Extra funds for Rural Financial Counselling Service

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

NE Regional Soil Health Conference

NECMA conference

North East Regional Soil Health Conference - 14 May 2021 at Beechworth is for ALL land managers, agriculture industry groups and soil health service providers in North East Victoria.
Read more ...

Farm Finance getting prepared 2021 Webinar

Farm Finance

The team at the Young Farmer Business Network have put together a series of sessions designed to build skills in financial planning and business resilience for your farm business.
Read more ...

Details: Published: 17 May 2017; Last Updated: 31 May 2017

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Farm businesses seeking assistance in planning their budgets will have better access to the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) thanks to over $1.6 million in additional funding from the Coalition Government;

$1.6 million dollar boost to the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS).
Across seven RFCS regions—NSW Central ($210,000), NSW Northern ($350,000), NSW Southern ($210,000), Qld Northern ($140,000), Qld Southern ($420,000), South Australia–NT ($140,000), Victoria North–West ($140,000).

The full details of the media release from The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP are as follows...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce said this free service will assist farmers, including those transitioning off financial support from the Farm Household Allowance (FHA), by giving them free access to professionals to work through their financial situation and build financial self-sufficiency.

"The Coalition Government recognises that tough times can put severe pressure on farmers trying to manage both farm and household budgets," Minister Joyce said.

"We also recognise that farmers who will soon be reaching the end of their 3 year entitlement to the FHA may need some additional financial assistance. Many farmers will have improved their financial circumstance whilst on the allowance, however some may not. For those farmers the additional guidance in managing their finances whilst transition off the allowance will be beneficial.

"FHA is a successful program that has helped over 7,300 farmers since July 2014. RFCS can provide valuable advice to farmers who leave FHA and want to continue to improve their circumstances.

"The Government is also supporting farmers exiting the FHA by extending eligibility to Farm Business Concessional Loans which can be used for refinancing existing debt.

"The Coalition Government strongly supports the RFCS, which has supported rural communities for over 30 years, and this further funding boost will ensure Rural Financial Counselling Service providers are effectively resourced to manage demand from farmers.

"The additional resources for RFCS providers will enable them to retain skilled professionals to help farmers understand their financial situation and support them with business planning and farm debt mediation.

"The Government is working to strengthen agriculture by driving improved returns at the farm gate.

"However, where drought and temporary hardship hits the Coalition Government is prepared to support farmers and rural communities, with more than $1 billion in rural assistance made available since we were elected in September 2013.

For more information on the RFCS visit agriculture.gov.au/rfcs or call 1800 686 175.

For more information on government farmer assistance measures, visit: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/assistance .

Fast facts;

The RFCS has assisted rural communities for 30 years and provides free financial counselling to farmers, fishers and small rural businesses who are suffering financial hardship.
Since September 2013, more than $70 million has been provided for free counselling through the Rural Financial Counselling Service