Rural Aid Australia

Rural Aid aims to provide practical and essential services for farmers during and following natural disasters across Australia.

Dependant on the farmer’s eligibility and current situation, Rural Aid’s assistance includes the following:
1. Hay/fodder (Buy a Bale)
- When crops are destroyed and fodder supplies are lost due to fire, flood and drought, Rural Aid distributes vital assistance to help farmers and their livestock survive.
- Hay deliveries are guided by the needs of each community and include large truckloads and smaller deliveries.

2. Financial assistance
- During times of financial hardship, Rural Aid provides farmers and their families with financial assistance via direct deposit (to pay bills) and pre-paid Visa cards (to spend in their local community).
- A one-off payment of $1,000 is available to assist with bill expenses.

3. Domestic water supply
- Rural Aid provides domestic water for drought-stricken areas so primary producers can access the fundamental resource needed to survive.

4. Counselling
- Rural Aid's tailored counselling program helps build emotional resilience and aims to reduce stress, depression and suicide in rural areas.
- Qualified, Australian Counselling Association nationally registered counsellors will provide mental wellbeing support services for farmers and their families.

5. Our Towns community renewal program
- The Rural Aid team works with key stakeholders in country towns to identify much-needed rebuilding and community makeover projects. The Our Towns initiative brings these projects to life with financial grants and a dedicated group of community volunteers.

6. Farm Army job matching service
- Farm Army volunteers give their time to help rural communities rebuild and repair following natural disasters.
- An online job board is used to match people with farmers who require assistance with new jobs listed each week.

Please visit the Rural Aid website for more information of their programs.

Eligible applicants include farmers and rural communities across Australia.

For Buy a Bale, eligible applicants must be primary producers, including those whose industry includes the farming of livestock, produce, bees and other forms of primary production, who have a current ABN and must already be registered with Rural Aid.