Krystal Camilleri | Farm Transitions Australia

Krystal Camilleri is a rare voice in the farming conversation — equally committed to the well-being of animals and farmers.

Growing up on a rural property in central Queensland, surrounded by the rhythms of farm life and riding horses, Krystal always felt a strong bond with animals. However, in her early 30s, she began to question her relationship with them. She explored veganism, volunteered at sanctuaries, and became deeply involved in advocacy.

In 2018, after her family moved to Tasmania — the heart of Australia’s dairy industry — her path shifted dramatically. She rescued two newborn dairy calves, just days away from slaughter. The calves were among 200 young bulls in pens marked for death. Standing there, face-to-face with the scale of the problem, Krystal knew she couldn’t walk away.

This experience led her to start Companion Cows — Australia’s first organisation dedicated solely to the rescue and rehoming of dairy cows and unwanted dairy calves. Operating in Tasmania and New South Wales, the charity is run by a small but passionate team of volunteers committed to giving these animals a life after dairy farming.

In 2024, Companion Cows rescued and rehomed more than 100 cows and calves, including 48 older dairy cows from a closing farm in New South Wales. Already this year, they’ve matched that achievement, saving over 100 more, including 61 dairy cows and calves from closing and or flood-affected farms.

But for Krystal, rescue work alone wasn’t enough.

Through her time on numerous dairy farms, she developed a deeper understanding of the problems on the farm, building genuine connections with farmers, listening to their experiences, and understanding their challenges firsthand. “I began to really see the complexity of their world — from droughts and floods to tight profit margins, labour shortages, unstable milk prices, long working hours, regulatory demands, and the increasing pressures of climate change,” she says. “I realised these incredibly hard-working people are caught in a system that’s tough on everyone — both the animals and the farmers.”

With nearly two decades of experience in sales, marketing, project management, and business strategy — and having run her own boutique marketing agency — Krystal began to imagine a new way forward. She wanted to use her skills to support farmers ready to transition into new, viable, and more sustainable futures.

In 2023, she founded Farm Transitions Australia (FTA) — a registered charity and the first organisation of its kind in the country — offering free, practical, and compassionate support to farmers considering life beyond animal agriculture.

She knows these decisions are deeply personal. “Every farmer’s journey is unique,” Krystal says. “Transitioning out of dairy farming isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. That’s why we work with the whole picture — the farm’s location, size, infrastructure, and potential for horticulture, conservation, new enterprises, or for some farmers an exit into a new career.”

The urgency is real. The Australian dairy industry is at a pivotal moment, facing economic, environmental, and social pressures that are intensifying due to climate change. Floods, droughts, and heat extremes are making it increasingly hard for farms to stay viable.

“We might not have all the answers yet,” she says, “but we do know that farmers deserve choices — and the support to explore them — before they’re forced out by climate impacts or financial strain. Sitting back and doing nothing isn’t an option. FTA exists to help farmers step into a future that’s sustainable, dignified, and built on respect for both people, animals, and the planet.”

If you’re a beef or dairy farmer and would like to transition your farm to future-focused, regenerative farming, more sustainable forms of business, or a change in your career, you may be eligible for free support from Farm Transitions Australia. To find out more, or to take the first step transitioning your farm, please get in touch with Farm Transitions Australia