The Australian Government is investing almost $140 million to assist individuals, businesses and communities to confidently plan and adapt to laws passed by the Australian Parliament to end live sheep exports by sea from 1 May 2028.
Package overview
The assistance package will assist the sector to:
- collaborate on a long-term strategy, supported by investment
- improve the profitability of the farm to feedlot end of the supply chain, ensuring continuity and quality of supply
- leverage technology to improve feedback loops and position producers to best meet market and consumer requirements
- strengthen business resilience and support vibrant local communities.
Sheep Industry Strategy and Implementation Plan
Funding of $0.8 million to deliver industry-led, government supported strategies, underpinned by robust economic analysis, that promotes direction, confidence and growth in the national and Western Australian sheep meat and wool industries.
Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) was awarded the grant.
For more details visit GrantConnect.
The Future Flock
Drawing from economic modelling and the diverse perspectives of producers and supply chain operators from across Australia, The Future Flock: A Ten-Year View 2027-2036 brings together shared challenges, opportunities and identifies where coordinated action is most likely to strengthen long-term industry performance.
Over the six-month consultation period, over 300 people from across the Australian sheep industry have contributed their knowledge, experience and perspectives through workshops, interviews, surveys and stakeholder discussions. Participants represented the breadth of the sheep value chain, including producers, processors, exporters, researchers, advisors, service providers, industry organisations and government.
Shaped by industry, The Future Flock establishes a shared vision for the Australia’s sheep industry, identifying the conditions needed to support future investment, decision-making and long-term growth.
Visit The Future Flock to find out more and subscribe for news and updates.
WA Roadmap to 2028
The WA Roadmap to 2028 (the WA Roadmap) complements The Future Flock and is an industry strategy and priority action plan developed specifically for and by the Western Australian sheep and wool sector. The WA Roadmap was launched in June 2026.
During December 2025 to March 2026 stakeholders from across the sheep supply-chain provided their views which helped guide and shape the development of the WA Roadmap.
Co-designed with industry, the WA Roadmap sets out a shared vision for the future for the WA sheep industry:
A confident and adaptable WA sheep industry, supporting people across a profitable supply chain to meet changing markets, strengthened by innovation, science and technology.
The WA Roadmap is grounded in evidence-based economic modelling, focusing on farmgate profitability, market development, and supply chain investment. The WA Roadmap to 2028: Economic Analysis was released in May 2026 and provides the economic foundation for the WA Roadmap. More information can be found on the WA Roadmap page.
WA Roadmap Implementation Fund
Funding of $5 million for the WA Roadmap Implementation Fund has been allocated to implement priority actions arising from the WA Roadmap to 2028.
Extension Program
$4.0 million for the MUSTER program to demonstrate and encourage adoption of best practice farming systems to improve farmer knowledge in new farming practices; and assist the sheep industry to transition away from live sheep exports by sea by considering other market opportunities for wool, meat and co-products.
The Grower Group Alliance (GGA) was awarded the grant.
Muster Co-Design
The first co-design process is underway, with GGA engaging directly with grower groups that expressed interest in participating in the program.
This process will identify the best practice information that WA sheep and wool producers need to prepare for the future, where this information can be found, how best to extend that knowledge, and who is best suited to deliver the message.
If you are a researcher or industry expert with specific experience in research, development, extensions and adoption within the sheep and wool sectors, please consider contributing to the design of MUSTER by cosigning up at the program website below.
Further information is available at the Grower Group Alliance website.
Farm Business Transition Program
The Farm Business Transition Program supports sheep producers to increase on-farm adoption and uptake of alternative farming systems and practices.
Funding supports the development of business plans tailored to individual farm business circumstances and for a range of activities including infrastructure upgrades, equipment purchases, training, adoption of innovation and alternative management practices amongst others.
This $30 million program will be delivered over 2 rounds.
Supporting supply chain partnerships and better use of market information Programs
To enable increased producer use of existing processor feedback and data tools that support continuous improvement of the sheep flock, $2 million has been allocated for training and technology uptake. This would include developing guidance material and training support for the use of forward contracts through the sheep supply chain and technology and data use to inform on farm decision-making.
Supply Chain Capacity Program
The Supply Chain Capacity Program, administered by the Western Australian Government for producers and processors, is designed to fund capital works that increase the capacity, efficiency and productivity of the sheep supply chain in Western Australia.
This $40 million program will be delivered over 2 rounds.
For more information, visit WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Enhancing Market Demand Program
The $27.0 million Enhancing Market Demand (EMD) program is focused on strengthening demand for Australian sheep meat and products within Australia and internationally, with a strong focus on supporting diversification opportunities for Australian agri-food businesses.
The program forms an integral component of the sheep industry assistance package, adopting a ‘whole-of-system’ approach to enhance local and global demand. This complements ongoing producer and supply chain initiatives and transition oversight.
The program began in 2024-25, and will run over 4 years to 2027-28, with a focus on:
- Strengthening the profile and brand of Australian sheep meat and products
- Supporting the diversification of markets for sheep meat and their products and broader agrifood products
- Building confidence in the domestic sheep industry by securing reliable demand
- Assisting the industry to develop new and emerging opportunities domestically and abroad.
The program has 4 key activity streams:
Austrade
$9.0 million over 3 years to Austrade to deliver marketing and promotional activities to support growth in exports of processed sheep products and diversification opportunities for agri-food exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Delivering a range of marketing and promotion activities in Australia and overseas which focus on:
- Positioning Australian sheep meat as a premium product
- Expanding global export opportunities for Australian sheep meat
- Increasing demand for Australian agri-food exports to MENA
- Strengthening industry relationships and connecting producers with overseas buyers
- Appointing an additional TradeStart Advisor at the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC) in Western Australia to help producers in the State to grow and diversify their exports.
Austrade’s TradeStart Advisors across Australia also provide support to local producers and businesses across the sheep supply chain by providing:
- Free, tailored advice and assistance on exporting
- Connections to offshore market opportunities
- Inclusion in overseas trade missions and promotional events
- Export-focused training, including ‘export-ready’ workshops.
Further information and local contacts are available at TradeStart advisers | Austrade
Meat and Livestock Australia
$3.0 million over 3 years to Meat & Livestock Australia (Market Development Grant), to promote, market and advocate for Australian sheep meat and sheep products in key markets to create a fertile environment for increased demand and sales internationally and domestically.
Meat & Livestock Australia are promoting, marketing and advocating for sheep meat and related products in key domestic and international markets to secure and grow ongoing demand across the supply chain. Key activities include:
- Developing its Aussie Meat Academy program to boost demand for Australian sheep meat products
- Broadening its Lambassador program
- Engaging technical specialists to design and deliver an education program, and
- Develop digital education and knowledge assets.
Last year’s Lambassador tour began in Western Australia and included chefs and influencers from 11 countries, helping expand market reach and reinforce Australia’s reputation as a world leader in premium red meat.
For more information, visit WA Sheep Transition Hub | Meat & Livestock Australia
Overseas Agricultural Counsellors
$8.6 million over 4 years for Agriculture Counsellors for Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) to support regional trade relationships and market opportunities for Australian sheep, food and fibre products in the MENA region.
Counsellors for Dubai and Riyadh assist trade and market opportunities for Australian sheep, food and fibre products across the MENA.
They work to advocate, negotiate, and secure trade relationships, promote Australian products, and support market growth with MENA identified as a priority region due to strong and growing demand for Australian sheep products.
To learn more, visit the Overseas Agriculture Counsellor Network webpage on the department’s website to hear from counsellors, including the Agricultural Counsellor for Dubai.
Enhancing Market Demand Grants
$4.4 million over 3 years towards the Enhancing Market Demand Grants program for grants to explore opportunities to maintain and develop markets for Australian sheep products, and markets for Australian agri-food in the MENA region.
This program supports diversifying exports of Australian agricultural and food products, particularly to the MENA region. This includes focusing on increasing demand and sales of sheepmeat at home and abroad, ensuring Australian farmers benefit from the trade of high-quality and ethically produced food and fibre.
Twelve successful projects were awarded up to $3.65 million (GST exclusive) to be delivered over 2025-26 to 2027-28. Recipients include industry peak bodies, agricultural consultants, and other organisations. These organisations will work with Australian sheep, agriculture, food and fibre industries on active and emerging market opportunities, and will assist farmers, producers and exporters to build stronger business-to-business relationships.
Shearing Industry Transition Program
The $2.2 million Shearing Industry Transition Program will assist shearing contractors to facilitate a broader range of seasonally complementary agricultural and regional work for their employees in the Western Australian agricultural sector.
The WA Shearing Industry Association Inc (WASIA) was awarded the grant for the Beyond the Shed program, which was launched in January 2026.
For more information and to register interest to participate, visit Beyond The Shed | WA Shearing Industry Association.
Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program
The Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program assists livestock transport operators to transition to other transport-related activities, which may require further investment in preparation for the end of the trade.
This $1.5 million program will be delivered over 2 rounds.
Financial Counselling Services
The Rural Financial Counselling Service in Western Australia has received $2.4 million to provide additional counselling services in the region.
For more information, visit Support services.
Community Wellbeing Program
$1.5 million for activities promoting resilience in WA communities affected by the phase out of live sheep exports by sea. Applications closed on 24 July 2025, with Blue Tree Project, Holyoake and Rural Aid awarded grants.
This program is being administered by the Western Australian Government.
For more information visit Support services.
Closed grant opportunities
The Farm System Productivity Program closed on 10 September 2026.
This program provides funding to assist priority actions and activities identified in the WA Roadmap to 2028 as part of the $5 million WA Roadmap Implementation Fund.
The program enables a broad range of project ideas that align with the WA Roadmap to 2028 and deliver benefits across the broader WA sheep industry that improve productivity, profitability and industry collaboration.
Outcomes are expected to be announced in October 2026.
Round 2 of the Supply Chain Capacity program, administered by the Western Australian Government, is designed to fund capital works that increase the capacity, efficiency and productivity of the sheep supply chain in Western Australia.
Grant outcomes for Round 2 were jointly announced on 11 September 2026. Funding was awarded to 104 producers to support investment into on-farm finishing systems, including new or expanded feedlots, confinement feeding systems, paddock finishing and efficiency-led technology improvements and to 4 processors for build processing capacity, including lairage upgrades, cold storage enhancements, value-added production and abattoir expansion.
The successful projects span the Mid-West, Wheatbelt, South West, Great Southern, Peel, Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
For more information visit WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The Supply Chain Capacity Program, administered by the Western Australian Government for producers and processors, is designed to fund capital works that increase the capacity, efficiency and productivity of the sheep supply chain in Western Australia. Round 1 applications closed on 22 October 2025.
Grant outcomes for Round 1 were jointly announced on 25 February 2026. $20 million in funding was awarded to 40 producers to support investment into on-farm finishing systems and 5 processors for capacity building, including lairage upgrades and abattoir expansion.
For more information, visit WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Round 2 of the Farm Business Transition Program closed 22 July 2026.
Grant outcomes for Round 2 were announced on 2 October 2026. $11.43 million (excluding GST) in funding was awarded to 211 producers to assist with implementation activities under the program.
Full list of grant recipients
All grants include GST and are pending final contracting.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
For more information, visit GrantConnect.
Round 1 of the Farm Business Transition Program closed 1 December 2025.
Grant outcomes for Round 1 were announced on 20 March 2026. $10.8 million in funding was awarded to 180 producers to assist with implementation activities under the program.
Full list of grant recipients
All grants include GST and are pending final contracting.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
For more information, visit GrantConnect.
Round 2 of the Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program closed 13 July 2026.
Grant outcomes were announced on 1 October 2026. $0.4 million (GST exclusive) in funding was awarded to 10 livestock transport operators to assist with implementation activities under the program.
Full list of grant recipients
All grants include GST and are pending final contracting.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
For more information, visit GrantConnect.
Round 1 of the Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program closed 1 December 2025.
Grant outcomes were announced on 20 March 2026. $691,117 in funding was awarded to 20 livestock transport operators to assist with implementation activities under the program.
Full list of grant recipients
All grants include GST and are pending final contracting.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
For more information, visit GrantConnect.
The Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program is designed to increase information available to Australian sheep, agriculture, food and fibre industries on market opportunities and/or stronger business-to-business relationships for interstate and overseas markets for sheep products; and markets for Australian agri-food in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Applications for the Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program closed in November 2025. The round provided up to $3.65 million (GST exclusive) to 12 successful applicants from 2025-26 to 2027-28 for projects to assist with implementation activities under the program.
Full list of grant recipients
All grants include GST and are pending final contracting.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
Resources
Sheep Industry Transition Assistance Package: Transition assistance for sheep producers and the supply chain for the phase out of live sheep exports by sea
This document sets out how funding will assist farmers and the rest of the supply chain to capitalise on the opportunities from this transition and the increasing demand for sheep meat domestically and globally.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
Co-design themes
This document details program components under each theme, including the funding allocation, timing of activities and grant opportunities and how these program features relate to the co-design outcomes.
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.