Grants, Bursaries & Scholarships

PIRSA provides a number of grants and encourages individuals, businesses and community groups to apply for other grant programs provided by other state government agencies, the Commonwealth Government and Non Government Organisations.

Drought and Exceptional Circumstances Programs

Exceptional Circumstances

Financial assistance in the way of relief payments and interest rate subsidies are available to eligible primary producers and small businesses in Exceptional Circumstances declared regions. For more information visit the Exceptional Circumstances section of the PIRSA website.

Regional Communities Drought Fund

The Regional Communities Drought Fund has been established to assist rural communities that are experiencing significant structural change as a consequence of drought.  The purpose of the fund is to assist regional communities to develop their economic and social infrastructure, strengthen community capacity through education and training, and protect or improve local environmental assets. The Fund will make one-off grants on a dollar for dollar basis up to $100,000.

Applications will only be accepted from Local Government Councils or the Outback Areas Community Development Trust. Community and business groups are encouraged to work with Local Government in developing projects and applications.

Applications close on 31 March 2008 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2008.  For more information, guidelines and application forms visit the drought conditions section of the PIRSA website. 

Planning for Recovery

The Planning for Recovery program aims to facilitate a positive transition process of recovery from this period of exceptional circumstances, particularly the current drought, into a focus on improving the preparedness and minimise the effects of adverse events in the future. The Program provides support to businesses, up to $14,000, within Exceptional Circumstances regions, currently in receipt of an Interest Rate Subsidy. For more information, guidelines and application forms visit the drought conditions section of the PIRSA website. 

Community Support Grants

Grants of up to $5000 are available for group activities that will support rural communities in areas affected by drought conditions. You can download the guidelines for applying for Community Support Grants (.PDF) 101 KB

Drought assistance measures

The South Australian Government in response to the drought has implemented a range of programs. Various programs to support individuals, businesses and communities are available. For more information visit the Exceptional Circumstances section of the PIRSA website.

PIRSA Sustainable Systems Grants, Bursaries and Scholarships

Lois Harris Agricultural Bureau Scholarship

The Advisory Board of Agriculture established the scholarship to encourage high achieving secondary students to study agriculture at tertiary level. The scholarship is open to South Australian school leavers, who enrol in the Bachelor of Agriculture program and who have not been enrolled in any other University or TAFE course. Selection is on the basis of TER. For more information contact the Advisory Board of Agriculture project support officer on 1800 652 258.

Peter Olsen Fellowship

The Peter Olsen Fellowship is open to all young South Australian farmers between the age of 18 and 30 who have been actively involved in farming for the past 12 months, and who have undertaken, are currently undertaking or are preparing to undertake further formal study. The Fellowship of $5 000 can be used by young farmers to help pay for study tours, study courses or specific projects. For more information contact the Advisory Board of Agriculture project support officer on 1800 652 258.

Agricultural Bureau Project Fund

The Bureau Project Fund aims to encourage, develop and support local Bureau projects that actively pursue the aims and objectives of the Agricultural Bureau. For more information contact the Advisory Board of Agriculture project support officer on 1800 652 258.

Agricultural Bureau of South Australia's Services to Primary Production Award

The Award was established to recognise the contribution of individuals to primary industries in South Australia. Each of the 120 branches of the Agricultural Bureau in the State are able to nominated a person who the members believed has provided exceptional services to primary production. For more information contact the Advisory Board of Agriculture project support officer on 1800 652 258.

Rural Industry Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award

RIRDC Rural Women's Award is designed to recognise but more importantly encourage the vital contribution women make to rural Australia.

Further details regarding the current award and past recipients can be found at www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au (external site).

Other PIRSA and State Government Grants, Bursaries and Scholarships

South East Confined Aquifer Well Rehabilitation Scheme

The South Australian Government with the support of the Natural Heritage Trust has allocated funding to the South East Confined Aquifer Well Rehabilitation Scheme. This scheme will provide financial support by way of grants and loans to landholders/ lessees in the Project Area of the South East of South Australia to facilitate the rehabilitation of poorly constructed confined aquifer wells.

Commonwealth Government and Non Government Organisation grant programs

Grants Link

The Grants Link website (external site) helps you find funding available under a variety of grant programs for individuals, businesses and communities to help you to develop solutions to local and national problems, fund ideas and initiatives or provide assistance in times of hardship.

Regional Funding and Grants Register

The regional funding and grants register website (external site) is a registry of funding and grant solutions for your business and community initiative. The website also provides contacts of individuals and organisations which can assist in completing a grant as well as some helpful hints on how to complete the applications.