Funding opportunity providing individual grants of up to $13.5 million to establish and deliver Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Hubs across Australia from 2027 nationally.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Drought Resilience Hubs Program (DRHP)?
The Australian Government is inviting applications to establish and deliver seven Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Hubs across Australia from 2026–27 to 2031–32.
The Hubs will help build drought resilience by connecting farmers, agricultural industries and regional communities with research, innovation, practical knowledge and extension services. Rather than undertaking research themselves, the Hubs will facilitate the adoption of drought-resilient practices and strengthen collaboration between government, researchers, industry and local communities.
The program is administered by the Community Grants Hub on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through an open competitive grants process.
Drought Resilience Hubs Program level of support
Funding Amount
Total funding available: Up to $86.7 million
Expected individual grants:
- Approximately $11 million
- Up to approximately $13.5 million depending on region and project complexity
There is no maximum grant amount, provided funding requested does not exceed available program funding.
Additional funding may become available during the program.
Co-contribution
Yes. Co-contributions are required.
Applicants must provide:
- Cash contribution and/or
- In-kind contribution
There is:
- No minimum co-contribution requirement
- No maximum co-contribution requirement
However:
- Applications demonstrating stronger co-contributions will be viewed more favourably.
- Co-contributions are intended to maximise on-ground drought resilience outcomes and attract additional investment.
Drought Resilience Hubs Program important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Drought Resilience Hubs Program objectives
The program aims to:
- Deliver place-based drought resilience extension and adoption activities.
- Improve collaboration between all seven Hubs.
- Strengthen partnerships with Australian, state and territory governments.
- Work closely with Research and Development Corporations.
- Build transparent and accountable governance.
- Increase awareness of drought-resilient practices.
- Increase adoption of drought resilience innovations by farmers.
- Improve understanding of regional drought resilience gaps.
- Support place-based solutions.
- Strengthen links between farmers, communities and researchers.
- Improve collaborative planning and delivery across Australia’s drought resilience network.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Drought Resilience Hubs Program support
Eligible activities must help build drought resilience by connecting farmers and communities with experts, innovations, practices and services.
Examples include:
- Regional drought resilience needs assessments
- Strategic planning for regional drought resilience
- Stakeholder consultation
- Extension and adoption activities
- Workshops
- Field days
- Demonstration events
- Knowledge sharing activities
- Peer-to-peer learning programs
- Digital education resources
- Regional collaboration projects
- Partnerships with state governments
- Partnerships with Research and Development Corporations
- Collaboration with universities
- Collaboration with local agronomists
- Co-design activities with farmers
- Co-design with First Nations organisations and communities
- Science translation activities
- Communications that bridge research into practical farm adoption
- Activities improving economic, environmental and social resilience
- Cross-Hub collaborative projects
Activities must:
- Deliver public benefit
- Be completed by 30 June 2032
- Align with Future Drought Fund objectives
- Avoid duplication with existing government-funded activities
- Focus on extension and adoption rather than direct research.
Ineligible Expenditure
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- Activities already funded by another Commonwealth program.
- Activities already funded by state, territory or local governments.
- Duplicate funding for the same activity.
- Costs identified as ineligible under Appendix B of the Guidelines.
- Activities outside the approved funding period.
- Expenditure not directly related to approved grant activities.
Projects may leverage other funding only where there is no duplication of public funding and additional value is demonstrated.
Other Drought Resilience Hubs Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Drought Resilience Hubs Program support
Eligible applicants include:
- Companies
- Cooperatives
- Corporate Commonwealth Entities
- Corporate State or Territory Entities
- Incorporated Associations
- Indigenous Corporations
- Eligible Trustees applying on behalf of Trusts
Consortia are also eligible where an eligible lead organisation is nominated.
Applicants must also:
- Have a mature business plan
- Commit cash and/or in-kind co-contributions
- Partner with existing extension providers
- Be capable of partnering with relevant state or territory governments
- Establish a skills-based Advisory Board
- Appoint a Hub Director
- Demonstrate strong governance capability
Not eligible:
- Individuals
- Sole traders
- Local governments
- International entities
- Unincorporated associations
- Non-corporate government entities
- Organisations listed under the National Redress Scheme non-compliance list
- Organisations listed as non-compliant under the Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Drought Resilience Hubs Program assessment criteria
Applications are assessed competitively.
Criterion 1 — Analyse & Plan Extension and Adoption Activities (25%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of regional agricultural industries.
- Knowledge of drought resilience challenges.
- Clear process for identifying regional needs and gaps.
- Evidence-based planning.
- Strategic use of consultation and stakeholder engagement.
- Effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) planning.
- Ability to leverage existing extension services.
- Partnerships that avoid duplication.
- Activities leading to measurable practice change.
- Flexible long-term planning across the drought cycle.
Criterion 2 — Connect & Translate (15%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of agricultural best practice.
- Ability to interpret scientific research.
- Experience translating research into practical farming outcomes.
- Strong engagement with farmers.
- Experience working with researchers.
- Understanding of farmer decision-making.
- Effective feedback mechanisms connecting farmers and researchers.
Criterion 3 — Promote & Partner (25%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong partnerships across government, industry and research.
- Productive relationships with Research and Development Corporations.
- Strong communication capability.
- Public awareness activities.
- Inclusive engagement practices.
- Genuine First Nations partnerships.
- Accessible services for diverse communities.
- Strong regional collaboration.
- Ability to activate networks across the Hub region.
- Cross-Hub collaboration capability.
- Strong letters of support from partners.
Criterion 4 — Governance & Accountability (35%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong organisational capability.
- Financial management systems.
- Grant management experience.
- Risk management capability.
- Contract management capability.
- Monitoring and reporting capability.
- Strong governance arrangements.
- Transparent decision-making.
- Conflict of interest management.
- Partnership management.
- Advisory Board structure.
- Qualified Hub Director.
- Ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.
- Value for money.
- Robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems.
How do I get the Drought Resilience Hubs Program support?
Successful applicants should demonstrate:
- A mature and well-developed Hub business plan.
- Strong understanding of regional drought resilience needs.
- Proven governance and organisational capability.
- Significant experience managing large collaborative programs.
- Strong financial management and reporting systems.
- High-quality partnerships with industry, government and research organisations.
- Meaningful collaboration with First Nations organisations.
- A capable Hub Director and skilled Advisory Board.
- Strong Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning capability.
- Evidence-based extension and adoption activities.
- Clear pathways to measurable practice change.
- Strong regional stakeholder engagement.
- Value for money.
- Meaningful cash and/or in-kind co-contributions.
- Capacity to deliver projects over the full six-year program.
- Complete, compliant and well-supported application documentation.
Information to prepare for the Drought Resilience Hubs Program support
Applicants should prepare:
- Online application
- Business Plan
- Activity Budget
- Risk Management Plan
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning approach
- Organisational structure
- Advisory Board details
- Hub Director details
- Financial statements
- Bank account verification
- Letters of Support
- Partnership agreements
- Consortium agreements (if applicable)
- Co-contribution details
- Trust documents (if applicable)
- Evidence of organisational capability
- Governance policies
- Communication strategy
- Project delivery methodology
Applying for the Drought Resilience Hubs Program support
Applications must be submitted through GrantConnect.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Drought Resilience Hubs Program resources
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