THE state government has announced more than $10 million worth of measures to aid western Victorian communities struggling to cope with drought.
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Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford, and Minister for Water Lisa Neville announced the support measures at a community barbecue in Birchip on Sunday.
The measures ensure farmers and their families experiencing emotional and financial stress get the support they need to help them get through the challenging times, Mr Andrews said.
The new support measures include:
- $220,00 to deliver Mental Health First Aid training across the 10 identified drought affected local council areas and implement local community engagement and support measures.
- $270,00 for additional rural financial counsellors.
- $300,000 from the State Schools Relief program to provide families in drought affected communities with uniforms, shoes and other school items.
- $960,000 to support kindergarten participation in drought affected communities.
- $1 million to employ drought affected farmers and farm workers on environmental projects.
- $1.5 million for a drought extension program to help farmers make necessary on-farm decisions such as de-stocking, animal health and welfare, feed budgeting, land management, irrigation and water use efficiency.
- $5.8 million from the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund to ensure kids in drought affected regions don’t miss out on these important educational experiences.
The National Centre for Farmer Health, which received $4 million in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, will use this funding to target drought affected areas with a series of activities, workshops and events to support rural families and communities.
The new drought extension program will also fund the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Look Over Your Farm Gate campaign which encourages locals to get together and provide support to each other.
More information is available at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or by calling 136 186.
Mr Andrews began a two-day visit to drought affected parts of the Wimmera and western Victoria on Sunday.
He spent time with the local water authority and farmers in Donald, before heading to the Donald Cup. On Monday, the premier will attend a breakfast round-table hosted by the Birchip Cropping Group and local council representatives, before visiting a local farm.
Mr Andrews, Ms Neville and Ms Pulford will then head to Charlton for a briefing by GWM Water on works to enhance the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline. This will be followed by a round-table in Wedderburn.
