Rural Financial Counselling Service
The Australian Government has engaged Rural Financial Counselling Service South Australia (RFCSSA) to provide free financial counselling and referral services to rural enterprises and small businesses in the Northern Territory which are suffering financial difficulty as a result of the recent suspension of the live export cattle trade.
For more information about the services available or to arrange a confidential meeting with a financial counsellor
please ring the RFCSSA hotline on 1800 836 211 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or visit their website.
The RFCS Program provides grants to state and regional organisations to provide free rural financial counselling to primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses* who are suffering financial hardship and who have no alternative sources of impartial support.
*'Small rural business' for the purposes of the Program is defined as a rural business that employs no more than ten full-time-equivalent (38 hours per week) employees and provides the majority of its services to primary producers and is directly involved in primary production (e.g. fencing, harvesting, spraying or stock management).
Information on the objectives and outcomes of the RFCS Program is available in the RFCS Charter
There are currently 14 service providers employing more than 110 rural financial counsellors across the country.
The RFCS Program is jointly funded by the Australian and state governments.
Grants applications and funding
There are currently no funding grant rounds open.
Applications for grant funding for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011 closed on 26 October 2007, and the successful 14 applicants were announced on 3 June 2008. With the extension of the RFCS Program until 30 June 2015, the Australian Government has extended the deeds of grant with the current RFCS service providers to cover this period.
RFCS Administration
Information for RFCS service providers and staff is provided under RFCS Administration Resources. This will direct you to a password protected page.
Financial Counselling and Community Support Section Contact Details
Financial Counselling and Community Support
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: 1800 686 175
Fax: (02) 6272 4414
Email: RFCS
Website: www.rfcs.gov.au