Support - 2025 Drought Funding

• Grants of up to $5000 are available for eligible farmers to implement infrastructure improvements that enhance drought preparedness and management, however a dollar-for-dollar co-contribution is required.
• Eligible activities include upgrading water systems, establishing stock containment areas, and installing grain and fodder storage facilities. 
• The program has been extended to include additional Local Government Areas (LGAs), such as Northern Grampians. More information is available at the Agriculture Victoria website. 
• The application will be assessed by Rural Finance. Applicants are required to cover the initial cost of the project and/or activity, after which Rural Finance will reimburse the grant amount.

• Statewide access to technical specialists offering consultations, workshops, and resources.
• Topics include feed budgeting, water management, and business planning.
• More information is available at the Agriculture Victoria website.  
• Farmers in the Northern Grampians region can express their interest in the program via the link below. 

• The 'Look Over the Farm Gate' program provides grants for community-led mental health initiatives.
• Services include National Centre for Farmer Health, who are supporting primary producers through the delivery of initiatives to boost farmer mental health and wellbeing, and Flying Doctor Wellbeing, who provide a free mental health and wellbeing service for people in rural and remote Victorian communities.
• Further information is available at the Agriculture Victoria website.

• Free, confidential advice is available for farmers through Rural Financial Counselling Service.
• A Rural Financial Counsellor can visit farmers at their place of business and can assist with business planning, creditor negotiation, cash flow management, accessing government and industry support programs and referrals to other professional services.
• To enquire, simply call 1300 735 578 or visit the RFCS Victoria West website.  

• The program provides farmers with the opportunity to develop a plan for their farm business to have the confidence to better prepare for and manage risk, make changes and strengthen their farm business’s resilience.
• The Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Program is supporting farmers to develop the knowledge and skills they need to improve their farm business and be better equipped to manage the impacts of drought and a changing climate.
• More information is available at the Agriculture Victoria website.

Eligible CFA and Victorian SES volunteers and life members will be entitled to a rebate on the ESVF on their principal place of residence or farm, which will be administered by the State Government through the Department of Government Services.

Eligible volunteers include all active SES and CFA operational and support volunteers. To be eligible for the rebate, volunteers will need to have served for at least 12 months, have passed probation, and not be suspended on disciplinary grounds or have taken a leave of absence for the entire duration of the preceding 12 months.

Information will be provided to volunteers about the rebate and how to access it ahead of the commencement of the ESVF on July 1, 2025 via the CFA Member Portal. 

More information is available via the Department Treasury and Finance website. You can also read about these updates here - Emergency-Services-and-Volunteers-Fund-QAs.pdf(PDF, 330KB)

The Victorian Government released updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on May 23, 2025 notifying farmers in drought-declared LGAs, such as Northern Grampians, of an exemption to the ESVF in the forthcoming financial year. This means farmers who may not be eligible for the Volunteer Rebate, but own eligible farms in drought affected LGAs, will have no increase in their Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy rates compared to those they paid the previous year for their Fire Services Property Levy. 

More information is available via the Department Treasury and Finance website. You can also read about these updates here - Emergency-Services-and-Volunteers-Fund-QAs.pdf(PDF, 330KB)