Food & Fibre Gippsland and the Future Drought Fund: Building Regional Resilience
Photo captions: Far left: After touring farms in Baw Baw, Latrobe, Wellington, South Gippsland on Thursday 29 May, Rod Hayes met with a small group of key regional partners to discuss the dry seasonal conditions and other challenges facing primary producers. Middle left: Participants in the Gippsland Agricultural Leadership Program visiting Tim Jelbart’s dairy farm at Leongatha South. Middle Right: Brodie Anderson pictured with Rick Blackshaw and Nicole White from Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG) at the East Gippsland Field Days in April. Far right: Hayes family farm dam at Woodleigh, South Gippsland. Despite recent rain, parts of Gippsland continue to encounter severe drought conditions.
Food & Fibre Gippsland (F&FG) continues to play a key role in building drought resilience through its involvement with the Future Drought Fund (FDF). As Gippsland’s Southeast Node Lead in the Victorian Drought & Innovation Hub, F&FG is delivering on-ground programs that strengthen preparedness, business capability, and community resilience.
F&FG leads the Community Impact Program in Region 32 and the implementation of the Gippsland Regional Drought Resilience Plan, with a strong focus on action during both dry and favourable seasons. It is also a proud partner of the Pasture 365 initiative.
These programs aim to improve the region’s readiness for drought, bushfire, flood, storms, biosecurity threats and economic disruptions — all critical to Gippsland’s sustainability. The FDF presents a valuable opportunity to invest in high-impact, low-cost, place-based initiatives that build long-term capacity and avoid costly reactive responses.
Seasonal Update – Early Winter 2025
Most areas in Wellington and East Gippsland are enjoying relatively favourable seasonal conditions.
However, despite some early Winter rainfall, West Gippsland is facing severe dry conditions, with many areas recording historically low rainfall. This is placing significant pressure on local businesses and community wellbeing.
Community members are urged to stay connected, seek support early, and advocate for inclusion in available programs, including the recently announced dry season support.
Gippsland Acts Now to Build Drought Resilience
The Gippsland Regional Drought Resilience Planning (GRDRP) initiative is helping Gippsland’s communities prepare for the impacts of drought and climate variability. Co-funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government, the GRDRP is focused on building long-term resilience through local action and collaboration.
The program’s vision is for Gippsland to be drought-ready, with its people and industries able to anticipate, manage, and thrive through climatic challenges. Its mission is to empower rural communities and businesses with the skills, tools, and connections they need to prepare for a sustainable and successful future.
Guided by broad community consultation, six key principles shape the GRDRP approach: self-reliance, proactive preparedness, collaboration, informed decision-making, service integration, and leveraging community leadership. These values have steered the development and delivery of seven impactful projects in 2024–25.
GRDRP Project Updates
Projects 1 and 2 centred on the Gippsland Agricultural Group’s Spring Field Day at Bengworden, complemented by the distribution of guide booklets for managing livestock during drought and extreme weather. These activities focused on boosting farmer capability, strengthening networks, and enhancing community preparedness.
Project 3 launched the Gippsland Ag Learning Platform—an online hub featuring a resilience podcast and YouTube channel. Created by farmers for farmers, Digging Deeper – Ag Chats with Al shares practical insights on building business and landscape resilience, while growing a trusted community resource.
Project 4 supported an Advanced Farm Managers study tour in Tamworth. This initiative empowered producers across wool, beef, dairy, sheep, and poultry sectors to explore innovative, resilient farming practices tailored to their unique challenges. Participants were selected for their strong peer influence and potential to support others through future droughts.
Project 5 delivered the Gippsland Agricultural Leadership Program for young leaders. Run by Chris Mirams & Jenny O’Sullivan in collaboration with industry partners, it combined leadership training with an immersive study tour. Participants explored practical approaches to change management and gained valuable tools to support their personal and community resilience.
To strengthen coordination, Project 6 saw the formation of a governance sub-committee that developed a Partnership Agreement. This agreement formalises collaboration among key stakeholders to streamline funding applications and enhance delivery of drought preparedness and recovery activities.
Finally, Project 7 focused on improving access to real-time climate data. Soil probes and weather stations were strategically installed across West Gippsland—including Buffalo, Phillip Island, and Neerim South—to support informed decision-making around soil health, pasture growth, and animal performance.
Together, these projects demonstrate the value of regionally driven planning supported by strong partnerships and practical action. The GRDRP provides a vital framework for guiding current and future investment in resilience across Gippsland. We thank all those involved, especially the Gippsland Agricultural Group, Chris Mirams, Jenny O’Sullivan, and the West Gippsland Progress Association—for their commitment to securing a resilient future for the region.
Find out more here>> Gippsland Drought Resilience Plan – A Framework To Guide Future Effort and Investment
