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Farmers and farm workers doing it tough can now apply for the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) Drought Employment Program.

The North Central and Goulburn Broken catchment management authorities (CMAs) will deliver the program as part of the Victorian Government’s drought response package. 

North Central CMA CEO Brad Drust said the program would provide participants with income and training while delivering on-ground works that protect and improve the environment.

“The GMID Drought Employment Program provides eligible participants with two to four days of work a week for a minimum of two months. Importantly, this flexible approach allows people to continue working their own farms as well as supporting them to explore up-skilling or re-skilling opportunities.”

To be eligible for the program participants must be farmers or farm workers living or working within the GMID.

“CMAs have a good track record in running these types of programs. We will again partner with other regional and local agencies across the irrigation area to deliver the program,” Mr Drust said.

“The North Central CMA has coordinated four previous employment programs, employing and training people as crew members to carry out works such as pest, plant and animal control, as well as fencing for environmental benefit.”

“The response to the previous drought employment programs in our region has been fantastic and we have been able to draw upon the expertise of local farmers and others affected by the drought to do works that have long-term benefits for the environment and wider community.”

“In addition to the environmental outcomes there are also many other benefits.  The program lifts the morale of communities suffering from the hardship of drought, provides additional financial support to farmers and farm workers, and supports local businesses from which we can source materials.”

“This is a collaborative program that works well because farmers and farm workers generally have initiative, a strong work-ethic, can work independently and have skills that are readily transferred to environmental work,” Mr Drust said.

For more information about the GMID Drought Employment Program eligibility criteria please contact Jodi or Kristy at recruitment agency Chandler Macleod Group on 5825 6000 or visit the website here.