The aim of this drive is to take the pressure off farmers, their families, employees and community members during this crisis, by providing links to services that can help them.
These include assistance with accessing day to day household, personal and farm necessities, financial aid, health services and contacts within the community that are setting up to support each other.
We will provide up to date information on what assistance is available in your region and should you require anything that is not currently available, we shall do our utmost to help you source it.
We also have facebook pages for our Northern and North East groups to discuss issues, advertise Community events and fundraisers and provide information regarding support available to our farmers.
Northern Victoria Farmer Relief Drive https://www.facebook.com/groups/237705996609053/
North East Victoria Farmer Relief Drive https://www.facebook.com/groups/1540199596289101/
We would love to hear from you.
Contact with us is confidential and your privacy is paramount.
What's News?
IMPORTANT!!Even if you are not, or think you are not, eligible for FHA it is worth getting an appointment with a Rural Financial Counsellor to assess where you are at with your business. This service is FREE and they will come out to your farm. ANY farmer is able to use it (Even NZ or non Aussie citizens that are farming/sharefarming here)They are extremely helpful in finding ways to solve your financial pressures and also have access to the IGA/Lions food vouchers/cards to help out anyone who needs it. See the FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE page for details of your closest branch.
There is absolutely no need for ANY farmer experiencing hardship during this crisis with the milk prices to go without essentials.Please do not hesitate to contact us if you, or someone you know, needs that little bit of help to get through these tough times. The help is readily available, FREE and totally confidential.Call us on 0427 641 287
News regarding FHA and Concessional Loans
On 30 December 2016, Dairy Recovery Concessional loans became available to Victorian dairy farm businesses affected by the National Dairy Products retrospective price reduction in 2015–16.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/assistance/farm-business-concessional-loans-scheme/dairy-recovery-concessional-loans
Recent changes to legislation mean farmers with high value water assets may now be eligible for Farm Household Allowance.
Please take the time to get help with your application. Self assessing may mean you miss out on entitlements you should be getting. For some, it might be worth reapplying.
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/farm-household-allowance
Please also keep in mind that the FHA application is done as individuals not as a couple so both parties need to apply.
Anyone wanting to contact Centrelink re the FHA?
PLEASE make sure you use the hotline number
132 316
Calling other Centrelink numbers may put you in contact with someone unfamiliar with the FHA application processes and you may not get the information/response you are wanting.
Centrelink Mobile Service Centre schedule for October/November 2018 is on the
(full details on the events page)
What is happening around the place??
Ring 0427641287 to tell us what is happening in your area !!
For those of you wanting to help with a donation or some fundraising, please check out our Fundraisers page or go to our new facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/950249705097245/
Melbourne Loves Dairy
This facebook group has been set up to try to get some much needed support to our dairy farmers.
Please help us spread the word down in Melbourne and suburbs and try to get some assistance behind the great volunteer work being done to send out food hampers and other assistance to dairy farm families.
Everything we do is unpaid and all assistance is from what you are able to help with. We are Victorians helping other Victorians get through some tough times. Assistance so far has enabled many families to get a week's worth of food and take pressure off their finances for that period.
It is ongoing support available until other assistance (eg Farm Household Allowance) can be arranged.
We have fundraising ideas and assistance to run them as well as info on how you can make a difference where 100% of what you help us with goes to farm families right here in Victoria.
Let's look after the farmers who look after us.
Our contact details are at the bottom of the page and you can always join in on conversations and give us your ideas on our facebook pages.
Northern Victoria Farmer Relief Drive
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237705996609053/
North East Victoria Farmer Relief Drive
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1540199596289101/
Melbourne Loves Dairy
https://www.facebook.com/groups/950249705097245/
What's on?
This website is continually having resource material for you being added to it. This update was at 12:41 am July 10th, 2019....
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE ADDED TO THIS SITE PLEASE EMAIL US. nvfrd.jc@gmail.com