Note: Expression of Interest for the position of Rural Business Development Corporation Board Director closed at 5pm on Monday 10 June 2024. Please contact the team on rbdc@dpird.wa.gov.au should you have any queries.
Open Schemes of Assistance
Farm Debt Mediation Scheme (WA)
Currently open for applications. For more information refer to the Farm Debt Mediation Scheme page.
WA Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program
The State Government's $15 million Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program (CF-LRP) aims to realise agriculture's potential to sequester carbon in the landscape and contribute to growing the WA carbon market.
Further detail on the program, including open rounds and the latest information, is available here.
Closed Schemes of Assistance
Farm Finance (FFCLS) and Drought (DCLS) Concessional Loans Schemes
These schemes were funded by the Australian Government and are being administered by the Rural Business Development Corporation (RBDC) on behalf of the Western Australian Government, for the Australian Government.
Applications closed on 30 June 2017. For information on the current and historical interest rates for the Commonwealth Concessional Loans Schemes as determined by the Australian Government.
For loans scheme interest rate information click here.
Announcements
Future Drought Fund - June 2020
The Australian Government established the Future Drought Fund, with the Fund opening with 8 foundational programs on 1 July 2020.
The Future Drought Fund is an important part of the Australian Government’s Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan to deliver the support Australian farmers and communities need to be sustainable and productive. Further details on the Fund is available on the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment web pages.
About us
The RBDC is established under the Rural Business Development Corporation Act 2000 and commenced in December 2000. It replaced the functions of the former Rural Adjustment and Finance Corporation (RAFCOR).
The Corporation’s functions are:
- to administer approved assistance schemes and to ensure that such schemes administered by the Corporation are properly and fairly administered
- to give directly the financial assistance to be given under approved assistance schemes administered by the Corporation
- to provide moneys to a department of the Public Service, or to an agency or instrumentality of the Crown, for the purposes of the financial assistance to be given under an approved assistance scheme administered by the department, agency or instrumentality
- to carry out research into, and develop policies on issues affecting persons likely to be given financial assistance under this Act
- to perform other functions given to the Corporation under this Act or another Act
- to perform any other functions that may be prescribed
- to review and give advice to the Minister on;
- proposed assistance schemes,
- the implementation of approved assistance schemes,
- economic and other conditions in the rural sector.
Annual reports
- Annual report 2024
- Annual report 2023
- Annual report 2022
- Annual report 2021
- Annual report 2020
- Annual report 2019
- Annual report 2018
Previous schemes and activities
- Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme (WA) - closed 30 June 2015
- Drought Concessional Loans Scheme 2014-15 (WA) - closed 30 June 2015
- Drought Concessional Loans Scheme 2015-16 (WA) - closed 30 June 2017
- Farm Business Assessment Scheme - closed 30 June 2017
Board of Directors
The RBDC is comprised of a board of five directors appointed by the Minister.
- Andrew Clark (Chairman)
- Sue Middleton
- Ashley Herbert
- I-Lyn Loo
- Suzanne Woods
Contact information
Rural Business Development Unit
1300 374 731
RBDC@dpird.wa.gov.au