Farm Business Resilience Program

Purpose and Program Overview

The Farm Business Resilience Program (FBR) is an Australian Government initiative delivered in partnership with state and territory governments under the Future Drought Fund. It is designed to strengthen the long-term resilience of Australian farm businesses by improving farmers’ knowledge, skills and capability to manage drought, climate and other business risks.

Rather than operating as a conventional capital grant, the program provides subsidised learning and development opportunities covering economic, environmental and social resilience. Support can include business planning, financial literacy, climate adaptation, risk management, diversification, succession planning and access to professional advice.

The next phase of the program has $83.2 million in Australian Government funding over five years from 2024–25, with delivery undertaken through state and territory governments. The program has been extended following its first phase, which operated from 2020 to 2025, and is scheduled to continue through 2029.

Key Grant Details

• Grant/program amount: The program has a national Australian Government allocation of $83.2 million over five years from 2024–25. This is program-level funding rather than a fixed grant amount paid directly to each farm business.
• Individual funding amount: There is no single national grant amount per business. Subsidised support and participant co-contributions vary according to the state or territory delivery arrangements.
• Application dates: There is no single national opening or closing date. Activities are delivered through individual state and territory programs.
• Program duration: The current phase is scheduled to operate through 2029.
• Eligible participants: Australian farmers and land managers, subject to the eligibility requirements of the relevant state or territory program.
• Co-contribution: May be required, depending on the state or territory and the particular activity. The national program is delivered through subsidised participation rather than a uniform national grant payment.
• Location: Nationwide, with delivery administered separately across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia.
• Program provider: Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, in partnership with state and territory governments.

Priority Sectors

The national program does not identify a single list of priority agricultural sectors. It is broadly directed towards farmers and land managers and supports resilience across Australia’s agricultural industries.

Specific state and territory delivery programs may have additional target groups, industries or regional priorities. Applicants should therefore check the requirements applying in their state or territory.

Funding Scope

The Farm Business Resilience Program is structured primarily around subsidised capability-building and learning activities, rather than conventional project grants.

National Funding

• $83.2 million allocated over five years from 2024–25 for the next phase of the program.
• The funding supports delivery through state and territory governments.
• The program incorporates learning and development activities designed to improve farm business resilience.

Supported Areas

Activities may include:

• Drought preparedness and climate adaptation.
• Strategic farm business planning.
• Financial management and financial literacy.
• Business risk assessment and decision-making.
• Data use and business performance monitoring.
• Diversification and alternative business models.
• Adoption of new farming practices and systems.
• Market development and transformational opportunities.
• Farm succession and transition planning.
• Workplace health and safety.
• People, time and wellbeing management.
• One-on-one professional advice and business coaching.
• Peer learning, workshops and other practical learning opportunities.

Project Timeline

The current national phase runs through 2029. Individual courses, workshops, coaching programs and other activities will have their own participation periods and deadlines determined by the relevant state or territory provider.

Eligibility Criteria

At the national level, the program is intended for:

• Australian farmers and land managers.
• Businesses and participants involved in agricultural and primary production activities, subject to state or territory requirements.
• Participants seeking to improve their economic, environmental or social resilience.
• Farm businesses seeking support with planning, risk management, climate adaptation, diversification or related capability development.
• Participants who meet the eligibility and participation requirements established by their relevant state or territory delivery agency.

There is no nationally stated turnover threshold, ABN/GST requirement or standard business-size threshold on the central program page. These requirements, where applicable, should be checked against the relevant state or territory program before participation.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The program primarily supports learning, development and professional assistance, rather than unrestricted business expenditure. Eligible support can include:

• Development or updating of farm business plans.
• One-on-one professional business advice.
• Business coaching.
• Strategic business management training.
• Financial literacy and planning.
• Drought preparedness and climate adaptation training.
• Risk assessment and decision-making activities.
• Data and business performance analysis.
• Diversification and transformational planning.
• Training relating to new farming systems and practices.
• Succession and farm transition planning.
• Workplace health and safety training.
• Peer learning, workshops, webinars, field days and similar activities.
• Practical resources and tools that improve farm business capability.

Capital equipment, construction and major infrastructure expenditure are not identified as a standard national FBR funding category. Applicants seeking capital funding should assess separate state, territory or Commonwealth agricultural grant programs.

Assessment Process

The Farm Business Resilience Program does not operate as a single national competitive grant round in which businesses submit applications for a fixed pool of project funding.

Instead, the Australian Government funds the program and state and territory governments administer the relevant activities. Participation requirements, selection processes, co-contributions and available services can therefore differ between jurisdictions.

Applicants should consider:

• Eligibility under the relevant state or territory program.
• Whether the proposed learning or development activity addresses genuine farm business risks.
• How the activity will improve business resilience and decision-making.
• The relevance of drought and climate adaptation.
• The participant’s capacity to apply the knowledge or skills to the farm business.
• Any applicable participant contribution or program-specific requirements.

Recent Program Updates

• The first phase of the Farm Business Resilience Program operated from 2020 to 2025.
• The program has been extended through to 2029 as part of the next phase of the Future Drought Fund.
• The Australian Government has allocated $83.2 million over five years from 2024–25 for the next phase, delivered in partnership with states and territories.
• In 2026, state-specific extensions have continued to be announced. For example, Tasmania announced a further $6.2 million for its second phase of the program through to 2029, while Victoria announced more than $66.8 million for the continuation of the Victorian Farm Business Resilience Program and Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program through 2029.
• The program continues to focus on practical capability development, including farm business management, drought preparedness, decision-making and risk management.

Application Tips

• Check the relevant state or territory program first, as delivery arrangements are jurisdiction-specific.
• Confirm participant eligibility before enrolling in a subsidised activity.
• Review whether a participant co-contribution applies.
• Prepare current financial and business information where business planning or financial assessment is involved.
• Identify the principal risks affecting the farm business, including drought, climate, financial and operational risks.
• Select activities that directly address identified business capability gaps.
• Consider how the knowledge or professional advice will be incorporated into the farm business plan.
• Retain any documentation required by the state or territory program.
• Do not assume that participation in FBR provides funding for capital purchases or infrastructure; separate funding programs may be required for these activities.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in identifying suitable government funding opportunities and preparing compliant applications. Applicants should also confirm the latest requirements directly with the relevant state or territory program administrator.

For official program information, state and territory contacts, current activities and funding information, applicants can refer to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Farm Business Resilience Program. The Department’s central program page provides links to the relevant delivery agencies in each state and territory.