The program initially ran across WA from June - August 2022, across 3 regions (Carnarvon, Peel and Perth), with a focus on horticulture and pastoral businesses. A consortium of skilled rural and regional trainers and industry experts, engaged with participants in training, mentoring and coaching activities.
The Federal Budget announced a program extension until 2024. The program will be jointly funded 50:50 by the Commonwealth and State, confirmed through the State Budget.
This program extension allows the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to extend the successful FBR program to regional wheatbelt, horticultural and North West pastoral regions. DPIRD will use a mix of programs that are transferable across industries and regions. The next phase of the program will incorporate added flexibility to address specific needs and circumstances of the 6 agricultural industries including: dairy, Aboriginal primary industries, aquaculture, broadacre mixed farming, pastoral and horticulture north west and apiculture. For more information visit to the Australian Government's FBR webpage.
WA Farm Business Resilience skills development
Following the success of Farm Business Resilience workshops, delivered in 2022, the next phase of workshop and training program planning is underway. This program focuses on building farm business’ economic, environmental and social resilience by providing tailored support, learning and business development opportunities to assist your business to navigate the future.
The training and skills development will be targeted to 6 agricultural industries and based on industry specific needs analysis, currently underway. It will offer WA primary producers an opportunity to build their skills, knowledge and confidence to improve business management capacity and resilience. Tailored to their individual business circumstances, this business support will be delivered through workshops, webinars, in-person or online coaching and networking activities.
The next phase of skills development will cater to farm businesses across the following industries:
- Dairy
- Aboriginal Primary Industries (via five sub-streams)
- Aquaculture
- Broadacre Mixed Farming
- Pastoral and Horticulture North West
- Apiculture.
Your tailored business resilience toolkit
This program provides primary industry managers and employees with access to subsidised learning and development opportunities in strategic business management, financial management and decision-making, natural resource management, and personal and social resilience.
Participants will receive practical support to:
- upskill their strategic business management and planning approaches
- better use data to understand their business’ strategic risks and improve decision-making processes
- learn about innovation and diversification options, new practices, systems and markets
- consider succession planning and understand options to manage people and time.
The program will also offer:
- an assessment of business performance to identify opportunities to build resilience and help track progress
- support to develop or update business plans, tailored to their industry
- access to one-on-one professional advice on their plan
- practical tools and resources to take back to the business.
Register interest
To register your interest in the upcoming workshop series please email farmbusinessresilience@dpird.wa.gov.au
Pilot program: Farm Business Resilience workshops
Farm Business Resilience workshops, delivered in Carnarvon, Perth and Peel locations were offered to WA primary producers to build their skills, knowledge and confidence to improve business management capacity and resilience to climate change. Participants worked with experts to develop drought resilience plans, tailored to their enterprise needs, to help them prepare for and manage risk, adapt to a changing climate and improve economic, environmental and social resilience.
Workshop resources
- Fact Sheet - Accessing Farm Finance
- Fact Sheet - Drought
- Fact Sheet - Environmental Indicators Framework
- Fact Sheet - Getting the People Right
- Fact Sheet - Succession Planning
- Fact Sheet - Work Health and Safety
- WA FBR Participant Program Manual - Workshop Block 1
- WA FBR Participant Program Manual - Workshop Block 2
WA FBR video testimonials
- Tom Steber and Sienna Bergersen – Kellerberrin broadacre participants in the Future Drought Fund Farm Business Resilience foundation year program.
- Darryl and Bec Sims – Beverley mixed farm participants in the Future Drought Fund Farm Business Resilience foundation year program.
- Mel and Casey Shaw – Wubin broadacre participants in the Future Drought Fund Farm Business Resilience foundation year program.
- Value Creators as the service provider for the Future Drought Fund Farm Business Resilience foundation year program.
WA FBR participant testimonials
- “As a participant in Farm Business Resilience Program, it was fantastic to continue to develop our farm business plan into the future for the farm family and community. We completed the original WA Drought Pilot Program in 2012 and have benefited from the investment we made (time and energy). This Farm Business Resilience Program has helped us to refocus and to move forward.” - Pieter Mostert
- “This program has been hugely beneficial in bringing together and connecting players in the industry. The benefits of consolidating knowledge and practice and sharing stories with others will be felt far and wide. As a Noongar and custodian, this has opened up opportunity for collaboration and integrated knowledge which is difficult to find without a program like this.” - Heidi Mippy
- “To be given the opportunity to work on our farming business with such wonderful strategic resources and facilitators was invaluable. Long term strategic planning can be difficult, but the structure and delivery of this program was full of information and incredibly supportive. All farming businesses need access to this framework / program.” - Tarnya Fraser
- “Having recently attended 2 days of the farm business resilience planning workshop I would recommend this program to clients that have the next generation coming back into the farm business or those that are looking for the opportunity to gather the key stake holders in the business in a neutral environment to discuss, learn and plan for the business going forward. It provides a simple way to look at all facets within the business to assist in identifying where their strengths and weaknesses are and develop plans utilising this knowledge to help in driving their business forward in a sustainable manner for all within the business. I saw workshop attendees really making the most of the time where they could focus on their business without distractions that we often find at the home base.” - Kerryn Mickle