Disaster Ready Fund Round Two Guidelines 2024-25

The Australian Government is providing up to one billion dollars over five years through the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF), from 1 July 2023.
Round Two of the DRF will deliver up to $200 million of Australian Government funding for disaster risk reduction and resilience initiatives, with funding matched by state, territory, local government and other applicants, where possible.
DRF Round Two Guidelines (PDF 1.08MB) were released on 15 December 2023.
Applications for Round Two are now open.

Please visit the National Emergency Management Agency website for more information. 

Hort Connections was successful in obtaining funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to support grower attendance at the 2023 and 2024 events. In 2024, we are happy to offer the same structure of Grower Funding, to once again make Hort Connections more accessible to Australian growers. Visit the Hort Connections website for more information.

Australia, and specifically Tatura in Victoria, will be hosting the 2nd International Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards, from 3rd to 8th December 2023.

Register for this event here

Horticulture employs thousands of workers in Victoria every year. Workers picking fruit and vegetables are among Victoria’s most vulnerable, so it’s critical that companies that provide or host labour hire workers meet their legal obligations.
Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic):

• businesses must be licensed to supply labour hire workers, including for horticulture activities such as picking, packing, sorting and pruning
• ‘host’ businesses such as grape growers – who engage workers through a labour hire provider – must only use licensed providers.

Significant penalties can apply for breaches of these obligations – exceeding $600,000 for companies and $150,000 for individuals.

Register of licensed providers
The Labour Hire Authority’s (LHA) Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers provides hosts with a quick way to check whether a business they are considering engaging is licensed to provide labour hire services.

By checking the Register, hosts can ensure they do not risk penalties from using an unlicensed provider, and that their provider has met the checks required to obtain and maintain a licence. LHA encourages labour hire hosts to check the Register, and to contact a provider’s nominated officer to confirm they are engaging a licensed provider. Hosts can also use LHA’s Follow My Providers tool to be notified of any changes in providers’ licence status.

A new Victorian Control Area Order came into effect on 29 September 2023.The Control Area Order continues to require permits for:

• movement of bees, hives, queen bees
• used beekeeping equipment
• pollen for bee feeding
• or bee products (including honeycomb) from all other states and territories into Victoria.

The Victorian permit system allows the entry of bees, hives and apiary movements into Victoria to enable essential horticultural activities to continue. Visit the Ag Vic website for more information on this update.

Traceability Information & Resources

Agriculture Victoria has developed a suite of free resources for producers - to raise awareness and support them with decision-making about traceability systems.

• What is Traceability- find out what it is and how it can benefit your business
• Achieving export growth with systems and standards- Podcast - Peter Carter
• Get started on traceability in your business- https://youtu.be/_3JvbGr-Z9Q
• Join the Traceability Community

The Agriculture Victoria website has more information for your reference.