Business support

Rural Financial Counselling Service

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Program provides primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses with free and impartial support and referral information to help clients to manage the challenges of industry change and adjustment, and improve financial self reliance.

Rural Financial Counselling Service website

Farm finance strategy

The Farm Finance Strategy (PDF 47.6 KB) helps farmers work together with financial institutions, assistance authorities, rural organisations, and their respective financial advisers and counsellors, to improve farm viability and resolve financial problems as they arise. This includes access to independent professional advice by the primary producer, early recognition of financial problems, resolving problems through negotiation and voluntary mediation where the problem has not been able to be resolved by negotiation.

Concessions

Farmers who are receiving a Centrelink Exceptional Circumstances payment during a period of drought or those who qualify for a Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card may be eligible for a concession on their council, energy, water, sewer and transport rates and their Emergency Services Levy (Fixed property).

Department for Communities and Social Inclusion - Concession information webpage

South Australia Research and Development Institute’s Climate Support program

The Climate Support program provides information and services for farmers on climate risks to support management decisions. These include a Climate Support newsletter, direct seasonal outlooks, property specific forecasts and Climate Risk Management Workshops.

South Australia Research and Development Institute - Information for Farmers webpage

Livestock solutions

Rural Solutions provides skilled and professional services for livestock industries in South Australia. They provide independent services and programmes which improve business profits in a sustainable way, promote and cause innovation and change, improve national and international competitiveness and protect production and natural resource base.

Rural Solutions SA - Livestock Solutions webpage

Property management planning

Rural Solutions SA works with farmers to develop individual property management plans that focus on all aspects of rural businesses including the enterprises, people, finances and the natural resources. This includes supporting primary producers to recover after drought.

Rural Solutions - Community & Indigenous webpage

Climate change adaptation and response

Rural Solutions works in partnership with other government agencies to provide rural industries with the latest climate change information to adapt, innovate and reduce emissions.

Rural Solutions - climate change webpage

Water management

Rural Solutions works with local communities and government agencies in collaborative activities around water management systems for irrigation efficiency, effective recycling and water quality.

Rural Solutions - Water Management webpage

National Resource Management Boards

Natural resource management (NRM) brings together the planning, allocation, conservation and use of all natural resources to secure a sustainable and prosperous South Australia. South Australia's eight NRM boards play a central role in engaging communities and working with the state government to decide NRM priorities, develop regional plans, and help resolve difficult challenges.

National Resource Management Boards website

Regional Development Australia

Regional Development Australia (RDA) in South Australia is a partnership between the Australian and South Australian governments, and the Local Government Association of South Australia on behalf of its members. There are eight RDA committees that are working to develop local solutions to the economic, social and environmental issues affecting their communities, including drought.

Regional Development Australia website

Health services

Rural and remote mental health services

Country Health has a comprehensive range of public mental health services for adults and older people in rural and remote South Australia.

SA Health - Country Mental Health Services webpage

Mental health Digital Telehealth Network

The Digital Telehealth Network improves access to mental health services in rural and remote South Australia More than 100 new video conferencing units mean mental health consumers can talk to a mental health clinician without the need to travel too far from home

SA Health - Mental Health Digital Telehealth Network webpage

Skills development

Skills for All

Skills for All aims to increase skill levels, get more people into jobs and increase career opportunities by offering training for existing workers and those trying to break into the workforce.

Under Skills for All, Certificate I and Certificate II courses, as well as accredited courses in reading, writing, numeracy and computing and courses determined as priorities for the state are fee free.

Students will pay course fees for most Certificate III and IV which are government funded with concessions available for students who hold government concession cards.

Skills for All website

Skills in the workplace

Skills in the Workplace will fund accredited training, focusing on the skills demands and needs of South Australian industry and their workers.

Employers may access state government funding from 50 per cent up to 90 per cent of the cost to up-skill their workforce through the Skills in the Workplace program, depending on the size of the business.

The agri-business sector is identified as one where skill development is a priority for training investment. Skills in the workplace can support innovative approaches to learning tailored to the needs of the rural sector.

Skills SA - Government funding for Skills in the Workplace training webpage​

South Australia Works

South Australia Works seek to reach, engage and support people who face barriers to learning, training and work through flexible and responsive initiatives that are tailored to the specific needs of individuals, communities, regions, industries and employers.

Strategic Plans have been developed in each region of the state to assist them to develop programs that engage people facing economic and social barriers to learning, training and work opportunities.

Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology - South Australia Works webpage

Disaster recovery

There are a wide range of services and information to help farmers cope after a disaster, like bushfire. This can include advice on disaster recovery and emergency financial assistance. 

Department for Communities and Social Inclusion - Emergencies page