Native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests ended on 1 January 2024. Support is available for businesses, workers and communities.

Support available

Available now

  • Forestry Transition Fund – businesses and communities can access Round 2 of the Forestry Transition Fund to support their region’s transition and employ native timber workers - including a $20,000 Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment for businesses to recruit ex-native timber workers.
  • Victorian Timber Innovation Fund Round 3 – grants to help impacted forestry businesses to explore, invest, and implement new business opportunities.
  • The Timber Supply Chain Resilience Package – grants to support manufacturers of native timber products to make business decisions.
  • Forestry Business Support Package – plant and equipment payment, loss of income payment and statutory redundancy reimbursements for native timber dependant businesses not covered by the Sawmill Voluntary Transition Package, Harvest and Haulage Support Package or Community Forestry Support Package.

More detailed information is on the Business support page.

Available now

  • The Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program is delivered by ForestWorks. Support will be delivered through 1:1 case management including:
    • Training
    • Recognition of prior learning and current competencies to formalise skills acquired
    • Employment support including matching workers to jobs in their local area
    • Health and wellbeing support
    • Referrals to other support agencies
    • Support payments – Redundancy top-up payment, Over 45 payment, and Relocation payment
    • Community Forestry Hardship Payments.
  • The Opal Worker Support Service delivered by ForestWorks - delivering training, job services, health and wellbeing support.
  • A boosted worker support package will include access to the Free TAFE program to help retrain workers to get jobs in growing regional industries.
  • Extended compensation/stand down payments to keep workers and businesses paid until the transition is finalised.

More information about eligibility and supports are on the Worker support page.

Available now

  • Local Development Strategies – Local Development Strategy programs are underway in 11 localities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting in Victorian state forests.
  • Community Development Fund – grants to support the early implementation of the Local Development Strategy (LDS) program.
  • Forestry Transition Fund – businesses and communities can access Round 2 of the Forestry Transition Fund to support their region’s transition and employ native timber workers - including a $20,000 Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment for businesses to recruit ex-native timber workers.

More information is available on the Community support page.

Key contacts

If you are unsure what support is or will be available, please get in contact using these details:

Mental health support is available if the forestry transition process is affecting your health and wellbeing, or people you know are being affected.

Page last updated: 31/03/25