Climate Change Adjustment

The Climate Change Adjustment Program is part of Australia’s Farming Future and assists primary producers to manage the impacts of climate change.  Assistance provided for individually tailored farm business and management advice, and assistance while primary producers consider their future in farming. 

Adjustment advice and assistance is available to eligible primary producers adversely impacted or likely to be, impacted by climate change, including those experiencing hardship caused by drought. Professional advice and training delivered under this program is individually tailored to help farm businesses adjust to climate change and to set goals and develop action plans to improve their financial circumstances. Rural financial counsellors can assist eligible farmers in their planning for the future.

Adjustment advice and training grants

An advice and training grant of up to $5500 may be available to both you and your partner, if you meet the eligibility test, and may be used to receive advice and training from recognised professional advisers and registered training organisations, TAFE and universities.

The grant may be used for activities such as financial assessment and planning, and advice and training directly or indirectly related to climate change impacts; in addition, the grant may also be used to obtain legal and personal advice, succession planning etc.

Recipients of the CCAP Program must complete a Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment which will assist in the development of a climate change action plan, outlining the aims and steps required to manage the impacts of climate change and improve the farm’s long–term prospects.

The Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment is undertaken with a Prescribed Adviser, and includes the completion of the Financial Assessment template below:

Note to prescribed advisers

When completing the Financial Assessment template for the first time, we recommend you view the tutorial to assist you in completing the template.

• Financial Assessment template  Excel [109kb]  – 20 March 2012

  Note: When opening this template please select the ‘Enable Macros’ option

The template is updated three times a year to reflect changes to the Department of Human Services income and assets test rates.

The current template is valid from 20 March 2012.

Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment

• The Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment form (please print out and complete).

Further information is provided in the following tutorial and fact sheets:

• Tutorial for advisers  Powerpoint [1.2mb] (updated 20.03.09)
• Information for advisers
• Information for farmers 

Rural financial counsellors

Rural financial counsellors provide information and referrals and case management to primary producers in financial difficulty through the Rural Financial Counselling Service Program.

Short term household income support assistance

Household income support is available to assist farm families in financial difficulty to manage the impacts of climate change.  Transitional Income Support is available to primary producers who are participating in the Climate Change Adjustment Assistance Program until 30 June 2012. The program funding allocation is $8.5 million to Transitional Income Support in 2011–12. The Transitional Income Support closes to new applications 11 May 2012. The Transitional Farm Family Payment succeeds the Transitional Income Support program for eligible farmers.

Policy guidelines

The Climate Change Adjustment Advice and Training and the Transitional Income Support Programs are closing on 30 June 2012. Applications for both programs close on 11 May 2012. Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Guidelines and Transitional Income Support Guidelines can be accessed from the DAFF website at the following links.

• CCAP Advice and Training Grant policy guidelines (as at 1 July 2011)
• Transitional Income Support policy guidelines (as at 1 July 2011)

The Australian Government has announced the continuation of household support payments under the Transitional Farm Family Payment.

• Transitional Farm Family Payment policy guidelines will be made available shortly.

More information on adjustment advice and assistance or to apply

• Contact Centrelink’s Farmer Assistance Line on 1800 050 585
• The Rural Financial Counselling Service Program on 1800 686 175
• Climate Change Adjustment Program frequently asked questions
• Transitional Income Support frequently asked questions

More information on targeted training activities

Call 1800 638 746 or email Australia’s Farming Future

Other DAFF assistance programs

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Foreign language service phone 131 202.