Research Question

Background for the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program – Barwon Region The Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) program for the Barwon region is part of the broader national initiative under the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, aimed at enhancing drought preparedness and resilience across rural and regional Australia. The RDRP framework supports regional communities to develop comprehensive, place-based, drought resilience strategies (plans). The Barwon Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDR Plan) was developed to guide investment and coordinated action, ensuring that the region's communities, industries, and ecosystems are better prepared for future droughts.  

Research Information & Objectives

Strategic Importance of the Barwon Drought Resilience Plan
The Barwon RDR Plan is one of nine regional drought plans developed in Victoria, representing a coordinated effort to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future droughts. The Plan aligns with several key policies and programs, including the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, of which Southern Farming Systems (SFS) is the SW Victorian Node lead.
The Barwon RDR Plan emphasises five key themes:
1. Resilient Communities: Strengthening community networks, improving access to health services, and fostering leadership.
2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources: Protecting water resources, maintaining soil health, and safeguarding biodiversity.
3. Resilient Local Businesses and Regional Economies: Promoting business planning, financial sustainability, and economic diversification.
4. Innovation and Skills Development: Enhancing collaboration between researchers, farmers, and industries to drive innovation in drought resilience.
5. Key Enablers: Establishing clear governance structures, promoting regional coordination, and integrating drought preparedness into regional planning.

Barwon Regional Drought Resilience Plan - To view/download the Barwon RDR plan here...

The RDRP Implementation Plan
The RDRP Implementation Plan for the Barwon region is designed to align with the objectives of both the Barwon and Great South Coast (GSC) RDR Plans, to encourage cross-regional collaboration, while still allowing for both plans to focus on delivering practical, region-specific actions to improve drought preparedness and response. The RDRP Implementation provides funding to support the execution of priority activities identified in the plan, with a focus on building social, environmental, and economic resilience.

Scope of activities for regional implementation
Barwon RDRP Implementation Plan activities are informed by actions identified in the Barwon RDR Plan. All activities:
• are deliverable within 12-months of approval of the Implementation Plan.
• explicitly aim to improve drought resilience in the region’s agriculture sector and/or the region’s supporting communities and supply chains.
• take place within the region.
• deliver a demonstrated public benefit.

Activities have been developed with feedback from participating stakeholders, including community, industry, government, and the financial sector to focus on drought preparedness. The activities delivered across both the Barwon and GSC regions, delivered by both SFS and Food and Fibre Great South Coast as the RDR Plan Coordinators for the Barwon and GSC regions respectively. SFS focused on delivery of activities in the Activity Areas of Farmer Decision-Making and Mental Health Support.

Farmer Decision Making
Farmers face a wide range of decisions during drought, from adjusting stocking rates to managing soil health. Effective decision-making relies on building the capacity of regional expertise to provide timely, relevant support to farmers. This activity focuses on empowering local advisors through a “train-the-trainer” approach, ensuring knowledge and proven decision-making frameworks developed by agriculture sector decision-making experts reach more farmers.

Mental Health Support
Positive mental health is a foundation of resilient rural communities. Given the nature of agriculture, there inevitably are challenging times and periods of success. To date, the well-being focus has largely been on responding to the challenging times, when stress and anxiety can lead to declining mental health and poor decisions (or avoidance of making decisions). While this response is necessary, limited attention has been paid to (i) proactive prevention of risks to mental health, and (ii) recognising and reflecting on the positive outcomes achieved during the farming cycle (success is considered meeting expectations rather than something to be celebrated). Yet achieving and acknowledging positive results are critical to build the ‘resilience bank’, where these positive ‘deposits’ act as a preventative measure that can be drawn upon during less favourable times.
This activity built on previous pilot programs to raise awareness, and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence of those who interact with farmers on a regular basis.

Community of Practice
The project established a network of independent decision-making experts (e.g., agronomists, financial advisors, and climate specialists) who have the capability to provide tailored advice to farmers during periods of drought. An online advisors register of these local service providers trained in the activities has been created for the Barwon and GSC regions, you can view their details here...

Other Resources

National Centre For Farmer Health Toolkits

National Centre for Farmer Health Support Hub

Staying Well for service providers editable template

Wellbeing Contacts editable template

Awareness Events

5 Feb 2026 - Building Strong Farm Businesses – Inverleigh

6 Feb 2026 - Building Strong Farm Businesses - Hamilton

18 Mar 2026 - SFS Results Focus – SW Vic

 

• Bret RyanCEO0488 089 589ceo@sfs.org.au