The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) provides free rural financial counselling to farmers, fishing enterprises, forestry growers and harvesters, and small, related businesses who are suffering financial hardship.
There are 12 service providers across Australian that employ rural financial counsellors to assist clients in need across Australia. The RFCS Programme is funded by the Australian, State and Northern Territory Governments.
Rural Financial Counselling Service
Rural financial counsellors operate from regional offices however they are a mobile workforce who may come to you.
Rural financial counsellors can;
- help identify your financial and business options
- help negotiate with your lenders
- help you develop an action plan
- help support you to access the Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
- give you information about government and other assistance schemes
- refer you to accountants, agricultural advisers and educational services
- refer you to Department of Human Services and to professionals for succession planning, family mediation and personal, emotional and social counselling.
The boundaries for the RFCS service provider regions in Victoria, NSW and Queensland changed from 1 April 2016.
To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor refer to the list of RFCS offices below.
Rural Financial Counselling Offices
Victoria:
Eastern Region; Head Office - Leongatha, Phone: 03 5662 2566
North Eastern Region; Head Office - Wodonga, www.rfcsvicne.org.au - Phone: 1300 834 775
North Western Region; Head Office - Mildura, www.sunrcs.com.au - Phone: 1300 769 489
Western Region; Head Office - Hamilton, www.wswrcs.com.au - Phone: 1300 735 578
New South Wales:
Central Region; Head Office - Dubbo, www.rfcscr.com.au - Phone: 1800 940 404
Northern Region; Head Office - Casino, www.rfcsnsw-northernregion.org - Phone: 02 6662 5055
Southern Region; Head Office - Cooma, www.rfcsnsw-sr.com.au - Phone: 02 6452 5850
Queensland:
Northern Region; Head Office - Longreach, www.rfcssq.org.au - Phone: 07 4652 5666
Southern Region; Head Office - Roma, www.rfcssq.org.au - Phone: 07 4622 5500
South Australia / Northern Territory:
Head Office - Magill SA, www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au - Phone: 1800 836 211
Western Australia:
Head Office - Geraldton, www.rfcswa.com.au - Phone: 1800 612 004
Tasmania:
Head Office - Launceston, www.ruralbusinesstasmania.org.au - Phone: 1300 883 276
