The Australian Government has committed $139.7 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.
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.
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.
Current programs
Funding: $5.8 million
Sheep Industry Strategy and Implementation Plan
$0.8 million in 2025-26 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.
Develop a priority action plan to support industry activities that give effect to the strategy, including research and development priorities and other producer and supply chain needs.
The program opened on 31 July and will close on 28 August. Please note this is a closed, non-competitive process and only organisations invited to apply are eligible. For further details please visit GrantConnect.
Implementation fund
$5.0 million over 2 years from 2026-27 to implement priority actions arising from the industry strategy. 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.
Funding: $34 million
Extension program
$4.0 million over 3 years from 2025-26 to expand extension services and grower group activities to showcase alternative sheep farming systems and practices.
- This may include: on-farm demonstrations, feed, pasture management, genetics, nutrition and more.
- The Support for Research and Development Extension program opened on 14 August and will close on 25 September 2025. Please note this is a closed, non-competitive process and only organisations invited to apply are eligible. For further details please visit GrantConnect.
Farm Business Transition
$30.0 million for a competitive grant program over 3 years from 2025-26 to incentivise increased on-farm adoption and uptake of alternative farming systems and practices. A range of on-farm activities will be eligible that relate to improving sheep quality and integrated farming systems. Matching co-contributions from grant applicants will be required with grants capped up to $75,000 per applicant.
Coming soon: This grant program will be advertised on the Australian Government GrantConnect website once the grant round opens later this calendar year.
Funding: $69 million
Market feedback and forward contracts
$2.0 million over 2 years from 2025-26 for training to enable increased producer use of existing processor feedback and data tools that support continuous improvement of the sheep flock. This would include developing guidance material and training support for the use of forward contracts through the sheep supply chain.
Supply chain capacity – open now 27 August to 22 October 2025
The $40.0 million Supply Chain Capacity Program opened on 27 August 2025 and will close on 22 October 2025. This program is being delivered by the Western Australian Government over 3 years from 2025-26 to encourage capital investment to enhance processing supply chain capacity, efficiency and productivity.
Eligible activities will include on-farm finishing infrastructure; upgrades to feedlots; processing plant upgrades, including lairage, ramps, cold stores and wastewater upgrades; improved heavy vehicle access and associated driver facilities; installation of objective carcase measurement (OCM) technology in processing plants, including updates to software systems and training for producers in understanding and applying OCM feedback. All grant programs will be capped per enterprise. Applicants will have to match grant funding with a co-contribution.
Funding will be delivered through a competitive grant application process, with two grant funding rounds expected: an initial round of $20.0 million (2025) and a second round of $20.0 million (2026).
To apply for funding and to find out more information, please visit SmartyGrants or contact the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Enhancing Market Demand
The $27.0 million Enhancing Market Demand (EMD) program commenced 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.
The Enhancing Market Demand grants program is designed to increase market opportunity information available to producers and build stronger business-to-business relationships for domestic and global sheep products and diversify food markets in the Middle East and North Africa region. Applications for Round 2 with a $4.4 million allocation will open later this calendar year.
Funding: $7.6 million
Shearing industry transition
$2.2 million over 3 years from 2025-26 for the Shearing Industry Transition Program to assist shearing businesses develop a new approach to expanded employment services in the Western Australian agricultural sector. The program opened on 14 August and will close on 11 September. Please note this is a closed, non-competitive process and only organisations invited to apply are eligible. For further details please visit GrantConnect.
Livestock transport business transition
$1.5 million over 2 years from 2025-26 for the Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program to assist transport companies through the transition. Matching co-contributions from grant applicants will be required with grants capped up to $40,000 per applicant.
Coming soon: This grant program will be advertised on the Australian Government GrantConnect website once the grant round opens later this calendar year.
Financial counselling services
$2.4 million to provide additional services through the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Western Australia (previously announced).
Community wellbeing
$1.5 million for activities in affected regions to foster community wellbeing and connections and strengthen community resilience (previously announced).
Grants application timings and process
Applications for grants will open in the second half of 2025.
It is expected that Round 1 applications for the $30 million Farm Business Transition program and $1.5 million Livestock Transport Industry Transition program will open in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Eligibility for grants will vary based on the program. These will be detailed in the relevant grant guidelines.
All grant details and applications administered by the department will be available via GrantConnect, the Australian Government central grants portal.
Grant opportunities administered by the Western Australian Government will be advertised on WA DPIRD’s online platform, SmartyGrants.
Monitor this page for grant application opening dates.
Advice for applicants
Before you start, take time to understand the grant opportunity.
Each grant has different criteria for assessment. Any grant process will require you to explain your proposed use, show how it will help achieve the grant’s objectives, and how you will keep track of how the funds are spent.
Follow these steps to ensure you meet all assessment criteria:
- Read the grant guidelines – these outline the program objectives, eligibility requirements, and application process.
- Address the assessment criteria – you’ll need to clearly explain how your proposal meets each criterion.
- Check the deadline – give yourself enough time to prepare and submit a strong application.
- Follow submission instructions – each grant opportunity will outline specific instructions on how and where to submit your application.
For queries or support, contact LSPOgrants@aff.gov.au.
Past opportunities
The Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program is part of the transition assistance package available to explore opportunities that maintain and develop:
- interstate and overseas markets for Australian sheep products
- markets for Australian agri-food in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Applications closed for Round 1 on 19 December 2024. Eligible peak industry bodies, Rural Research and Development Corporations, research providers and/or consultants specialising in fields such as agriculture, economics, markets or trade were invited to apply for grants totalling up to $2 million GST exclusive.
No grants were funded under Round 1.
Applications for Round 2 will open later this calendar year.