The first part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) program was building plans – Regional Drought Resilience Plans. The Plans articulate the themes and actions of each region to build social, economic and environmental resilience to drought. Plans were built by each region for that region, to ensure they represented local priorities, experiences and perspectives. Agriculture Victoria, through our excellent Regional Leaders, facilitated a collaborative approach through Regional Reference [...]

Announced in 2018, the Future Drought Fund (FDF) is a $5 billion drought resilience initiative of the Australian Government to support Australian farms and communities to prepare for and build resilience to the impacts of drought. There is $100 million per year allocated to drought resilience programs through the FDF, with Phase One kicking off in 2020 through the Drought Resilience Funding Plan 2020 to 2024. There [...]

The Victorian Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) program began in 2020 with a pilot program, and over the last 5 years has delivered 9 Regional Drought Resilience Plans and $3.42 million in regional Implementation Grants. Co-funded by the Victoria Government and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF), the RDRP program has delivered across all 9 regions of Victoria (with the exception of metro and peri-urban Melbourne).  Victoria [...]

The experience of drought is far more complex than a simple lack of rain and growing of crops. Equally, building resilience to drought is complex and not a one-size-fits-all challenge. Victoria’s 9 Regional Drought Resilience Plans highlight the different priorities and actions needed based on each region’s unique social, economic [...]