The Australian Government has committed $139.8 million in transition assistance for 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.
The funding will assist the sector to:
- collaborate on a long-term strategy, supported by investment
- enhance 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.
Closed grant opportunities
Farm Business Transition Program, Round 1 - $20 million
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.
Applications for Round 1 of the program closed 1 December 2025 and are currently being assessed. Outcomes are expected to be announced in March 2026. For more information, visit GrantConnect.
Round 2 of the program is expected to open in mid-2026.
Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program - $1.5 million
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.
Applications closed 1 December 2025 and are currently being assessed. Outcomes are expected to be announced in March 2026. For more information, visit GrantConnect.
Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program
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 early 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 implementation activities under the program.
All grants include GST unless otherwise stated and pending final contracting
| Project title | Summary | Lead recipient | Value of Grant $ (up to) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love Your Local Butcher - Enhancing Demand for Australian Sheepmeat | The project will expand AMIC s ‘Love Your Local Butcher’ (LYLB) brand into a coordinated national marketing program promoting Australian lamb through independent retail butchers. It will equip small butcher businesses with professional tools and content to promote lamb locally, complementing Meat & Livestock Australia marketing. This includes building a self-sustaining platform that drives domestic demand, supports diversification away from live sheep exports, and strengthens confidence in Australian lamb. | Australian Meat Industry Council | 550,000.00 |
| More to Meat Initiative (Phase 4) | The project will assist in the delivery of Phase 4 of the More to Meat Initiative evolving to include a greater focus on innovative market opportunities and more collaboration and upskilling of individual processors to develop tailored engagement strategies for commercial and community stakeholders. This includes promoting innovation, market opportunities, investment, job opportunities and regional economic benefits. | Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd | 426,800.00 |
| Sheep Futures - Women Leading the Flock | The project will support informed sheep flock expansion by improving understanding of export opportunity, enterprise viability and succession leadership helping strengthen national sheep meat supply confidence and readiness. It will feature succession pathways for young women participating in sheep enterprises and translate trusted data and lived experience into clear confidence tools. Regional workshops in Western Australia and national briefings will ensure insights are shared across all major sheep-producing states. | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia Ltd | 54,670.00 |
| Beyond Borders - Understanding market dynamics and unlocking consumer demand for Australian sheep food/fibre products in Middle East and North Africa (MENA), specifically Jordanian, and Australian Markets | This project aims to examine the long-term sustainability of Australian food/fibre products within and beyond Australian borders. An industry-led research project with a reciprocal collaborative protocol to ensure stakeholder engagement. The research findings and recommendations will be used to support on-farm decision-making and create evidence-based extension materials. | Charles Sturt University | 135,877.50 |
| Sheep Industry Pivot - Diversifying Market Pathways to Enhance Demand for Australian Sheep Products | The project will develop new value-added and by-product opportunities for domestic and international specialty markets. Combining applied market research, design-led collaboration, and real-world pilot implementation, the project will deliver actionable commercial insights, new product opportunities, and stronger industry capability to build a more resilient and adaptable Australian sheep industry. | Edith Cowan University | 549,952.70 |
| Pathways to growth for Australian sheep industry products | Australia's boxed sheep meat industry is positioned to transition from live exports towards enhanced domestic processing and value-adding opportunities. This project will conduct in-depth research and data analysis to chart effective growth pathways for domestic and export markets to identify potential and foster broad industry acceptance of the transition away from live sheep exports. The project will identify market opportunities in established overseas regions. | Episode 3 Pty Ltd | 49,995.00 |
| Unlocking Market Demand for Australian Sheep Products. A Behavioural Science Approach | This project will apply a behavioural science approach to understand the key drivers and barriers affecting Australian sheep producers’ ability to access new and diverse markets, including exports to the MENA region. Practical behaviourally informed strategies for industry and government will be developed to support sheep producers in adapting to changing market demands and successfully transitioning to new market opportunities. | Evidn Pty Ltd | 54,450.00 |
| Market Transition Strategy for Enhancing Demand for Diversifying Agri-food Exports in the MENA Region | This project will develop a comprehensive, research-based strategy to enhance market demand for Australian agri-food exports (e.g. sheep meat, beef, grains, pulses, processed food), including Halal-certified processed sheep meat exports to the MENA region. It will develop a market transition strategy, including a roadmap and practical transition pathways for exporters and Australian producers. Insights from Halal meat industries will inform a strategic roadmap that supports regional processing capacity, ensures religious compliance, and strengthens Australia's agri-food footprint in MENA markets. | Federation University Australia | 549,634.80 |
| Strengthening and diversifying demand for Australian sheep products through market and consumer insights and strategic business collaboration in domestic markets and export markets in Southeast Asia, North America, and MENA region. | This project will focus on understanding consumer preferences, market trends, and identifying new opportunities to support the new processing plants to develop and expand businesses in Southeast Asia, North America, and the MENA region. By collaborating with industry partners and utilising market research, the project will provide practical insights and strategies to enable the sheep supply chain, comprising producers, processors, exporters, and other stakeholders, to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a dynamic trading environment. | Greenleaf Enterprises Pty Ltd | 539,000.00 |
| Advancing and developing Australian agri-food exports: A study of market demand and consumer opportunities in MENA | This project will identify how Australian producers can better meet market demand and strengthen long-term trade relationships to the MENA region. Led by Griffith University in collaboration with university and industry partners, the project’s findings will guide producers with evidence of market demand and consumer preferences, showing how verified Australian agri-food products can achieve sustainable growth in the MENA region. | Griffith University | 389,281.20 |
| Aussie Meat Academy - Enhancing Market Demand for Australian Sheepmeat | This project will deliver Aussie Meat Academy events across 16 priority markets, showcasing the quality, versatility and value of Australian sheepmeat to commercial decision-makers. This is a new and separate initiative with a dedicated focus on sheepmeat and market-specific training formats designed to accelerate adoption in key channels. It will leverage MLA’s global offices, technical experts and its Lambassadors, alongside industry and government partners, to maximise impact and efficiency. | Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd | 550,000.00 |
| Understanding Consumer and Market Acceptance of Australian Sheep for Premium Pet Food | This project will explore how Australian sheep meat and by-products, such as offal and fat, can be used in premium pet food for consumers in Japan, Korea, and China. Research findings will guide producers and exporters in developing products that match consumer preferences and in designing marketing and education strategies to build trust and demand. By improving the understanding of international consumer needs and creating practical pathways for new markets, this project will support stronger, more diversified export opportunities for Australian sheep products and the broader agricultural sector. | University of Technology Sydney | 170,500.00 |
Supply Chain Capacity Program, Round 1 - $20 million
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.
Applications for Round 2 of the program are expected to open early 2026.
For more information, visit WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Other programs
Sheep Industry Strategy and Implementation Plan
Funding of $0.8 million to deliver an industry-led, government supported strategy, underpinned by robust economic analysis, that promotes direction, confidence and growth in the national and Western Australian sheep meat and wool industry.
A priority action plan to support industry activities that implement the strategy will also be developed, including research and development priorities and other producer and supply chain needs.
Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) was awarded the grant.
For more details visit GrantConnect.
The Future Flock
SPA will lead The Future Flock, a national project to set the direction for Australia’s sheep industry, in addition to delivering a WA roadmap.
The Future Flock will bring producers and supply chain operators together to tackle shared challenges and opportunities — developing solutions and shaping the industry’s future.
This project combines national consultation and economic modelling, addressing national and state priorities in parallel while WA-specific insights will tailor a state strategy and action and investment roadmap for Western Australia.
Visit The Future Flock to find out more and sign up to have your say.
WA Roadmap to 2028
As part of The Future Flock, SPA will also work with the Transition Advocate (an independent voice appointed to facilitate two-way communication between industry and government) and the Strategic Steering Group (a panel of industry leaders) to develop a WA roadmap. The WA roadmap has been initiated to guide the development of a medium-long term industry strategy and priority action plan for, and supported by, the state’s sheep and wool sector.
A dedicated ‘Have Your Say’ page is now available, providing all stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute their views on the WA Roadmap. You can share feedback through an online questionnaire or by submitting a written response. Your input is fundamental in shaping the development of the WA Roadmap, ensuring broad engagement across the supply chain.
If you are interested in providing input, please visit the WA Roadmap page.
Implementation Fund
To implement priority actions arising from the industry strategy $5.0 million is available. This could include, for example, grants to support research and development priorities, training and capacity building, industry leadership, or to embed new practices across the supply chain.
Extension Program
$4.0 million 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 was awarded the grant. Further information is available at the Grower Group Alliance website.
Farm Business Transition Program $30 million
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 program will be delivered over 2 rounds.
Market Feedback and Forward Contracts Program
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. This would include developing guidance material and training support for the use of forward contracts through the sheep supply chain.
Supply Chain Capacity Program - $40 million
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 program will be delivered over 2 rounds.
Enhancing Market Demand Program
The $27.0 million Enhancing Market Demand (EMD) program began in 2024-25 and will run over 4 years to 2027-28. The program is focused on enhancing demand within Australia and internationally for Australian sheep products and supporting diversification opportunities for Australian agri-food businesses that export to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The EMD program is intended to grow the profile of Australian sheep products, aid the diversification of markets for sheep and broader agrifood products to the MENA region, boost confidence in the domestic sheep industry and assist the industry to adjust through transitioning to other opportunities in Australia and overseas.
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.
Financial Counselling Services
The Rural Financial Counselling Service in Western Australia has received $2.4 million to provide additional counselling services in the region.
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.
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.