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SEDA news and events

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.

Global Victoria- Programs and initiatives
The Global Victoria Intellect Program (GVIP) is a virtual, two-week program enabling Victoria-based exporters to gain market research intelligence from teams of international and domestic university students currently studying in Victoria. GVIP gives you the opportunity to tap into Victoria's vast network of smart and diverse future leaders who will provide a robust understanding of international markets.

Each participating company will be allocated a group of students (hand-picked by us) to work on delivering valuable market research for their organisation. Students are guided through an online structured market research process, which will generate valuable insights and data relevant to your company brief.
Registering your Victorian business to take part in GVIP is a simple and easy online process: Visit the Global Victoria website for more information.

Facemasks in Victoria

From 11:59pm Sunday 22 November, there are changes to the rules around the wearing of face masks. 

  • Face masks are no longer required when you are outdoors and where it is possible to stay more than 1.5 metres away from people.  
  • Use of face masks remain mandatory if you are unable to stay further than 1.5 metres away from people not in your household, such as when waiting at public transport stations, outdoor markets, walkways and thoroughfares.  
  • Face masks remain mandatory when indoors – for example, in shopping centres or at a hospital. 

Visit the DHHS website for a more detailed list of updates relating to masks in Victoria.

Victoria has opted into the above program, however, no decision from Victoria (specifically DHHS) on the best quarantine pathway for workers coming in has been decided.    

Even though a decision has not been made, we urge you to register your interest with an Approved Employer to confirm your interest in bringing in workers.

A list of Approved Employers is available here and includes a mix of growers and labour hire providers. Growers who are not Approved Employers can contact Connect Group and MADEC who will take EOIs from new clients who are able to commit to upfront workers costs. Please email: The Connect Group This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or MADEC This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

There is also a Seasonal Worker Regional Pilot program that is being run in the Goulburn Valley, assisting smaller growers to meet harvest needs, attached is the relevant flyer. You can also discuss your needs or questions with Miki Wilson who is the Regional Coordinator on (03) 54305601 or Mobile 0407 611 044.

Download the Regional Pilot Factsheet here...

THE horticulture sector can become better versed in Australia's free trade agreements thanks to a new online tool. Austrade has launched the Free Trade Advantage, a site designed to help Australian exporters come up to speed with FTAs. THE horticulture sector can become better versed in Australia's free trade agreements thanks to a new online tool. Austrade has launched the Free Trade Advantage, a site designed to help Australian exporters come up to speed with FTAs. Read more of this Good Fruit and Vegetables article for more information...

The Department of Transport (DoT) is inviting your organisation to take part in the Principal Freight Network (PFN) Review 2020.  The PFN is the strategic network of places and connecting corridors that enable the efficient, safe and economic movement of freight in Victoria. It identifies the strategic places and transport corridors where freight of significant quantity, value or importance is generated, stored, and distributed.
 
The PFN will enable the future growth of the freight task on the Victorian transport network by:
  • guiding future transport network and land-use planning and infrastructure investment
  • protecting the freight network and its future capacity through appropriate legislation planning scheme and policy provisions
  • integrating multi-modal supply chains and end-to-end supply chains to achieve productivity gains and industry competitiveness.
Follow the link below to provide feedback by Friday 18 December 2020 on the PFN maps, including amendments proposed, prior to the release of an updated PFN in early 2021. Material to support you as you provide feedback is available on the Get Involved web page, including a Project Fact Sheet and FAQs. You will be directed to provide your feedback on the interactive map of the PFN through Social PinPoint. 
 
Your feedback will ensure we get the PFN right to enable freight to move efficiently in and around Victoria now and in the future. If you have any questions or would like additional support as you complete your feedback, please contact the PFN Project Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

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