{"id":108066,"date":"2025-08-20T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/?p=108066"},"modified":"2025-08-14T13:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T03:42:51","slug":"fund-to-support-drought-affected-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/fund-to-support-drought-affected-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"Fund to support drought-affected farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE Victorian government has opened a $2 million fund to help farmers in south-west Victoria get through the drought.<\/p>\n

The Household Financial Relief Program provides up to $1,000 to eligible farming families to meet urgent household expenses.<\/p>\n

It is open to farming families in 12 drought-affected Local Government Areas, including the Colac Otway, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Greater Geelong municipalities.<\/p>\n

The support program is being delivered by the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of Victoria, which plays a pivotal role supporting rural communities and families, particularly during emergency response and recovery.<\/p>\n

The CWA is part of the Premier’s Drought Response Taskforce, which engaged with farmers and rural communities to make sure their needs are met through the support packages<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The CWA of Victoria knows only too well the toll drought takes on families and has seen first-hand how relief programs such as this can ease the pressure at home, ” CWA Victoria president Jenny Nola said.<\/p>\n

“We look forward to working with the Victorian government to deliver direct support to those who need it most.”<\/p>\n

Mental health is also a key focus for the taskforce, and based on its feedback, the Victorian government is backing a range of targeted mental health programs to support individuals and communities feeling the strain of the prolonged drought in the $144 Drought Support Package.<\/p>\n

This includes the Look Over the Farm Gate program, which supports community-led events that promote social connection and mental health awareness through the National Centre for Farmer Health.<\/p>\n

So far, more than 60 events have applied for funding through this program, and there is a further $500,000 to continue to provide grants of up to $5,000 for more community events.<\/p>\n

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence opened applications to the Household Financial Relief Program earlier this month.<\/p>\n

“This targeted cash flow relief supports farming families in the south west who have been experiencing the worst drought conditions over the past two years,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We are pleased to be working with the CWA of Victoria on a program that will give farming families support, which they can manage in a way that suits their individual needs and budgets.”<\/p>\n

To apply for a Household Financial Relief payment, head to cwaofvic.org.au or to view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available, head to agriculture.vic.gov.au\/drought<\/a> or phone 136 186.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE Victorian government has opened a $2 million fund to help farmers in south-west Victoria get through the drought. The Household Financial Relief Program provides up to $1,000 to eligible farming families to meet urgent household expenses. It is open to farming families in 12 drought-affected Local Government Areas, including the Colac Otway, Surf Coast, […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":108067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-108066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFund to support drought-affected farmers - Bellarine Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The $2M drought relief fund offers up to $1,000 to farming families in south-west Victoria for urgent expenses. 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