The Farm Business Transition Program (the program) was announced as part of the Phase Out of Live Sheep Exports by Sea - transition assistance.

This program will support sheep producers who are impacted by the trade ending in 2028, to prepare and adapt ahead of the transition through the provision of funding to:

• support the development of business plans tailored to individual farm business circumstances, and
• incentivise increased on-farm adoption and uptake of alternative farming systems and practices identified within these business plans.

Through the investment and adoption of alternative sheep systems pre-farm gate, the ability of sheep producers to supply the volumes and specifications required for domestic sheep meat processing will be enhanced.

The objective of this grant opportunity is:

• To support sheep producers impacted by the phase out by enabling a range of planning, professional and technical advice, application of research and development innovations and extension activities, and investment in on-farm infrastructure and improvements to increase the uptake of alternative farming systems and practices.

The intended outcome of this grant opportunity is:

• Sheep producers impacted by the phase out of live sheep exports by sea access transition funding assisting them to obtain advice and make changes to their business operations.

There will be 2 rounds for this program.

The Australian Government has announced a total of $30.0 million (GST exclusive) over 3 years from 2025-26 to 2027-28 for the Farm Business Transition Program. For this grant opportunity, up to $20.0 million (GST exclusive) is available over 2 years from 2025-26 to 2026-27.

The grant opportunity will run from 7 October 2025 to 1 December 2025. Grant funding of up to $75,000 (GST exclusive) per eligible applicant will be available to applicants to contribute to the future costs associated with the adoption and implementation of an eligible alternative farming system/s.

Co-funding of 1-1 is required for applications submitted under this program and the applicant must match the dollar value of the grant funding approved. In-kind contributions will not be counted towards matching funding.

The grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure to a maximum of $75,000 (GST exclusive). You cannot use funding from other Commonwealth, state, territory or local government sources to fund your share of eligible expenditure.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST
• be a resident of Australia for operational and tax purposes
• have an account with an Australian financial institution, and
• be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract with the Australian Government.

You must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Person
• Sole Trader
• Partnership

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust4 , the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types as listed above.

• Email: support@communitygrants.gov.au