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 will be provided for individually tailored farm business and management advice, and assistance while you consider your future in farming.
Adjustment advice and assistance will be 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 will be individually tailored to help farm businesses adjust to climate change and to set goals and develop action plans to improve their financial circumstances, either within or outside of agriculture. Rural financial counsellors can assist eligible farmers in their planning for the future.
Assistance will be available to farmers who decide to leave farming.
Adjustment advice and training grants
An advice and training grant of up to $5500 is 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 can also be used to obtain legal and personal advice, succession planning etc.
If you choose to join the program, a Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment will be conducted to help you develop 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 must be undertaken with a Prescribed Adviser, and includes the completion of the Financial Assessment template below:
Note to prescribed advisers:
If this is the first time you are completing the Financial Assessment template, we recommend you view the tutorial to assist you in completing the template.
- Financial Assessment template
Excel [262 kb] (updated 21.09.09)
Note: When opening this template please select the 'Enable Macros' option
The template is updated three times a year to reflect changes to the Centrelink income and assets test rates.
The current template is valid from 20 September 2009 to 19 March 2010.
Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment Smart Form
- The Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment form (including the Financial Assessment Template) can be completed electronically.
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
Adjustment assistance
Grants up to $150,000, are available to eligible farmers who have considered their options and have made the decision to leave farming. Advice and training assistance up to $5500 will be available to assist in leaving the farm.
Eligible farmers with net assets of $350,000 or less after the sale of the farm and farm assets can receive the full $150,000 of the re-establishment grant. The sum of the grant reduces once a farmer’s net assets reach $350,000. No grant is payable when net assets reach $575,000.
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 income support assistance
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 produccers who are participating in the Climate Change Adjustment Assistance Program.
Policy guidelines
- CCAP Advice and Training Grant policy guidelines
- CCAP Re-establishment Grant policy guidelines
- Transitional Income Support policy guidelines
More information on adjustment advice and assistance or to apply
- Contact Centrelink’s Farmer Assistance Line on 1800 050 585
- Visit Centrelink website
- 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
Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grant
Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy
Irrigation Management Grant
Professional Advice and Planning Grant
Rural Financial Counselling Service
Foreign language service phone 131 202.