FarmBis
From Poultry Hub
FarmBis is a national program giving primary producers and rural land managers access to business and natural resource management training and education at a reduced cost. FarmBis makes it easy to attend training – it picks up nearly two-thirds of the course cost and can help with the costs of travel, accommodation and childcare. It's also flexible, with courses delivered at times and locations that are suited to participants whenever possible.
The Australian Government announced improvements to FarmBis on 8 May, 2007. From 1 July, 2007, FarmBis will be funded and delivered solely by the Australian Government in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, with other states and the Northern Territory joining the national model from 1 July, 2008. The new model guarantees access to FarmBis for primary producers in all states and territories. Producers can now bank on FarmBis support until 2011. The national FarmBis program covers 65 per cent of your training costs on registered courses but you need to apply to your FarmBis administrator for the discount before you attend training.
From July 1, 2007, application forms can be downloaded from the FarmBis website or can be posted to you if you phone freecall 1800 195 543. Both of these contacts can also be used to obtain further information.
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FarmBis training categories
A wide range of courses are available under the following training categories:
- managing people (for example, implementing effective workplace relations, succession planning)
- financial management (e.g. cash flow budgeting, financial risk management, taxation)
- general business management (e.g. strategic planning, Quality Assurance)
- marketing (e.g. developing a marketing plan or market access requirements)
- natural resource management (e.g. sustainable soils or managing revegetation); and
- integrated approaches to production management (e.g. risk management in production systems).
Information for each state and territory, as at July 2007, is summarised in the table below. This information should be confirmed as current using the contacts for further information listed in this table.
| State or Territory | Subsidy for individuals | Individual Max | Individual Min | Subsidy for groups | Group Max | Group Min | Further information |
| VIC | 65% | 5000 | 250 | 65% | 5000 | 150 | Phone: (03) 54482640 Web: Vic FarmBis page or Aust Govt FarmBis page |
| NSW/ACT | 65% | 5000 | 250 | 65% | 5000 | 150 | Phone: 1800195543 Web: NSW Govt Farmbis page |
| SA | 60% | 10000 | 250 | 60% | 50000 total | 1000 total | Phone: 1800182235 Web: SA Govt Farmbis page |
| TAS | 60% | 10000 | 250 | 60% | 50000 total | 1000 total | Phone: 1300368550 Web: Tas Govt Farmbis page |
| WA | 50% or 65% with needs analysis | No max | 100 | 50% or 65% with needs analysis | No max | 100 | Phone: 1800198231 or (08) 93683192 Web: WA Govt Farmbis page |
| QLD | 65% | No max | 250 | 65% | No max | 250 | Phone: 132523 or (07) 34046999 Web: Qld Govt Farmbis page |
| NT | 75% | 12000 | 100 | 80% | 12000 | 100 | Phone: (08) 89992077 Web: NT Govt Farmbis page |
FarmBis definitions
Applicant
For Group applications, the “applicant” means the party responsible for lodging the application and organising the training. In most instances the applicant will be the training provider applying on behalf of the group but it could be a member of the group or other party, such as an industry body, on behalf of the group.
For individual applications, the “applicant” means the participant or participant’s business.
Participants
Primary producer
Primary producers are defined as those who are owner operators or managers of a primary production enterprise as determined by the Australian Taxation Office. The enterprise must have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and the applicants must provide a declaration of their primary production tax status. The whole management team, which comprises the principal operator, family members and staff employed in a management capacity, is eligible for assistance under the program.
Indigenous land owner/manager
Indigenous land owners/managers are eligible for assistance for all eligible training activities even though they may not have tax status as a primary producer.
Land manager
Eligible land managers are defined as those that own or have management responsibility for the natural resources (land, water and vegetation, fauna) of a land holding zoned rural or rural/residential landholding with an area greater than 2 hectares. The owner/manager, family members involved in decision making and staff employed in a management capacity are eligible for assistance to undertake activities where at least 50 percent of the course content is natural resource management training.
Group
A group comprises two or more businesses.
Primary production enterprise
A rural enterprise carried on within the agricultural, horticultural, pastoral, aquacultural or apicultural industries:
- by a registered business, or
- where the enterprise is carried on by an individual.
Eligible costs excludes such items as computer software, aerial photographs, audits, text books, professional advice and on-going group facilitation/mentoring.
VET accredited course
A VET accredited course means a course accredited under the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Support provided by FarmBis
Level of support
For applications received from 01/07/2007, the following subsidies apply: A subsidy of 65% of the eligible course cost will apply to courses undertaken by Primary Producers. Land Managers will be eligible for a subsidy of 65% of the eligible cost where at least 50% of the course content is Natural Resource Management training. A subsidy of 75% of the eligible course cost will apply to all courses undertaken by Indigenous Land Owners/Managers.
Participant child care, respite care, travel and accommodation costs
Funding is available to meet reasonable childcare and respite care costs to enable participants to attend training. If suitable training is not available within a reasonable distance, a subsidy of 61 cents per kilometre per vehicle for travel by car, or a reimbursement of commercial travel (bus, train or plane) costs will apply for travel by participants to attend training where:
- the distance to the training venue is not less than 100 km
- the first 100 km each way is not subject to a subsidy
- a minimum subsidy of $25 will apply (ie. minimum round trip of 241 km)
- a maximum subsidy of $366 will apply (ie 600 km x 61 cents)
A 50% subsidy is available for participant accommodation where:
- participants need to attend training that is not within reasonable commuting distance given course start time, location and duration.
- participants need to attend a specific live-in course.
- the subsidy is based on the actual costs of accommodation (which includes meals) capped at a total cost of $150 per day per person.
Supported activities
FarmBis support is directed to activities that focus on enhancing the skills of participants to manage their business, natural and human resources but excludes the following:
- ongoing secondary and tertiary education,
- professional advice,
- stand alone technical or operational training activities,
- specific training activities required to be undertaken to satisfy government regulatory and statutory obligations,
- training activities that are cross-subsidised by other government programs or agencies,
- conferences and any workshops associated with conferences,
- study tours that do not have clearly defined learning outcomes,
- basic computers training,
- individual computerised accounts training.
Effective from 25/04/2005, FarmBis support for the various activities/modules that are associated with graduate qualifications (including but not limited to Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters) is limited to a maximum of two (2) activities/modules per participant.
How to apply for FarmBis subsidies
FarmBis encourages farmers, fishers and natural resource managers to determine their learning priorities so as to maximize the use of their time and dollars and to gain the maximum benefit of improved skills through a planned approach.
A network of Regional FarmBis Coordinators is available to assist with the identification of learning needs, available courses, making application and networking with training providers.
Application forms
There are two types of application forms:
Group applications
Group applications must be completed for training to be delivered to groups. The applicant for group training is to be the partly responsible for organising the training activity. Usually this will be the training provider but may be a group member on behalf of the group or an industry body.
Individual applications
Individual applications must be completed for training to be delivered to an individual or members of the same business or property. Individual applications are to be submitted by the participant.
Application process
Applications are to be lodged prior to the training activity being undertaken. For Group applications, the indicative number of participants may be given where the individual names and details are not available at the time of lodging the application. Full details of attendees will be required at the time of requesting the subsidy payment.
An approval letter advising of the subsidy amount and engaging the training provider will be sent to the training provider together with FarmBis Course Review Forms. A copy of the approval advice will be supplied to the applicant.
Conditions of FarmBis support
- Training courses/activities and training providers must be registered with FarmBis.
- Application for FarmBis subsidies must be made prior to commencement of training.
- Applicants for group training are required to put in place appropriate procedures to establish the bona fides of the participants. (Refer to definitions of participants).
- All participants are required to complete a FarmBis Course Review Form at completion of the training. Some participants may also be requested to participate in follow up surveys. Statistical information from the application forms, course review forms and surveys will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the FarmBis program.
- Participants are required to contribute towards the cost of the training activity from their own resources.
- Financial support from an industry or sponsorship can NOT be used as the participant contribution. If financial support is available the FarmBis subsidy shall be reduced and will be based on the net cost (advertised price less sponsorship) of the activity.
- Claims for payment of subsidies for courses, participant travel, accommodation, childcare and respite care are to be made within 30 days of course completion.
- For group applications, at the conclusion of day one of the training activity, the training provider is to provide FarmBis of indicative participant travel and accommodation claims (number of people, distances, and accommodation costs) to ensure funds are allocated.
