Famers can apply today for a Farm Drought Support Grant to support drought management activities including:   

• Stock Containment Areas (SCA)
• reticulated water systems
• irrigation system upgrades
• grain and fodder storage
• internal re-fencing
• feed system upgrades
• pasture/crop restoration
• water carting for livestock and essential business activities.

Eligible primary producers across the state can access up to $5,000 (ex-GST) as a co-contribution grant, while south west Victorian producers can access up to $10,000 (ex-GST).

For program guidelines, a list of eligible drought management activities and to apply visit https://www.ruralfinance.com.au/grants/

Agriculture Victoria has fast-tracked new accreditation processes to help horticultural businesses with market access requirements after a new detection of tomato potato psyllid (TPP).

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer Dr Rosa Crnov confirmed that TPP was recently detected in a home garden in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and outside of the current restricted area on the Bellarine Peninsula.

‘The new detection occurred outside the restricted area, indicating that the pest may be present beyond the previously identified area.

‘We’ve worked with industry to develop a new arrangement, helping businesses to maintain interstate market access,’ Dr Crnov said.

Agriculture Victoria co-hosted a webinar with Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria on 12 November at 2 pm to help guide businesses through the changes.

The webinar, along with information and resources, is available on the Agriculture Victoria website for businesses to access.

TPP is a small insect that feeds on solanaceous hosts such as tomato, potato, eggplant, chilli and capsicum, and was detected in Victoria for the first time on 12 November 2024 on the Bellarine Peninsula.

A restricted area has been in place since the initial detection in November 2024 to contain the pest from spreading further into other areas of Victoria.

TPP is established around Perth in Western Australia.

TPP can spread a serious plant disease known as ‘zebra chip’ in potatoes when it is infected with the Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) bacterium. CLso has not been detected in Victoria, or anywhere in Australia.

Report any unusual plant pest or disease immediately using our online reporting form or by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.

For more information on TPP, visit https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/tomato-potato-psyllid

Former Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedic Malcolm Hunting has opened up about his mental health battle and the positive impact of seeking professional support, following the loss of his wife and calling time on his 45-year paramedicine career.

Ahead of International Men’s Day (19 November), Mal is calling for others to also take the brave step of asking for help.

Mal began his ambulance career in Melbourne, before moving to the rural town of Edenhope in 1993.

He loved working in a small community, where everyone knew each other, but it made stepping away from pre-hospital emergency care all the more challenging.

“My patients were my neighbours and friends. Everybody knew me as the paramedic and my wife as the ambo’s wife. I was proud of the uniform, the job and what I did,” Mal said.

“When it all finished, it was a bit of a loss of identity. People still knew me, but it wasn’t the same.”

Mal retired in 2022. At the time, his wife Lesley was unwell and, sadly, earlier this year she passed away.

“Lesley was the one who encouraged me to pursue a paramedicine career. She saw something in me. From then on, she was always my rock,” Mal said.

“She was my support, my mentor, my confidant. Without her and her drive to push me to be the best I could be, I really don’t know how far I would have gone. Bottom line, I loved her and she loved me. It was pretty special.”

Throughout his more-than-four-decade career, Lesley had encouraged Mal to be proactive about his mental health and to speak to a psychologist when needed.

After his retirement, a tragic event involving a former colleague deeply affected him and made him reflect on his own wellbeing. Mal and one of his daughters, who is an Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) with AV, went along to a get-together where impacted colleagues and friends could speak with counsellors.

“It was there that I admitted for the first time that I was feeling symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” Mal said.

“It still took me a while to make that next step and I’m now seeing a psychologist and I’m finding good things are coming from it.”

International Men’s Day is a global awareness day celebrating the positive value men bring to the world and raising awareness of men’s wellbeing.

Mal said he hopes his story inspires other men to ask for help and foster strong relationships with their loved ones.

“Men historically have the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude but often we’re not. Men are expected to be strong but we’re humans. We cry, we feel sad, we feel uncomfortable,” he said.

“If you’re not feeling right, then the chances are, you’re not right. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and see a psychologist.

“My main advice is to talk to people, listen to what your loved ones are telling you and don’t bottle it up.

“And don’t forget to give your partner and your kids a hug. You don’t know what the future or even the next 10 minutes are going to hold. Whenever I go out the door, I always try to remember to say ‘I love you, see you later’.”

If you need help, you can access professional support by contacting your doctor or local health service, or connecting with a mental health professional by calling Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Free telephone and online counselling is available for Australian men at MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.

For immediate crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

The state government is backing CFA volunteers with new vehicles, enhanced technology and tailored safety gear – supporting them to have the tools and protection they need to stay safe while protecting communities.

Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward visited the CFA State Logistics Centre in Scoresby to inspect 50 Isuzu 4×4 crew cab chassis – which will become light tankers and rolled out to brigades across Victoria next year.

These vehicles are a vital part of CFA’s fleet, built with modern firefighting equipment and safety features to help brigades respond quickly and safely across both urban streets and rugged terrain.

The cab chassis will be delivered to a local manufacturer to be fitted out as light tankers – with the first seven to be allocated to CFA brigades in Echuca Village, Ellerslie, Greendale, Kingston, Bulart, Corinella and Jamieson.

This builds on the $40 million CFA rolling fleet replacement program announced in December 2024 – alongside the government’s $40 million program for FRV and $30 million program for VICSES – ensuring firefighters and volunteers across Victoria have the modern vehicles and equipment they need to keep communities safe.

Ahead of the fire season, the CFA is also rolling out a major upgrade to its radio network, thanks to the government’s $138 million radio replacement program.

More than 18,000 new radios featuring GPS tracking are being delivered to CFA brigades across Victoria, so volunteers can communicate better with emergency services and can stay safe during emergencies.

The upgraded radios also eliminate previous blackspots, making it easier to locate firefighters on the ground and ensure their safety in high-risk situations.

In a boost to safety and inclusivity, the government has also opened a tender for protective boots and gloves specifically designed for women, while feminine hygiene packs including tampons, sanitary pads and wipes have been rolled out in all CFA trucks and vehicles – ensuring CFA brigades are inclusive and encouraging of more women to join their local brigade.

Animal health company Zoetis is marking its tenth year of continuous support for mental health in rural and regional Australia, with $1 million contributed to Beyond Blue since partnering together in 2016. This milestone includes a new $100,000 donation to Beyond Blue, which will help provide vital mental health services for people living outside the nation’s major cities.

The partnership represents Zoetis’ long-term commitment to improving wellbeing in farming and rural communities.

Each year, Zoetis donates $5 from every sale of its livestock, pig, poultry and companion animal vaccines and parasiticide products, up to $100,000, helping the partnership reach this significant $1 million milestone in its tenth year.

Fred Schwenke, Zoetis Business Unit Director – Livestock, said it was a fantastic milestone and reflected the company’s long-term commitment to addressing mental health in regional areas. “Zoetis works closely with rural Australia through interactions with the country’s farming community, agricultural stores, veterinarians and their families. We are proud to once again be supporting Beyond Blue and the important work they do.”

Mr Schwenke said the partnership between Zoetis and Beyond Blue goes beyond financial contributions.

“It’s about making sure that no one in rural Australia feels alone in their struggle with mental health, and that help is readily available. We want to encourage early intervention and remind people that reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. This donation will help ensure that those living in regional areas have access to support when they need it most,” said Mr Schwenke.

“Improving mental health outcomes requires more than just awareness. It needs consistent, meaningful action and unwavering support. That’s why, ten years on, Zoetis remains firmly committed to its partnership with Beyond Blue. Supporting rural Australia on its long journey to better mental health is not a quick fix – it’s a sustained and compassionate effort.”

Almost half of Australian farmers report experiencing feelings of depression, while 64 per cent say they have dealt with anxiety. 45 per cent of farmers say they have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and nearly a third have attempted self-harm or suicide.[1] Alarmingly, one farmer dies by suicide every ten days – a rate twice as high as that of the general population.

The situation is compounded by a reluctance to speak up. More than half of farmers say they stay silent about their mental health because they feel uncomfortable or fear they will burden others.

Recently released survey results from Beyond Blue’s, Australia’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Check indicate people are delaying seeking help for their mental health, with nearly half of those who sought professional mental health support (49 percent) reporting they were “very distressed” or “extremely distressed” before they sought support.

Leading barriers to seeking help included waitlists, affordability of treatment shame and stigma, and people thinking their problem wasn’t serious enough.

Data shows that after contacting the Beyond Blue Support Service, 75% of people felt less distressed and 82% of people felt heard and understood.

Georgie Harman AO, CEO of Beyond Blue, said every contact was changing and saving lives.

“When someone in a remote community picks up the phone or jumps online to talk to Beyond Blue, it’s often their first step towards feeling better,” said Ms Harman. “Zoetis’ decade-long commitment helps make that possible, funding real conversations that save lives and change outcomes.”

Derek Schoen, a Corowa farmer and Beyond Blue spokesperson, said the pressure on farmers remains immense.

“Life on the land can be incredibly rewarding, but also deeply demanding. While mental health conditions occur at similar rates across the country, people in rural and regional areas face unique pressures such as droughts, floods, isolation, financial stress, long work hours, and limited access to healthcare and mental health support. The emotional toll can be immense, with farmers often putting the wellbeing of their families, livestock, and communities ahead of their own.”

“Whether it’s watching your crops go under in a flood or facing another dry season, the emotional toll is enormous,” said Mr Schoen. “That’s why partnerships like this matter – they remind us that support is there, and that asking for help is a sign of strength.”

The long-standing collaboration between Zoetis and Beyond Blue has directly supported more than 17,000 people in rural and regional areas, giving them access to free, confidential counselling and mental health advice through Beyond Blue’s 24/7 Support Service.

The milestone was celebrated by Beyond Blue Chair Linda Dessau AC CVO, Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman AO, and Zoetis representatives Fred Schwenke, Lauren Rowston, and Mark Willis.

“Ten years on, our purpose remains the same,” said Mr Schwenke. “To help make mental health support accessible to every person in rural Australia, no matter where they live.”

If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Beyond Blue Support Service for free and confidential counselling, advice and referrals via 1300 22 46 36, or chat online at beyondblue.org.au.

With summer just around the corner, more Victorian kids will get their chance to learn important water safety skills at an affordable price.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence has announced bookings have opened for the popular Aquatics and Recreation Victoria run VICSWIM Summer Kidz swim classes.

Since 1976, VICSWIM’s learn-to-swim program has helped generations of youngsters aged four to 12 learn vital skills, including water safety and foundation swimming.

Five 30-minute lessons are provided over the course of a week in January for a subsidised cost of just $43 —helping more families afford lessons for their kids. The program has saved Victorian families millions of dollars.

Thousands of children take part each year at locations across the state including beach and inland water venues.

Many families have shared that their children would not have participated in swimming lessons, if not for this program.

For more information and to book, visit vicswim.com.au

Premier Jacinta Allan joined Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny to announce that the state government will significantly increase the maximum penalty for recruiting a child to engage in a violent offence.

The maximum penalty for this crime is currently 10 years.

As part of the change, the penalty will increase to 15 years across the board, with a new aggravated offence applying a maximum life sentence for adults who recruit a child to serious and violent offending such as aggravated home invasions or aggravated carjacking.

The penalty for this crime must be so severe because the harm it is causing in the community is so serious.

Organised crime luring children into violence has changed everything

If there’s one big change to violent crime trends in Australia, it’s organised crime recruiting children to do their dirty work. It’s driving so much of the brazen, shocking, violent offending that children are committing on the streets and in people’s homes.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) was clear in its recent Opening The Books report:

• “Minors are increasingly being recruited” by serious organised crime gangs for acts of extreme violence
• It’s “regularly seen in Australia” and is part of “a growing international trend”
• Technology is the “force multiplier”, including 3D printed weapons, encrypted communication and more points of access online including social media
• The groups range from “traditional ‘mafia’-style organisations and outlaw motorcycle gangs to unstructured groups and disparate transnational actors”
• Their business model is “crime-as-a-service” – Airtasker-style schemes to “outsource their dirty work” to youths who are “hired to carry out violent acts in public”
• They target children because of their “unique value” – they are “cheaper to hire…more easily influenced…and impressionable online”
• Some of these children even go on to become “future serious and organised crime threats” themselves

Victoria Police under the leadership of Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has also been outspoken on this unique threat, and our police act every day to disrupt organised crime activity in all its forms.

But more needs to be done – and we need a collective approach

Not enough people have been found and charged for this offence in the first place. The ACIC spell out exactly why. These evil puppet-masters are invisible. They’re “tech-savvy” masterminds who are “harder to track than ever”.

Police have worked tirelessly, but only 32 instances of the recruitment offence have been recorded in Victoria in the last four years, and the experience interstate and internationally is little different.

We won’t ever find all these malicious actors, especially those operating offshore.

But we must do far better – that’s why Victoria will lead the effort to find the long-term solutions that have so far evaded the world’s authorities.

The ACIC say the solution starts with “robust policies, legislation and regulation”, but it also needs a “strong approach to coordinated national enforcement” and “working collaboratively with industry and our communities”.

Above all, we need a “collective approach to targeting and disrupting” this organised crime threat that is hurting innocent people across Australia.

Victoria will lead that collective approach

Imposing a life sentence for this heinous crime is the first shot in this fight back – and our rallying principle to bring together government, police, industry and community to:

• understand how existing laws and ways of working aren’t keeping up with rapidly changing technology, and how to improve them
• determine who else can be involved to support the long-term collective approach, including to drive early intervention and reduce violence long-term

We will also look at what additional consequences the social media and online giants should face for allowing this recruitment to happen so blatantly on their platforms.

What else we’re doing

This is the second major reform announced in Victoria’s Serious Consequences – Early Interventions plan to reduce violent youth crime by reinforcing the boundaries for children, with guidance to keep them on track and serious consequences when they do wrong.

Serious consequences are a deterrent for children. That’s why we are also introducing Adult Time for Violent Crime, so jail is more likely and sentence lengths are longer.

In addition, tough bail laws have just come into effect, making it much harder to get bail if you’re charged with the worst crimes. The new Chief Commissioner is overhauling Victoria Police with more police on the street. And we’ve banned machetes – under our laws, you can go to jail simply for owning one.

More Victorians living with disability will have access to peer support, with the state government opening a new round of Self-Help Grants.

Minister for Disability Lizzie Blandthorn today announced that applications are now open for the program which recognises the vital role self-help groups play in strengthening the lives of people living with disability, their families and carers across Victoria.

Self-help groups create welcoming spaces where people can connect with others who share similar experiences, offering practical advice, emotional support and friendship.

Through grants of up to $14,000 over two years, the program helps community groups continue their important work – building social connections, promoting mental health and wellbeing and fostering inclusion.

Funding can be used to assist with everyday operating costs, equipment, minor works and activities that bring people together to share experiences, strengthen community connections, promote positive attitudes and build disability pride.

The last round’s recipients included Sunspec Support Group for Families and Carers of People with Disabilities in Sunbury, which was supported to deliver a series of workshops about mental health for carers.

The Stroke a Chord Choir received a grant to help cover costs for public performances and support participation for community members who have experienced stroke.

Groups representing diverse communities and those in regional areas are encouraged to apply.

Applications for the 2026-28 round are open for 10 weeks, closing at 4pm on Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

To find out more visit: providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/disability-self-help-grants-program.

Ahead of what’s expected to be a significant and elevated fire season, Victoria has strengthened its bushfire preparedness by deploying firefighting aircraft ahead of schedule to key parts of the state.

A total of 15 regional aircraft will start their service period early in key locations including Ballarat, Stawell and Ovens Valley. These aircraft can be moved across the state according to risk.

The early deployment is part of the state government’s additional $80 million investment in fire season preparedness – which has also supported the CFA to increase water storage across the state and improved community refuges and fire danger signs across Victoria.  

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet is made up of a mix of firebombing aircraft, air supervision and information-gathering aircraft, and plays an important role in supporting the ground operations of firefighters.

Victoria also has a call-when-needed capacity of up to 100 aircraft that can supplement the Victorian core fleet, which is available year-round.

The remainder of this year’s aerial firefighting fleet will arrive over the next month and into early December and are contracted until late March. These can be extended, if required.

Victoria is facing heightened fire risk this year due to low rainfall across the state, particularly in south-west Victoria, south-west Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and the Wimmera.

For more information on how you can prepare for fires and other emergencies, download the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au.  

A major international food manufacturer will establish its first Australian production facility in Western Victoria, creating 250 new local jobs and driving economic growth in the Wimmera.

Farm Frites Australia is establishing a $300 million APAC manufacturing base in Dooen to manufacture its popular frozen chips using Australian produce.

Farm Frites Australia supplies frozen chips, fries and other potato-based products to takeaways, pubs, clubs, and fast-food restaurants including KFC and Hungry Jacks right across Australia.

The 24-hour production facility, located next to the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Hub, will support Australian farmers, create jobs for local workers, and offer training and career opportunities for students in a region with a proud agricultural history.

Once operational in 2027, the manufacturing plant will have capacity to process up to 250,000 tonnes of Australian-grown potatoes every year.

The  new food processing facility was granted planning permit approval under the Labor Government’s Development Facilitation Program which expedites planning decisions for eligible projects that will inject investment into the Victorian economy – creating new jobs and promoting economic growth.

After a national search, Farm Frites Australia settled on Dooen, near Horsham, to open the manufacturing facility.

Victoria has the largest and most established food and beverage manufacturing sector Australia, generating more than $44 billion in sales and service income and employing more than 76,000 people.

Victoria is the leading Australian investment destination for the food and beverage sector, attracting $170 million in foreign direct investment in 2024.

The state government is opening the door to a new sustainable hemp industry by considering ways to make it easier for Victorian farmers to grow hemp and seize the growing opportunities in this market.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence has launched public consultation on proposed new legislation, inviting Victorians to share their priorities for the industry, what’s working under current laws and ideas for improvement. 

Hemp is a fast-growing crop, and fibres and seeds can be used for a wide range of products, including building materials, packaging, biofuels, textiles, seed oils and other food products.

Industrial hemp is currently regulated under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, which exempts licensed growers from cannabis-related offence when cultivating and processing hemp for non-therapeutic use.

The proposed new stand-alone legislation will mean industrial hemp will no longer be directly associated with drugs and poisons laws – helping to reduce stigma and clarify its legal status.

Having stand-alone legislation tailored to the specific needs of industrial hemp industry and farmers will also better support industry growth and unlock new opportunities for regional jobs and investment.

This will deliver one of the key recommendations from the Inquiry into Industrial Hemp Industry in Victoria and bring Victoria in line with other Australian jurisdictions, providing greater clarity and streamlining for farmers.

The proposed new legislation also provides an opportunity to update references in legislation from low THC cannabis to industrial hemp, which is a more accurate reflection of the crop and will support broader community understanding of the industry.

Consultation will also consider the need for a research licence that allows cultivation of hemp in Victoria that exceeds the 1 per cent THC threshold – supporting industrial hemp research and industry development.

This proposed legislation for industrial hemp does not relate to medicinal cannabis which is regulated separately to hemp by existing Victorian and Australian Government legislation.

The consultation is open until December 3, 2025. To have your say, visit engage.vic.gov.au/hemp

More families in regional Victoria will soon have access to new kindergarten facilities.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn announced up to $14.62 million for a new Building Blocks Partnership which will deliver four new kinders in Greater Shepparton, Baranduda in Wodonga City, and North Bendigo and Huntly in Greater Bendigo.

The modular kinders will be co-located with Catholic primary schools, providing more than 472 kindergarten places for local families.

Each centre will support three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, with facilities designed to meet the needs of growing communities.

The new centres will be located at:

• St Thomas Aquinas Primary School in Huntly – with one kinder room opening in 2027 and a second in 2028
• St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Long Gully – two kinder rooms opening in 2027
• St Francis Of Assisi Primary School in Baranduda – two kinder rooms opening in 2029
• St Anne’s College in Kialla – two kinder rooms opening in 2029

The partnership brings the total number of Building Blocks Partnerships to 20 – including 17 with local councils and three with non-government school organisations – delivering 117 new and expanded kindergartens for Victorians.

More than 145,000 children and their families are saving up to $2,600 per child each year through Free Kinder, which is available at 97 per cent of funded kindergartens across the state.

The Business Skills Mentoring program has been launched and will provide support for eligible small business owners across Victoria.

The mentoring program will support up to 1000 eligible small business owners with three, one-hour mentoring sessions.

The mentors can support business owners with advice and guidance to help them build skills, navigate challenges and set goals that are relevant to their business needs.

The mentors can advise small business owners on a range of business topics, including:

• Developing a business plan that maps how the business will grow
• Addressing problems or issues that are barriers to business growth
• Growing confidence for investment and innovation
• Learning key business skills and creating practices.

The program will support businesses in six priority industry sectors: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical research, circular economy, digital technologies, agribusiness, and regional tourism.

Victoria is home to more than 718,000 small businesses, employing over 1.3 million Victorians and contributing over $417 billion annually to the state’s economy. More than 113,000 new businesses have been created in Victoria in the past five years – an 18 per cent increase, the largest percentage growth of any state.

To learn more about the Business Skills Mentoring program or to express interest, visit business.vic.gov.au.

The state government is holding kindergarten providers to account by making sure funding is used properly and children are getting the most out of learning.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn has launched the Kindergarten Audit and Assurance Program, a dedicated auditing program to detect and prevent misuse of public funds and build confidence in the early childhood sector.

Delivered in partnership with professional services firms EY and McGrathNicol, the program will assess how providers use kindergarten funding and School Readiness Funding, as well as check compliance in areas such as staffing, management and program delivery.

Providers found to be deliberately doing the wrong thing face decisive action which includes terminating funding or the return of funding. Services making genuine efforts and with only minor, accidental errors will receive targeted support to maintain compliance.

Audits will start immediately, and in the first year about 100 providers will be scrutinised, covering more than 400 early childhood services which receive around $100 million of Victorian kindergarten funding annually. Every year at least 10 per cent of services will be audited.

The Kindergarten Audit and Assurance Program will cover all types and sizes of providers, as well as both for-profit and not-for-profit.

A new tailings storage facility at Fosterville Gold Mine has been approved by Resources Victoria.

Approval of the new facility, also known as TSF5, marks a key step in Fosterville’s continuation – it will allow the mine to increase its processing capacity and create safer waste rock storage within the existing mine footprint.

The Fosterville Gold Mine Sustained Operations Project is set to deliver a major boost to regional employment, with the project set to support more than 1,000 workers over the next decade. It is also expected to pump $1.3 billion of investment into the regional economy over the next ten years.

Gold mining is a cornerstone of Bendigo’s economy, with Fosterville recognised as one of the highest-grade mining operations in the world. Its continued success is boosting Victoria’s international reputation, attracting strong investor interest and capitalising on record-high gold prices.

Fosterville currently employs more than 650 full-time personnel and 200 contractors, most of whom live in the Bendigo region – this new approval will strengthen the regional economy and drive long-term job security.

This approval follows the Environment Effects Statement (EES) assessment which found potential environmental impacts to be manageable with appropriate safeguards. The project requires additional tailings storage.

The state’s minerals sector is growing – Victoria has some of the world richest deposits of critical minerals and rare earth elements and has over a dozen projects currently in development.

While critical minerals are in the spotlight, the state’s gold sector remains strong – underpinned by generations of strong local workforce and expertise plus record gold prices.