Climate Change Adjustment

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Climate Change Adjustment

Assistance for primary producers to manage the impacts of climate change is available through a number of programs. The Climate Change Adjustment Program is part of Australia’s Farming Future and will assist primary producers adapt and adjust to the impacts of climate change.

Assistance will be provided for:

  • targeted training activities
  • individually tailored adjustment advice
  • assistance while you consider your future in farming.

Targeted training activities will provide opportunities for industries and primary producers to further increase their self reliance and preparedness to deal with the impacts of climate change. Training will be made available through endorsed providers and will focus on areas such as whole farm planning, business and risk management and understanding the implications of climate change. Workshops will be offered to support young people and rural women to address their industry’s need to adapt and adjust to climate change. Targeted climate change information will be available to Indigenous people in rural industries.

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. The grant can also be used to obtain legal and personal advice where the advice is linked to managing the impacts of climate change, including if you decide to sell the farm.

If you choose to join the program, a Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment will be conducted to identify possible areas for improvement. This assessment will 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:

The template is updated three times a year to reflect changes to the Centrelink income and assets test rates.

Farm Business Analysis and Financial Assessment Smart Form

The current template is valid from 20 March 2009 to 30 June 2009.

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

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

More information on adjustment advice and assistance or to apply

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.



Last reviewed: 06 May 2009
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