Facing Drought Together: A Guide to Support for Rural Communities

From South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula to the western districts of Victoria, many rural communities are enduring a mix of harsh dry spells and deceptive “green drought” conditions. It’s a complex picture: satellite data and rainfall records show ongoing rainfall deficiencies, with winter rainfall totals across 2024 and 2025 well below average across much of southern Australia - and few clear signs as to when conditions will shift.

A continued crisis across the regions

As the Bureau of Meteorology and Australian Government drought briefings indicate, the recovery from these conditions will take more than a good season. For many areas, even consistent rain wouldn’t reverse the economic and emotional pressures that have already set in.

These burdens are more than agricultural—they affect every corner of rural Australia. Farmers and their families are weighing not just financial decisions, but whether to send children away to find work, how to keep community sports alive, and how to explain tightening budgets at home.

Across these areas, relief organisations like Rural Aid and the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) are active on the ground. Rural Aid counsellors often hear a common refrain: “People in the city don’t understand.” That sense of disconnection can deepen the strain of an already difficult situation.

Beyond dry soil: The mental and economic weight of drought

When the rain doesn’t come, margins disappear. The cost of carting water rises. Feed becomes scarce. Hay and grain prices climb. Farmers are pushed into hard sale decisions—sometimes at losses that echo into future seasons.

On top of this, prolonged uncertainty, financial pressure, and isolation take a quiet toll on mental health. Many won’t reach out until crisis point. Programs such as Rural Minds, Lifeline, and Rural & Remote Mental Health offer targeted help—from digital resources to on-farm workshops - while Look Over the Farm Gate, supported by Agriculture Victoria, funds community wellbeing events.

Financial strain is made worse when policy adds pressure. In Victoria, the recent emergency services levy sparked fierce backlash. Farmers already struggling with drought were asked to pay more. Protests followed, volunteers stepped back, and councils resisted enforcement. The levy increase has now been paused for the financial year, a decision driven by rural voices pushing back. Concerns about the future of the levy remain, with industry groups arguing for it to be scrapped altogether.

It’s a clear signal that these communities aren’t waiting for change—they’re demanding it. Groups like the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) are stepping up with practical, farmer-driven policy frameworks, created in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria, to make sure future decisions better reflect lived reality.

Current support options available

Victoria

The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant Program offers up to $5,000 in matched funding for projects like tanks, pipes, troughs, feed storage and containment areas. The program is expanding to cover additional regions.

Start here: agriculture.vic.gov.au/droughtsupport

South Australia

Eligible producers in drought-affected LGAs can access grants of up to $1,500 through Rural Business Support, in addition to financial counselling and small business relief.

Details: pir.sa.gov.au/emergencies_and_recovery/drought

National

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is a long-standing federal program offering free, confidential financial guidance for farms and rural businesses.

Federal government assistance has also recently expanded, including a $36M commitment to further drought response measures and farm household allowances.

Who’s working to help?

Government aid is available—but not always straightforward. That’s why the role of non-government groups is indispensable. These groups often provide fast, flexible assistance, and a deep understanding of regional needs.

Some of the most active include:

• Rural Aid – providing financial assistance, fodder drops, and free on-farm counselling.

• Blaze Aid – helping rebuild fences and infrastructure after disaster events, with volunteer support.

• Rapid Relief Team – delivering food boxes, water relief, and drought support packs to struggling families.

• Farm Angels – offering tailored help to farming families and promoting mental wellbeing.

• RFCS Network – federally funded, it functions with localised delivery and deep community knowledge, providing financial coaching and mediation assistance.

These organisations also function as advocates, constantly engaging with policymakers to push for better support mechanisms based on what they see on the ground.

In step with our communities

At Central Steel Build, we work in partnership with farming communities across Australia. We’ve built sheds, arenas, and infrastructure that house livelihoods. We see the resilience of rural Australians every day—and understand the weight drought places on individuals, families, and entire towns.

And we also see how powerful these communities are in shaping their own futures. From regional volunteers rebuilding fences, to farmer-led groups pushing for smarter policy, it’s clear: solutions don’t just come from above. They start on the ground, in the paddock, around kitchen tables, and in the voices of those living it every day.

• Rural Aid donate or volunteer

• Farm Angels ways to give

• Blaze Aid donate or volunteer

• Rapid Relief Team Operation Drought Relief

• Rural & Remote Mental Health
  
  

If you or anyone you know need help:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14

• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

• Brother to Brother on 1800 435 799

• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800