Grants and funding
Financial assistance to Farmers, Schools, and Industrial businesses for infrastructure projects
Woolworths Dairy Innovation Fund
The Fund will deliver $5 million in grants up to $100,000 each over three years to Australian dairy farmers in our supply chain. These grants will support on-farm improvements that deliver innovation, efficiency, greater resilience, or enhanced sustainability.
Funding provided by Woolworths under a Grant may only be used by the recipient in connection with:
- the purchase or development of plant, equipment and/or infrastructure to be used in connection with dairy farming; or
- dairy farming research and development activities.
Examples of suitable purposes include (but are not limited to) investment in:
- water infrastructure (eg. improvements to irrigation, storage, bores, troughs, shed hygiene and recycling);
- fodder infrastructure (eg. storage, machinery, fodder mixers);
- initiatives that improve on-farm sustainability, including ag-tech solutions and initiatives that improve animal health, welfare and milk quality; and
- IT upgrades and training.
Australian dairy farmers who contribute milk to Woolworths’ dairy supply chain are invited to apply by downloading and filling out the application form below. Once filled out, please send your application form along with any supporting documents and images to [email protected]
Download application form here
The third round of the Woolworths Dairy Innovation Fund will open later this year.
Full information available at the LINK.
The Drought Assistance Fund is now closed to applications.
Full information available at the LINK.
Farm Innovation Fund NSW
The NSW Government has committed $1 billion to the Farm Innovation Fund.
NSW farmers can borrow up to a maximum of $1 million per project, with a total of $1 million outstanding at any one time to build on-farm infrastructure, including stock containment areas.
The Farm Innovation Fund is a long term, low interest rate loan scheme for NSW farmers for permanent on-farm infrastructure. The Farm Innovation Fund helps farmers to:
- improve farm productivity – reduce risks and improve efficiencies by building fodder and grain storage facilities, sheds, fencing, roadworks and solar power conversions.
- manage adverse seasonal conditions – improve water efficiencies with irrigation systems, cap and piping of bores, new dams, install water tanks and desilting of ground tanks.
- ensure long term sustainability – increase the viability of a farm business and improve pasture and soil health, plant trees for shade and wildlife corridors, eradicate weeds, flood proof property and fence riverbanks.
Funds approved as of June 1 2023:
Farm Innovation Funds approved – $652,813,622
Drought Assistance Funds approved – $181,642,050
Remaining funding -$154,943,387
We recommend using Google Chrome browser to complete all online forms.
Full information available at the LINK.
AgriStarter Loan
There are two kinds of AgriStarter loans – first farmer loans and succession loans.
You can apply for a first farmer loan if you are seeking to purchase, establish or develop a farm business in which you hold or will hold the sole interest or a controlling interest.
You can apply for a succession loan if your farm business is undertaking or has undertaken succession planning.
Refer to the AgriStarter Loan Guidelines for further eligibility requirements.
An applicant must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the AgriStarter Loan Guidelines before they can obtain an AgriStarter Loan.
Apply for an AgriStarter Loan online
Quick facts
Full information available at the LINK.
Farm Investment Loan
Loans to make your farm business stronger, more resilient and more profitable.
Use this loan to
- refinance your debt
- enhance your productivity
- pay for operating expenses or capital
- fund drought-related activities
Quick facts
Full information available at the LINK.
Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses
Eligible businesses can claim an immediate deduction for the business portion of the cost of an asset in the year the asset is first used or installed ready for use.
Instant asset write-off can be used for:
- multiple assets, if the cost of each individual asset is less than the relevant threshold
- new and second-hand assets
Eligibility to use instant asset write-off on an asset depends on:
- your aggregated turnover (the total ordinary income of your business and that of any associated businesses)
- the date you purchased the asset
- when it was first used or installed ready for use
- the cost of the asset being less than the threshold.
You are not eligible to use instant asset write-off on an asset if your aggregated turnover is $500 million or more.
If temporary full expensing applies to the asset, you do not apply instant asset write-off.
If you are a small business, you need to apply the simplified depreciation rules to claim the instant asset write-off. It cannot be used for assets that are excluded from those rules.
The instant asset write-off does not apply for assets you start to hold, and first use (or have installed ready for use) for a taxable purpose, from 7:30pm (AEDT) on 6 October 2020 to 30 June 2023. You must immediately deduct the business portion of the asset’s cost under temporary full expensing.
Full information available at the LINK.
Accelerated Depreciation for Primary Producers
If you are a primary producer, you may be entitled to claim an immediate deduction for capital expenses incurred on fencing and fodder storage assets.
Typical fodder storage assets include:
- silos
- liquid feed supplement storage tanks
- bins for storing dried grain
- hay sheds
- grain storage sheds
- above-ground bunkers
More information available at the LINK.
Capital grants for non-government schools
Non-government schools may be able to get Australian Government funding to improve school infrastructure through the Capital Grants Program. Some of these schools received funds for Covered Outdoor Learning Areas (COLA) in schools.
Program Guidelines can be accessed at the LINK.
Programs for the Development of Educational Facilities
The capital grants programs of the Australian and Queensland Governments assist eligible independent schools to plan, construct, convert, refurbish, and upgrade educational facilities, boarding facilities and distance education facilities. There are two programs which Approved Authorities and their schools may access, when seeking assistance for projects regarding educational facilities.
Find out about the eligibility criteria for both CGP and SCAS, the program guidelines, support documentation and resources for the application process here:
Applications under the 3rd round of GCP and SCAS are currently open.
Full information available at the LINK.
Disaster relief loans – Primary producers
Primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster who are in urgent and genuine need of assistance, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.
- Loan term Up to 12 years, first two years are interest and repayment free
- Interest rate – 0.80%
See Guidelines
Applications for these programs under the February 2022 event are now open until 30 June 2023 and approved applicants now have until 30 September 2023 to lodge invoices to claim payment.
Full information available at the LINK.
Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority – First Start Loan
A First Start Loan can provide you with concessional finance of up to $2 million to assist you in the initial years of establishing your Queensland based primary production business.
Full information available at the LINK.
Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority – Sustainability Loan
A Sustainability Loan can help you secure the future sustainability of your existing Queensland based primary production business.
More information available at the LINK.
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) funding
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is a $5 billion lending facility to provide loans to infrastructure projects in northern Australia. NAIF can provide debt or equity finance to projects that satisfy the relevant mandatory criteria in its Investment Mandate. The mandatory criteria require that each project must:
- Involve the development or enhancement of infrastructure.
- Be of public benefit.
- Be in, or have significant benefit for, northern Australia.
- For debt finance, be able to repay or refinance NAIF’s debt.
- Have an Indigenous engagement strategy.
- For equity investments, generate a return to Government.
The projects that NAIF can finance are wide ranging and include physical structures, assets, technology or facilities that contribute to the establishment or enhancement of economic activity in a region.
Examples of the sectors that NAIF can support include, but are not limited to, resources, airports, ports and rail, agriculture, water, energy, social infrastructure (including property, tourism, education and health), manufacturing and telecommunications.
Full information available at the LINK.
Net Zero or climate change grants
Emissions Reduction Fund
The Emissions Reduction Fund provides businesses with the opportunity to earn Australian carbon credit units for every ton of carbon dioxide equivalent a business store or avoids emitting through adopting new practices and technologies.
The Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) incentivizes Australian businesses to cut the amount of greenhouse gases they create and to undertake activities that store carbon.
This can be through projects involving:
- new technology
- upgrading equipment
- changing business practices to improve productivity or energy use
- changing the way vegetation is managed to store more carbon.
The applications may be made at any time.
More information available at the LINK.
Emissions reduction incentives
We encourage businesses, industries and consumers to reduce their emissions through a number of programs and initiatives.
- The Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) aims to provide incentives for a range of organisations and individuals to adopt new practices and technologies to reduce their emissions and store carbon.
- Climate Active encourages Australian businesses to become carbon neutral by awarding Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard certification. Read how we administer Climate Active.
- The government is developing a new Safeguard Crediting Mechanism to incentivise industry to further reduce emissions. This is in line with recommendations in the King Review.
- The Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme reduces emissions by encouraging more electricity generation from renewable sources.
Information how to APPLY.
More information available at the LINK.
Community Zero Emissions Grants
The Community Zero Emissions Grants Program is available to help fund projects that lower emissions. The total grant amount available is $600,000 over four years, ending in 2025.
Applications for the current round of funding have closed.
Successful grant recipients will be announced before June 2022.
More information on the current and future rounds will be available at the LINK.
CEFC Agribusiness support
The CEFC is an active financier to agribusiness, and we’ve worked closely with the sector to identify where clean energy technologies can have substantial benefits for on-farm production and energy storage activities. In an Australian first, the CEFC and the National Farmers’ Federation collaborated to produce a practical guide for Australia’s 85,000 farming enterprises, identifying 51 opportunities where farmers can reduce their energy bills by improving energy efficiency and switching to renewables.
More information available at the LINK.
Building Upgrade Finance NSW
Building Upgrade Finance provides owners or managers of commercial buildings with access to finance to make a building upgrade.
To be eligible, you must:
- own an existing non-residential building located within a participating council- external site area, or have the approval to upgrade the building (the building owner must sign the loan contract)
- be upgrading a non-strata commercial building.
Typically, eligible projects fall into 3 categories:
- generation of renewable energy and emissions reduction (e.g. solar PV, end of trip facilities etc)
- improvement of energy and/or water efficiency (e.g. plant and equipment – lighting, air conditioning, boilers and lifts, rainwater tanks, water efficient fixtures and fittings)
- minimisation of waste (e.g. waste infrastructure systems).
Full information available at the LINK.
Queensland drought assistance
The new drought preparedness measures are open to all primary producers without needing a drought declaration. New measures include:
Drought Preparedness Grants
The Drought Preparedness Grant scheme will provide a rebate to primary producers of up to 25 percent up to $50,000 for on-farm capital improvements identified in their Farm Business Resilience Plan to improve the drought preparedness and resilience of their property such as drilling of a bore or installing feed storage. A drought declaration is not required for this grant.
Drought Ready and Recovery Loan
The Drought Ready and Recovery Finance Loan provides a concessional interest loan of up to $250,000 for primary producers to undertake preparedness measures identified in their Farm Business Resilience Plan. Examples include drilling of a bore, installing water infrastructure, installing feed storage, expanding dams and improving irrigation. This is a complementary measure to the drought preparedness grants. A drought declaration is not required for this loan.
Emergency Drought Assistance Loans
The Emergency Drought Assistance Loan offers an interest free loan up to $50,000 to primary producers to assist in meeting working capital expenses. Applicants must be drought impacted.
Drought Carry-on Finance Loan Scheme
The Drought Carry-on Finance Loans Scheme provides a concessional interest loan to droughtdeclared primary producers of up to $250,000 for drought carry-on finance. These loans will be available where the $50,000 available from the Emergency Drought Assistance Loans Scheme is insufficient. Applicants must be drought impacted.
Collie Futures Small Grants Program
APPLY NOW for grants up to $100,000.
The Collie Futures Small Grants Program backs projects that support local economic growth and job opportunities.
Full information available at the LINK.
AgBiz Drought Loan
For farm-related small businesses to manage and recover from drought.
Submissions close at midnight 30 June 2023 (AWST).
Full information available at the LINK.
Concessional loans for small, fast growing NT businesses
Business Investment Concessional Loans provide businesses in the Northern Territory with concessional loans to help them undertake projects which will expand and grow their business.
Projects must be of net economic benefit to the NT and should:
– create and sustain new local jobs
– increase economic activity
– expand production capacity
– grow export capability/import substitutability
Loans may be offered to small, emerging and fast growing businesses that:
– are able to demonstrate significant long term growth potential
– need to bridge the gap between feasibility and the ability to attract ongoing commercial debt funding
Loans are valued between $100 000 and $3 Million
Small Business Growth Strategy Grant Program: Special Release West Coast Region
This program provides funding (one-off grant of $5 000) to eligible small businesses in the West Coast region of Tasmania in response to the shutdown of the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Grants are available to eligible businesses in the West Coast region of Tasmania in response to the temporary shutdown of the West Coast Wilderness Railway in 2023.
Funding may be used to support projects that are aligned with the 4 themes from the Small Business Growth Strategy 2026:
- – people and connections
- – place
- – enabling business
- – technology.
Eligible expenditure includes, but is not limited to, salaries and costs directly related to the delivery of an eligible project.
Application Closing Date: Wednesday, 30th August, 2023
Agribusiness finance by Westpac New Zealand
Westpac is offering finance for a variety of agribusiness needs including:
- Buying a farm
- Buying new equipment
- Developing your farm
- Buying livestock
- Purchasing dairy company shares
- Covering cash short-falls
- Minimizing the impact of seasonal fluctuations
- Longer-term finance with fixed, fixed-forward, or floating interest rates.
Free up your working capital by purchasing shed with their equipment and infrastructure financing.
More information available at the LINK or you can CONTACT an agribusiness manager.
BNZ’s agribusiness support
BNZ is focused on helping farmers achieve long term financial and environmental sustainability. They invest and lend for the long term and are committed to backing agribusinesses that demonstrate strong financial and environmental management disciplines.
You can apply for up to 100% funding for new or used equipment for your business and customize your repayments and term of your loan to meet your cashflow needs.
Find more at the LINK.
Agri-banking by Rabobank
We back you with products tailor-made for farmers, and we put 100% of our deposits into New Zealand agribusinesses.
More information available at the LINK.
Rural Sustainability Loan (ASB)
Wherever you are on your journey to sustainable farming, ASB’s Rural sustainability Loan can help bring your environmental goals to life.
Asset Finance
This loan lets you buy, replace or refinance assets, while providing them as security for the loan. It can be an option to free up capital and take advantage of new opportunities.
Asset Finance Term loan
- Loan terms that match the economic life of your assets.
- Fixed and variable interest rate options.
- Flexible payment structures.
- Loan amounts starting from $20,000.
- Use new or existing assets as loan security.
- No deposit option.
More information available at the LINK 1 and LINK 2.
The New Zealand Upgrade Programme
Upgrading New Zealand Schools
In December, New Zealand Government announced the first part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme: a one-off cash injection for almost every state school to bring forward urgent school property improvements.
School property projects the investment can be spent on include:
- Classroom upgrades, including making classrooms more flexible and modern
- Replacing roofing and guttering
- Upgrading storm water drainage systems
- Installing energy efficient heating and lighting
- Resurfacing outdoor courts and paved areas
The additional funding is available for 24 months, and some schools have already started work.
School infrastructure projects ramping up
Investment in schools – a commitment to communities
Government investing to future proof school property
More information at the LINK.
Government’s School Investment Package Supports 4,500 Projects
Budget 2022 provides continued investment in school infrastructure, totalling $777 million in capital investment. This builds on the $2.9 billion provided through successive Budgets, since 2018.
$24.3 million ongoing annual capital funding provided directly to schools for replacing furniture and equipment.
This funding adjusts the Funding and Equipment rate so that schools can properly maintain and upgrade their furniture and equipment. Funding will be provided directly to schools as part of the 5YA property process.
More information at the LINK.
Australian government (federal or state) support to farmers affected by the floods in Queensland and New South Wales
Disaster assistance available – Southeast Queensland Rainfall and Flooding, 22 February – 7 March 2022
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants for Primary producers – South East Queensland
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants are available to assist directly impacted small businesses, primary producers and non-profits with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement.
Grants of up to $75,000 are available for affected producers following Southeast Queensland Rainfall and Flooding (22 February – 7 March 2022) to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with the recovery process. Producers should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application.
Applications close 10 March 2023.
Apply online at the LINK.
Full information available at the LINK.
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants for Industrial Businesses – South East Queensland
Grants of up to $50,000 are available for affected small businesses following the South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding (22 February – 5 April 2022) to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace or repair damaged infrastructure and stock and other costs associated with the recovery process
Applications close 10 March 2023.
Full information available at the LINK.
Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan
Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans are available to assist primary producers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations with essential working capital for expenses.
| Loan amount | Maximum of $100,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Repayments | If needed, up to two years interest only may be available |
| Security | A loan under the scheme must be secured by a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA. |
| Fees | No establishment fees, no account maintenance fees and no fees for early payout. |
Application close 31 December 2023.
Full information available at the LINK.
Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – Central, Southern and Western Queensland Rainfall and Flooding
Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants are available to assist directly impacted primary producers and small businesses with the costs of clean-up and the reinstatement of their business.
Grants of up to $50,000 are available for affected producers/ $25,000 for affected Small Businesses following Central Southern Western Qld Rainfall and Flooding to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with the recovery process. Producers should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application.
Applications close 30 September 2022.
Apply online at the LINK.
Full information available at the LINK.
Disaster relief loans – NSW Primary producers
Primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.
This low interest rate loan can help a farm business to:
- continue to operate your farm businesses for the next twelve months or until the next income is received
- replace and repair damage caused to the property and associated improvements not covered by insurance.
Loan overview
| Details | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $130,000 maximum |
| Loan term | Up to 12 years
First two years are interest and repayment free |
| Interest rate | 0.80% |
| Fees & Charges | Security searches and registration
No ongoing fees or charges |
Full information available at the LINK.
Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy
A natural disaster assistance transport subsidy is available to eligible farmers who are affected by a declared natural disaster event. This subsidy pays for the cost of transporting:
- fodder and/or water to an affected property
- stock to sale or slaughter
- stock to/from agistment.
Applications for these programs under the February 2022 event are now open until 30 June 2023 and approved applicants now have until 30 September 2023 to lodge invoices to claim payment.
Full information available at the LINK.
Special Disaster Grants – NSW Severe Weather & Flooding February 2022 onwards
The NSW and Australian Governments have announced additional assistance measures to support primary producers who have been impacted by the floods and severe weather that occurred from February 2022 onwards.
Assistance is now being provided to 57 local government areas in NSW through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods are receiving vital support, with Special Disaster Grants of up to $75,000 now available.
Apply online NOW.
Full information available at the LINK.
Apply for the February and March 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant
If you’re a small business or a not-for-profit organization in NSW and you’ve been directly impacted by storms and floods in February and March 2022, you may be eligible for a storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations.
You must be a small business owner or a not-for profit organisation in a defined disaster area and:
- have suffered direct damage – ‘direct damage’ means a direct and material impact of flooding on business assets or equipment.
- be primarily responsible for meeting the costs you are claiming
- intend to re-establish your small business or not-for-profit organisation within the same area
- if you are a small business, have held an ABN (which you currently hold) and engaged in carrying on the small business at the time of the floods in the defined disaster area
- if you are a not-for-profit organisation, be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or an equivalent state regulatory body and have held that registration at the time of the eligible disaster.
- be authorized to act on behalf of the business. Note: The following people can apply as long as they provide a letter of authority:
- your accountant
- registered tax agent
- registered BAS agent
- other business representatives.
Ful information available at the LINK.
Apply for the June and July 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant
If you’re a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you’ve been directly impacted by storms and floods in June and July 2022, you may be eligible for a storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant.
This disaster recovery grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations.
More information at the LINK.
Flood support by The Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office has also announced support including extra time to pay tax or lodge tax returns, activity statements or other obligations, and are prioritising any refunds owed to you.
This information applies to small business and individual taxpayers in affected local government areas (LGAs) in QueenslandExternal Link and New South WalesExternal Link who need to lodge business activity statements and instalment notices with an original due date of 28 February 2022 or 21 March 2022.
These taxpayers can lodge relevant returns up until 28 March 2022 and do not need to request a lodgment deferral if they are able to lodge by that date. This does not apply to significant global entities or large businesses, who will need to contact us to work through any lodgment concerns.
Full information available at the LINK.
Rural Assistance Payments
Rural Assistance Payments can help farmers during or after an adverse event, eg. a flood or drought
As a result of the drought and floods in August 2021, the Government has activated Rural Assistance Payments from 2 August 2021 for Marlborough, Tasman, West Coat, Canterbury, Otago and the Chatham Islands.
To get this payment, any cash or off-farm assets you have must be under a certain amount. This doesn’t include farm or orchard assets, such as shares in dairy, meat or fertiliser companies.
| If you are: | Your assets must be less than: |
| single | $1,193.21 |
| a couple (with or without children) or a sole parent | $1,988.20 |
Full information available at the LINK
Rural Landholders Grant
Grants of up to $25,000 are available for landholders and oyster farmers in declared Local Government Areas (LGAs), who have holdings of at least 10ha of rural land or a Class A aquaculture permit authorising at least 1ha; and receive at least $20,000 in income from primary production per annum.
Applications for the RLG program are open until 30 June 2023. All activities and expenditure funded under this program must be complete, and all invoices to claim payment must be submitted to the RAA by 31 March 2023.
Full information available at the LINK.
SafeWork small business rebate
The $1000 rebate is available to small businesses and NFPs with fewer than 50 full-time employees. Charities and not-for-profits can also apply.
Apply for the SafeWork small business rebate at the LINK.
New South Wales Floods June 2022
A range of disaster assistance is now available following severe storms and flooding from 27 June 2022, which continue to impact large areas of Sydney and the New South Wales coast.
Disaster Recovery Allowance
The allowance provides up to 13 weeks of income support payments to employees and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the floods. You may be eligible if:
- You were 16 or older at the time of the natural disaster event
- You are an Australian resident or hold an eligible visa
- Equivalent payments are also available to eligible New Zealand non-protected Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) holders.
- You work/derive an income from or live in an affected Local Government Area
- You lost income as a direct result of the natural disaster event
- You earn less than the average Australian weekly income in the weeks after you had this income loss.