Assistance available

• Drought assistance guide
  A summary of drought assistance measures provided by the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
• Helping Farming Families program (www.nswfarmers.org.au)
  NSW Farmers and NRMA have announced a "Helping Farming Families" program, offering 250 holidays to NRMA holiday parks to drought affected farming families.
• Drought Force
  Helps drought affected farms with their workforce needs and unemployed rural workers with income support for drought related activity.
• Farm management deposits
  A financial risk management tool for farmers to help smooth uneven income streams due to climate and market variability.
• Tax relief
  Special taxation measures and concessions available to farmers affected by drought.
• CWA emergency aid grants
  Emergency aid grants for drought affected rural families and communities, administered by the Country Women’s Association.
• Farm help
  Short-term financial assistance for farming families to obtain off-farm income or re-establish outside of farming.
• Exceptional Circumstances (EC) program (www.daff.gov.au)
  The Australian Government’s main vehicle for providing assistance to farmers.
• Income support (EC) (www.centrelink.gov.au)
  Up to $759 per fortnight for families. Income/assets tests required - call Centrelink on 13 23 16.
• Interest rate subsidy (EC) (www.raa.nsw.gov.au)
  Up to $100 000 per year available for two years. Income/assets tests required. Call the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593.
• Transport subsidies
  Rebates paid on the transport of fodder, stock water, stock to sale/slaughter, stock to and from agistment, and domestic water. Call NSW DPI on 1800 814 647.
• Business drought assistance (www.business.nsw.gov.au)
  The NSW Government's Business Drought Assistance Program provides a range of measures to help established regional non-farm businesses to survive the drought.
• Drought assistance for agriculture-dependent small business (www.daff.gov.au)
  Agriculture-dependent small businesses may be eligible for EC income support and business support.
• Drought household assistance (www.community.nsw.gov.au)
  Up to $2000 to help pay household bills (no farm bills). DoCS prefers that you go through a Drought Support Worker or a Rural Financial Counsellor (see links below), or phone DoCS on 1800 018 444.
• Assistance for isolated children scheme
  Additional funding for both government and non-government schools in rural and regional Exceptional Circumstances declared areas.
• Exceptional circumstances professional advice and planning grant (www.centrelink.gov.au)
  Provides eligible farmers access to up to $5500 (incl. GST) worth of professional advice and planning assistance. Farming enterprises located in an area that has been declared as Exceptional Circumstances (EC) for more than three years may be eligible.
• Special conservation loan scheme (www.raa.nsw.gov.au)
  Administered by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

Support available

• NSW drought assistance guide
  This publication contains a comprehensive list of services available for support or advice during the drought.
• Social and emotional counselling
  Free counselling services for families and individuals suffering stress as a result of the drought.
• Drought support workers
  Provide immediate personal support, basic information, and referral to other appropriate services.
• Mental and physical health contacts
  Find out about the many avenues for help available.
• Rural financial counsellors (www.raa.nsw.gov.au)
  A free and confidential service providing information and assistance on financial position, budgets and applications.
• Farm Family Gatherings and other drought events
  Informal social activities that allow rural families to get together, discuss drought issues and listen to advice.
• Drought donations - how can I help?
  NSW DPI has set up a Drought Donations register to link groups wanting to donate money and goods to welfare organisations that may be able to assist in the delivery and distribution of these donations to individuals and communities.
• Drought Hotline
  NSW Department of Primary Industries Drought Hotline 1800 814 647.