Grants/Assistance: 24.11.2020

Drought Community Support Initiative up to $3,000 per household (tax free)

Closing December 31st
If you are currently living in an eligible drought affected area in QLD, NSW, Vic, SA, Tas or WA please feel free to reach out. A list of the eligible local Government areas can be found here. The Salvation Army is working together with St Vincent de Paul Society to deliver the Drought Community Support Initiative – Round 2 (DCSI) for eligible drought affected households. If you're a farmer, farm worker or farm supplier/contractor who is struggling financially because of the drought, you may be entitled to receive a one-off payment of up to $3,000 funded by the Australian Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative – Round 2 (DCSI). Visit the Salvation Army website for more information.

New Agriculture Strategy & Funding from the Victorian Government
Minister Symes has announced a new Agriculture Strategy to position Victorian agriculture to help drive Victoria’s recovery from COVID-19 and support economic growth. $65 million in new initiatives was also announced to support its delivery, please see here for details www.premier.vic.gov.au/backing-agriculture-victorias-strong-future. Below is a breakdown of the funding:

$15 million to access leading AgTech, innovative farming methods and new skills so farmers have the tools and expertise they need to deliver more high-quality products to more local and global consumers
$20 million for the Food to Market and Pathways to Export programs, which will support infrastructure and business development projects and dedicated agriculture export resources for Victorian farmers
$30 million investment to extend the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, which helps farmers reduce their energy costs, and be more energy efficient and productive
The above is in addition to the $50 million recently announced by the Minister last week for the Agricultural College Modernisation Program which will directly benefit the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus in the Goulburn Valley, please see here for details https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/skills-and-support-next-generation-victorian-farmers

Agriculture Workforce Plan- Business adaptation grants. Grants between $10,000 and $300,000 will support eligible businesses to meet the costs of adapting workplaces to comply with health, safety and social distancing requirements or adapting to required business changes as a result of the pandemic. Register via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Worker relocation and accommodation- A daily travel-to-work allowance of up to $50 per employee and daily accommodation support of up to $200 per employee is available to businesses unable to fill eligible roles locally. Register via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Worker induction and retraining. Grants between $1000 and $100,000 are available to support eligible employers inducting workers into new job roles and/or delivering re-training. Register via the Agriculture Victoria website.

Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job- Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job (RATTUAJ) is an Australian Government program that assists eligible participants to relocate to take up an offer of employment. Relocation assistance helps participants accept work outside of their area by removing the financial barriers that can prevent people relocating. From 1 December 2020, all job seekers participating in employment service programs will be immediately eligible for the Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job program. View the Factsheet for Job Seekers and the Factsheet for Employers.

Please see the attached for a summary from Agriculture Victoria of all resources available.