Loans of up to $250,000 for operating costs, fodder, water and transport during prolonged drought.
Who can apply
Farm businesses hit by at least 2 years of drought and expected to be financially affected for at least the next 12 months.
We can write this application for you
Tell us about your business and we'll check it against every criterion for Drought Hardship Loan. If it's a fit, we write the application, build the budget, and check the attachments. You read it, sign it and submit it yourself. Nothing to pay unless you win.
Eligibility quick-check
- Business structure: the listed criteria don't require a company. You'll usually need an active ABN, and often GST registration.
- Location: open Australia-wide, including Victoria.
- Industry: aimed at farming.
A quick guide from our reading of the official criteria, not a decision. The funder's guidelines are what count.
Check if I qualifyHow to apply for Drought Hardship Loan
- Check every eligibility criterion in the official guidelines, not just the summary. One missed criterion usually means rejection.
- Confirm your ABN details (legal name, entity type, GST status) match the ABN Register exactly. Mismatches are a common reason applications fail.
- Gather evidence: quotes for the project, recent financials, and proof of any co-contribution or lease, depending on what the guidelines ask for.
- Prepare the lender's information: financial statements, cash-flow forecast, the purpose of the loan and how you'll repay it.
- Lodge it through the official portal while the round is open. Keep a copy of the submitted application and the receipt.
- If approved, read the loan terms carefully, including repayments after any interest-free or interest-only period.
Drought Hardship Loan: common questions
Who can apply for Drought Hardship Loan?
Farm businesses hit by at least 2 years of drought and expected to be financially affected for at least the next 12 months.
How much is Drought Hardship Loan worth?
Loans of up to $250,000.
When does Drought Hardship Loan close?
Closing date not stated. Check the official page for the current round.
Can sole traders apply for Drought Hardship Loan?
The listed criteria don't require a company, so sole traders may be eligible if they meet everything else (for example ABN, location, trading history and industry). Check the guidelines.
Can someone apply for Drought Hardship Loan on my behalf?
Someone else can prepare it, but your business is the applicant: you sign the declarations, and most funders expect you to submit it yourself. We prepare the whole application so it's ready for you to review, sign and submit, usually in about 10 minutes. If a funder's rules expressly allow an agent to lodge, we can do it with your written OK after you've approved the final version.
How much does it cost to get help applying?
Freelance grant writers in Australia typically charge by the hour or a fixed fee per application, whether you win or not. With Vic Grants Weekly, there's nothing to pay unless you win. If you do, the fee is 12% of the grant money you receive, capped at A$3,000 + GST, and due only once the money is in your account. Where a grant's rules don't allow percentage fees, it's a flat win-only fee from A$99.
Related grants
- AgBiz Drought Loans · Australian Government · Closing date not stated
- Drought Loans · Australian Government · Closing date not stated
- Small Business Financial Counselling – Summer 2026 Victorian Bushfires · Australian Government · Closes 31 Oct 2026
- Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program · Australian Government · Closes 30 Nov 2026
- Accelerated Depreciation for Primary Producers · Australian Government · Closing date not stated
- Agrifutures Australia RD&E Investment · Australian Government · Closing date not stated
Guides
- Grant application help: a step-by-step guide
- Help applying for small business grants in Victoria
- Grant writer in Melbourne and Victoria: costs and options
- Grants for sole traders in Victoria