Farmers across New South Wales will have access to a new round of personalised business coaching under the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments’ Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP), supporting them to improve business performance, build resilience and plan for long-term success.
The FBRP Coaching Program empowers farmers to make more confident business decisions, reduce financial risk, and prepare for, manage, and recover from drought, so they can build stronger farm businesses and communities.
As part of the service, an experienced coach or specialist adviser, matched to the farmer’s industry and region, works with them one-to-one or in a small group to turn their farm business plan into action.
The program is part of the $43.2 million investment focused on strengthening whole-of-business capability, with practical workshops, tools, coaching and peer networks helping farmers to strengthen decision-making, business planning, risk management and wellbeing across the drought cycle.
Since its launch in 2021, the NSW Farm Business Resilience Program has supported the development of more than 2,600 farm business plans and engaged more than 30,000 participants across 5,300 coaching sessions and events.
The program has also helped some 1,800 NSW farm businesses through practical learning activities, including business coaching, farm assessments, peer learning groups, farm visits, succession planning, risk management and Bank Ready workshops.
Farmers also receive practical tools to support cash flow, budgeting, drought preparedness and farm business planning and access to mental health support through the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP).
A range of capacity-building workshops are rolling out across regional NSW to help farmers develop a business plan in preparation for the coaching program:
- Tue 29 Sep – Financial Decision Making – Lismore
- Wed 7 Oct – Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials Online – Online
- Wed 21 Oct – Growing Success: Farm Business Planning Essentials Online – Online
Expressions of interest to participate in the coaching program are now open.
For more information, visit Build a stronger farm business.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty:
“The NSW Government understands the challenges our farmers are facing, with climate change driving more frequent, severe and prolonged droughts and an increase in business pressures, including the current fuel and fertiliser disruption.
“Farmers are the backbone of the NSW economy, and this coaching program is designed to equip them with the practical skills, confidence and tools they need to manage risk, make informed decisions, and build long-term economic, environmental and social resilience.
“By connecting farmers with practical learning opportunities and the latest research and extension services, we’re strengthening farm businesses and regional communities across NSW.”
Gunnedah sheep grazier Gus Greenway said:
“Our fine wool Merino business has greatly benefited from the tailored coaching we received through the Farm Business Resilience Program.
“The personalised business coaching gave us the confidence to make changes to our pasture and feed practices which have improved animal weight gain and wool quality.
“This has placed our property and business in a stronger financial and operational position against unpredictable market and climatic conditions.”
