measure funds additional Department of Human Services officers and the Mobile Office to visit the pilot region.
8 Rural and Regional Family Support Service expenditure reflects the total commitment per financial year rather than expenditure to date.
9 Online Counseling for Rural Young Australians was expanded to a national program in 2011-12 and was not funded under the WA Pilot.
10 Accurate to 29 February 2012 as 31 March 2012 data not yet available.

WA Pilot region 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011

Map of Australia showing the WA Pilot region from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011. A text description of the area's within WA is available via the hyperlink immediately after this image.
Further information on WA Pilot region 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.

WA Pilot region 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

Map of Australia showing the WA Pilot region from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. A text description of the area's within WA is available via the hyperlink immediately after this image.
Further information on WA Pilot region 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.

Drought reform measures

Farm Planning

Courses for farmers to develop or update a strategic plan for their farm business. The plan will identify priority activities to help improve the management and preparedness of the farm business to respond to future challenges.

Further information on Farm Planning.

Building Farm Businesses — Round two

Grants to eligible farm businesses in two components:

  • Business Adaptation Grants– for eligible activities identified in the strategic plan developed or revised through the Farm Planning courses, that help farm businesses prepare for the impacts of drought, reduced water availability and a changing climate.
  • Landcare Adaptation Grants– for eligible activities identified in the strategic plan with a natural resource management focus and having a broader public benefit.

Further information on Building Farm Businesses — Round two.

Stronger Rural Communities

In 2010–11 the program provided grants to local government authorities and community organisations to fund projects that build the resilience of rural communities and help them manage hardship resulting from an agricultural downturn. In 2011–12 the Western Australian Government is providing an alternative suite of community and family support pilot measures for individuals, businesses and communities.

Further information on Stronger Rural Communities.

Farm Social Support

Support for a better coordinated social support network to meet the mental health, counselling and other social needs of farming families and rural communities.

Further information on Farm Social Support.

Farm Family Support

Income support for farmers facing financial hardship, allowing them to meet basic household needs.

Further information on Farm Family Support.

Farm Exit Support — important announcement

Grants to support farmers in significant financial difficulty who decide to sell their farm and leave farming. This assistance helps farmers and their families make a fresh start.

The WA pilot’s Farm Exit Support program is now fully subscribed and is closed to new applications.

Further information on the Farm Exit Support - important announcement, Farm Exit Support Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions.

Beyond Farming

Beyond Farming puts current farmers in touch with former farmers to talk about opportunities outside of farming. It enables them to talk to someone, who has been in the same position, about the options for themselves and their families if selling the farm business or retiring.

Further information on Beyond Farming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about the pilot of drought reform measures in Western Australia.

Fact sheet

Pilot of drought reform measures in Western Australia fact sheet.

For more information

Interested farmers, farm families and rural communities should consider the eligibility criteria and application deadlines for each measure.

For further information, please refer to the individual measures.

Contact the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16.

For information on free rural financial counselling, visit the Rural Financial Counselling Service WA website or call 1800 612 004.

Last reviewed:
10 May 2012
Contact:
Email WA Pilot
About Drought and EC Task Force and Contact details
Media Inquiries