Growers’ Toolkit  /  Grants and Programs

Centrelink

Centrelink delivers payments and services on behalf of government departments and support available to rural communities includes:

• The Australian Government’s Agriculture Advancing Australia—Farm Help—Supporting Families Through Change programme

  This provides assistance to farmers experiencing financial difficulties while they take steps to improve their long-term financial prospects.

  Phone 1800 050 585 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Drought Assistance—Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment

  Funding is available for living expenses during times of Exceptional Circumstances (EC) such as severe drought which are beyond the control of farmers and small businesses who support farming enterprises.

  Phone 132 316 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Harvest Labour Services (HLS)

  HLS brings job seekers and growers together to meet the demand for out-of-area workers.

  Call 1800 062 332 or visit www.harvesttrail.gov.au

• Asset Hardship Provisions

  If you have assets but little or no income and it is not possible to rearrange your affairs to provide for yourself, you may be eligible for assistance.

  Phone 1800 050 585 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Pensions Loan Scheme

  People of Age Pension age (or their partners) who only receive a part pension, or cannot get a pension due to their income or assets being over the limits (but not both), can access capital tied up in their assets under the Pension Loan Scheme.

  Phone 132 300 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Professional Advice and Planning Grant

  Available to farmers in EC areas, the grant enables farmers, on behalf of an eligible farm enterprise, to access professional assistance for a financial viability assessment and/or the development of a written drought management plan or business plan that incorporates drought and risk management strategies to the value of $5,500 (including GST).

  Phone 132 316 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Drought Assistance Income Support

  If a non-EC declared area is experiencing exceptional circumstances and has established a strong case for drought assistance backed by factual evidence, the area may be declared eligible for Interim Income Support. This support can be paid to farmers and eligible small business operators for up to six months while their area is being assessed for full EC declaration. If a full EC declaration for the area is made, Interim Income Support will be replaced by full EC assistance.

  Phone 13 23 16 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

• Exceptional Circumstances Exit Package

  The EC Exit Grant offers a one-off payment of up to $150,000 for those farmers within an EC declared areas who sell their farm enterprise and lodge an EC Exit Grant Application between 25 September 2007 and 30 June 2009.

  Phone 13 23 16 or go to www.centrelink.gov.au

NSW Rural Assistance Authority

The following measures are available from the NSW Rural Assistance Authority to assist rural producers and small business people affected by the drought.

• Consideration for deferral of payments on NSW Rural Assistance Authority loans where temporary repayment difficulties, as a result of the drought, can be demonstrated.
• Special Conservation Scheme loans of up to $100,000 to landholders who would like to construct water storages or undertake works to improve sustainability.
• Exception Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy payments to assist eligible rural producers and small business people in exceptional circumstances declared areas to recover from the effects of the drought.
  For further information click here or contact the Authority on Toll Free 1800 678 593.

Australian Government Drought Assistance

The Australian Government is supporting drought affected farmers, rural communities and agriculture-dependent small businesses through income support, interest rate subsidies and free counselling. These measures recognise the impact of severe drought on rural and regional communities, the environment and the broader Australian economy. Anyone wishing to enquire about assistance should call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 or the Murray-Darling Basin Assistance and Referral Line on 1800 050 015 or click here.

Murray-Darling Basin Management Grants

Grants of up to $20,000 are available for eligible farm enterprises in the Murray-Darling Basin to implement water management strategies that contribute to managing short-term reduced water allocations. There are a wide variety of activities that the funds can be used for and grants are not means tested. Applications must be made by the 31 March 2009.

For more information on eligibility and how to access these grants, please click here

Remote Area Allowance

Available to those living in a remote area and already receiving income support. For more information go here.

Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme (DFRS)

Under the DFRS the Federal Government provides a rebate of the excise and customs duty paid on diesel and like-fuels purchased for specific off-road uses including agricultural activities. (Use of a road vehicle on a public road is not eligible).

For more information, ask your accountant or contact the Australian Taxation Office on www.ato.gov.au

Rebates for Rain Water Tanks, Ceiling Insulation and Hot Water (NSW only)

As part of its climate change fund program, the NSW Government is offering households rebates on the purchase and installation of rainwater tanks, ceiling insulation and solar hot water systems. Cotton growers are eligible for these rebates in relation to their private dwellings.

For more information and application forms please click here

National Water Plan Programs

To subscribe to receive information about funding available under the National Water Plan click here.

Expressions of interest in the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Programme closed in December 2007. It is expected that a further round of funding will take place later in 2008.

For information on other Federal water-related funding programs, see here.

NSW Catchment Management Authorities: Funding for Landholders

Catchment Management Authorities have funding and other assistance available to private landholders to carry out a range of natural resource management works.

For information on assistance from the Namoi CMA, go to: www.namoi.cma.nsw.gov.au

For information on assistance from the Border Rivers/Gwydir CMA go to: www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au

For information on assistance from the Western CMA which takes in the Macquarie, Bourke and southern cotton regions go to: www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au

Carbon Trading Program for Farmers

Landcare Australia has launched a carbon trading program for farmers. Under the scheme farmers can earn an income through planting trees on their property funded by businesses or individuals wanting to offset their carbon use.

For more information please visit www.carbonsmart.com.au

NSW

For information on a range of forms of disaster relief (including drought, floods and bushfire) in NSW, please visit the NSW Rural Assistance Authority at www.raa.nsw.gov.au

QLD

For information on a range of forms of disaster relief (including drought, floods, cyclones and bushfire) in QLD, please visit the QLD Rural Adjustment Authority at www.qraa.qld.gov.au

Future Cotton Leaders Program

This program aims to identify potential cotton industry leaders and provide training to give them the skills and confidence to eventually step up into industry leadership roles.

The program involves three key stages:

Stage 1 - Leadership development
Stage 2 - Individual skill development
Stage 3 - Leading change

For more information including how to apply, please contact Jo Eady at RuralScope on (07) 3848 2890 or 0419 912 879 or email jo@ruralscope.com

Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP)

Rural and regional leaders in the cotton industry can apply to undertake a comprehensive program of personal growth and skills development over an 18 month period. Graduates become part of a network of rural leaders who help to shape Australian agriculture.

For more information and application details, please go to www.rural-leaders.com.au/arlp.html

Churchill Fellowships

A Churchill Fellowship is an award that enables Australian citizens to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in Australia. The Swire Group sponsors a special Churchill Fellowship each year to study “an aspect of the cotton industry, irrigation or broad acre weed control”.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please go to www.churchilltrust.com.au

As the cotton industry continues to experience tough times, help is available and no one has to face their problems alone. For further up to date information on the Australian Government’s rural and remote areas mental health initiatives, please click here.

Seeking help?

Contacts:

Lifeline—13 11 14

Lifeline provides a 24-hour telephone counselling on one national number for the cost of local call. This service is available to anyone, anywhere in Australia, at any time day or night.

Kids Help Line—1800 551 800

Kids Help Line is Australia’s only free, confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.

Mensline—1300 78 9978

Mensline Australia is a dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns.

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)—1800 011 046

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service provides counselling and group programs to Australian veterans and peacekeepers and their families. It is a specialised, free and confidential Australia-wide service.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides a network of support for people in regional and remote areas in need of practical assistance, or who would simply benefit from a listening ear or a hand of friendship.

The Salvation Army has been assisting drought stricken rural families across Australia throughout its history. During recent years however, these efforts have increased significantly as drought conditions have worsened across the country.

The Salvation Army Rural Chaplains offer ongoing unprejudiced relational, spiritual and financial support to help drought affected families withstand the hardship of the drought and to maintain the legacy of Australia’s rural heritage.

The Salvation Army provides both practical and emotional support and assistance has included the payment of household expenses such as water, rates, electricity, groceries, education, child-care, phone and travel related expenses for rural families.

To access drought relief support please refer to your nearest Rural Chaplain:

NSW

If you live in the South Western third of NSW, phone 0428 489 894.

If you live in the Bland Shire, phone 0427 720 071.

If you live in the Central Western third of NSW, phone 0411 235 965.

If you live in the North Western third of NSW, phone 0428 639 437.

QLD

If you live in the South West, phone 0428 877 980.

If you live in the North West, phone (07) 4999 1999.

Flying Padre (07) 4999 1999.

Rural Financial Counselling Services (RFCS)

The RFCS provide free and impartial rural financial counselling to primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses who are suffering financial hardship and who have no alternative sources of impartial support.

Rural financial counsellors can:

• help clients identify financial and business options
• help clients negotiate with their lenders
• give clients information about government and other assistance schemes
• refer clients to accountants, agricultural advisers and educational services
• refer clients to Centrelink and to professionals for succession planning, family mediation and personal, emotional and social counselling.

Rural financial counsellors do not provide family, emotional or social counselling, financial advice or succession planning services—but they can provide referrals and information.

For a list of RFCS contacts please go to:

NSW - http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/aaa/rfcs/counsellors/nsw

QLD - http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/aaa/rfcs/counsellors/qld