Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria North East for farmers and small farm businesses.

What we do

Rural Financial Counselling Services are:

Free, independent and confidential
Staffed by qualified and experienced Rural Financial Counsellors (RFCs) who understand farming and business – our RFCs are required to have a Diploma of Financial Counselling as minimum qualification, and have years of experience in assisting farming businesses
For primary producers of livestock, milk, honey, fruit, crops, wool, meat, vegetables, eggs, fish, plants, trees and logs
For small businesses who mainly support primary production such as: fencing, shearing sheep, controlling weeds or agricultural pests, managing stock, planting crops etc.
Able to assist farm or small agribusinesses experiencing or at risk of financial hardship
Able to come to your place of business or you can come and see us.

Assistance when

Rural Financial Counselling Services can assist businesses affected by:

Drought/water issues
Low commodity prices
Natural disasters
Structural adjustment
Industry downturns
Low equity/tight cash flow
Difficulties with lenders or access to finance
Unpaid creditors/debtors
Market disruptions
Changes in personal circumstances
Farm accidents or illness
Share farming/succession agreements/ contracts.

How can we help you

Rural Financial Counselling Services can help you:

Understand your financial position and the viability of your enterprise
Identify options to improve your financial position
Develop a plan to implement your chosen options, and implement that plan
Provide information, referrals, and support to access, government or industry grants and programs
Assist you to deal (whether through meetings or otherwise) with lending institutions in relation to:
- Applications and contracts with those institutions; and
- Processes relating to farm debt mediation
Assist you to identify the need for advice from professional service providers, and provide support with preparation for meetings with professional service providers.

News

Bushfire recovery grants extended to support farmers and small business in Victoria

Bushfire recovery grants extended to support farmers and small business in Victoria 2

Application deadlines for the $75,000 primary producers and $10,000 small business bushfire recovery grants for those affected by the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires have been extended to 31 January 2021.

St Vincent de Paul - Tell a Farm Friend

Up to $3000 Federal Government Drought Support Apply Today, Farmer in Paddock

The Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) Round 2 is a Federal Government funded grant that provides immediate financial assistance of up to $3000 to farmers, farm workers, or farm suppliers/contractors including sale yard and abattoir workers who have been financially impacted by drought.

Meeting water yield challenges in North East Victoria

Details: Published: 12 November 2020; Last Updated: 03 December 2020

Meeting Water Yield webinar

Meeting water yield challenges in North East Victoria.

La Trobe University, North East Catchment Management Authority and the River Basin Management Society are proud to bring you an online information series to explore what the future may look like with a reduced water yield, and what actions we need to take now to prepare for this reality.

BlazeAid Camps - Upper Murray Update

Details: Published: 08 September 2020; Last Updated: 10 September 2020

Perennial Grass Seed and Paddock Trees
Camps: Corryong, Walwa and Jingellic

BlazeAid is providing more than the usual Fencing help, with two new programs rolling out in the Upper Murray area. Fire affected farmers may be eligible for perennial grass seed to re-establish pastures in those paddocks burnt in the 2019/20 fires. Many deserving farmers have received funding in the first round of approvals. If you wish to be included in the Spring/Autumn GRAFFI pasture program, please contact the Camps initially to register interest.

Regional Roundup - July 2020

Details: Published: 31 August 2020; Last Updated: 10 September 2020

Regional Round-up is a monthly newsletter providing an overview into the environmental and business conditions affecting farmers and rural businesses in the Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria.

On-Farm Energy Assessments Update

Details: Published: 25 May 2018; Last Updated: 01 June 2018

blog 13

Applications are now open for a FREE on-farm energy assessment through Agriculture Victoria, Agriculture Energy Investment Plan. An Assessment will identify how you can improve your on-farm energy efficiency, manage energy costs or build your own-generation capacity, providing a road map for investing in energy improvements over time.