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Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant

What is the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant?

The Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant provides eligible farm enterprises up to $5500 (GST inclusive) to access professional business and financial advice to develop written business plans incorporating drought and risk management strategies.

Previous Professional Advice and Planning Grant recipients can access an additional $2200 to re-evaluate their plans after a minimum of six months. Customers must have applied for and used this additional grant prior to the programme end date of 30 June 2009.

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How can the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant assist me?

If you are eligible, the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant can:

  • assist you in planning to maintain or increase the productivity or profitability of your business
  • provide funding to help you prepare for or manage your business in times of drought or climate variability
  • allow you to undertake an independent review of your farming business.

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Who is eligible for the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant?

You may be eligible for the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant if you are a farmer and:

  • are in an Exceptional Circumstances declared area
  • have been farming for more than two years
  • meet an asset test.

Farmers in prima facie and interim declared areas are not eligible. Only one grant per farm business will be issued and additional eligibility criteria may need to be met.

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How do I apply for the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant?

Applicants must apply for the Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant by 12 June 2009.

You can download the claim form from our website, phone the Drought Assistance Line on 13 2316 or visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

Once completed, the form should be sent to or lodged at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

Claim Forms

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How do I find out more?

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