Strengthening drought resilience across the country

The Albanese Labor Government continues to help build drought resilience across regional and rural Australia with a new $86.7 million grant opportunity opening today to deliver 7 Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Hubs.

The 7 Drought Resilience Hubs will be located in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Southern Western Australia, Queensland, and Northern Australia which includes the Northern Territory, Northern Western Australia and Northern Queensland.

Applications are now open for grants which seek providers to run the hubs until the end of June 2032. The design of this grant round responds to an independent review of the hubs released last year.

The Drought Resilience Hubs will help build drought resilience across the drought cycle by connecting farmers and communities to regional experts, innovations, new practices and services.

Since coming to office, the Albanese Labor Government has invested over $1.3 billion in rural support and drought resilience funding, to ensure our farmers and producers can confidently face our climate future.

The Government has committed $1 billion for additional RIC loan funding with a new Drought Hardship Loan opening earlier this year, ensuring farmers and producers can access support when they need it most.

The Future Drought Fund provides secure, continuous funding for initiatives that support farmers and regional communities to prepare for and build resilience to drought and other climate impacts.

Applications close 10 August 2026. For more information, visit www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Drought is always a case of when, not if, so being prepared is vital.

“The funding we are delivering for the Drought Resilience Hubs will help farmers and regional and rural communities prepare for, manage through and recover from drought.

“These hubs are driving the adoption of drought-resilient technologies and practices through activities such as training, demonstrations and enhancing industry partnerships.

“Our Government will continue to deliver rural support and drought resilience funding to get the very best results for farming families and communities.”