Drought resources

At any given time, the region covered under Southern NSW Innovation Hub's footprint will be experiencing a myriad of environmental impacts and climate conditions across agriculture, industry, and community, including drought.

While Southern NSW Innovation Hub doesn’t offer frontline support services in times of drought, it is what our partners do – in particular, Local Land Services (LLS), NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and Rural Aid.

Southern NSW Innovation Hub's role is to work behind the scenes, supporting drought preparation and helping producers and communities plan ahead and make positive management decisions. As part of a longer-term, more proactive approach to drier seasons, we invest in tools, resources, modern solutions, and practices that help farmers prepare for, adapt to, and recover from drought.

Looking for help?

If you or your community are experiencing drought and looking for help, the best place to start is the NSW Government’s online Drought Hub droughthub.nsw.gov.au.

For specific on-farm advice for farmers and landholders dealing with drought, Local Land Services (LLS) provides support leading up to, during, and after drought. More information, contacts, and resources are available at the LLS drought support and initiatives webpage.

Other useful websites and contact information for drought-related support services and financial assistance are listed below.

Resources for farmers and advisers

Southern NSW Innovation Hub has compiled a document for farmers and advisers facing dry times, including readily available resources, online tools, videos and webinar recordings.

NSW DroughtHub is a one-stop online destination for information and support available to primary producers to prepare for and manage drought.

Climate and weather

Services

Tools and resources

Drought Adoption Officers work across NSW to assist landholders with drought planning and preparedness extension services.

Local Drought Adoption Officers are on the ground with Local Land Services in regional areas, providing the following to landholders:

  • one-on-one advice about drought resilience and preparedness
  • one-on-one advice and general drought awareness at local events such as field days
  • hosting workshops on drought preparedness including confinement feeding, decision making tools and farm planning
  • state-wide drought preparedness activities such as webinars and workshops.

Drought Adoption Officers received funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund through the Southern NSW Innovation Hub and Southern Queensland Northern NSW Hub.

Find your local Drought Adoption Officer.

The Drought handbook includes advice and personal thoughts from Local Land Services staff, links to online resources, and other support available to landholders. This guide was produced specific to the Central Tablelands Local Land Services region, but may also have useful drought advice for your situation.

Webinars a series of 'dealing with dry times' webinars are available on replay for livestock producers across the state to assist in their decision making and management of their livestock through dry times.

Guide to confinement feeding sheep and cattle in NSW, developed by Central Tablelands Local Land Services aims to provide producers with best practice management protocols and recommendations when confinement feeding stock on-farm.

NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA)  provides tailored access to financial assistance to help regional and rural businesses and communities in NSW deal with challenges and change.

  • The Farm Management Deposit (FMD) Scheme assists primary producers to deal more effectively with fluctuations in cash flows. It is designed to increase the self-reliance of Australian primary producers by helping them manage their financial risk and meet their business costs in low-income years by building up cash reserves.
  • Farm Household Allowance is a payment for farming families in financial hardship. provides assistance to farming families experiencing financial hardship for any reason.
  • Taxation measures are available to help primary producers affected by drought or natural disasters.
  • Climate Services for Agriculture are delivered by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, and funded by the Future Drought Fund, this program gives farmers better climate information through tools like My Climate View.

The Australian Government's Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) provides low-interest loans to directly benefit farm businesses Australia-wide, saving them thousands of dollars in interest payments each year. These interest savings help farmers who have experienced significant financial disruption from drought, natural disasters, and cumulative events to improve cash flow so they can manage through, recover and rebuild. Available loans include:

  • Drought Loan: Prepare for drought. Manage or recover from the effects of drought.
  • AgBiz Drought Loan: For farm-related small businesses to manage and recover from drought.
  • AgriStarter Loan: Loans to assist first-time farmers and loans to support farm succession arrangements
  • Farm Investment Loan: Recover from severe business impact and prepare for future financial disruptions.

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) NSW supports primary producers and small related enterprises located in Central and Southern NSW that are experiencing, or are at risk of, financial hardship.

Experienced RFCS counsellors are available to assist primary producers and related enterprises navigate the complex financial landscape of rural living. They provide tailored, confidential and professional advice on a range of issues, including debt relief, budgeting, business planning, and accessing government assistance.

Rural Aid aims to safeguard farming and rural communities before, during and after natural disasters. It supports farmers when disaster strikes and offers the help needed at the time.

Rural Aid's services for primary producers include:

  • Counselling
  • Financial assistance
  • Fodder
  • Domestic water
  • The Farm Army
  • Community represenatives
  • Farm transition services
  • Educational resources

Givit.org.au is a national not-for-profit online donation platform which partners with charitable organisations to match local needs with generosity of donors.

Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW has been supporting women, children and their communities for 100 years.

Phone 02 8337 0200 or visit cwaofnsw.org.au

St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies) provides personal support, advocacy, clothing, and some financial assistance. Phone 13 18 12 or visit vinnies.org.au

Mental Health Support

The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) provides help and resources to regional, rural and remote people and communities in NSW.

RAMHP has 20 Coordinators employed by Local Health Districts across NSW who provide health promotion and educational activities in their local communities and link individuals with appropriate services.

Find help and support

Find resources

Rural Aid provides critical support including water, fodder (hay) and counselling assistance to help farmers.

The Rural Aid Mental Health and Wellbeing team is made up of experienced counsellors who are based in rural towns across the country.

Rural Aid counsellors offer free, confidential support to farmers and their families. Counselling Intake Line phone 1300 175 594

Having a tough time and need someone to talk to right now? The following services are there to listen and help you out. They are confidential and available 24/7.