Rural Financial Counselling Service
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The Australian Government's Farm Finance initiative includes an additional $5.9 million for the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) program for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 financial years.
This funding will provide for approximately 17 additional full–time rural financial counsellors. The new counsellors will be focused on regions and industries experiencing acute debt stress and where recent natural disasters have had a heavy impact on farm businesses. The additional counsellors will be initially placed in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Locations of these new rural financial counselling positions will be provided on this website as positions are filled. A number of positions will be filled by ‘mobile’ rural financial counsellors; these counsellors will be placed in various locations over time, depending on where need is the greatest.Information on locations of rural financial counsellors can also be obtained by calling 1800 686 175 (toll free) or by emailing the RFCS.
The Australian and the Northern Territory Governments have agreed to provide additional funding to Rural Financial Counselling Service South Australia to deliver a 12 month trial of services in the Northern Territory under the Rural Financial Counselling Service Program.
Media release: A bigger reach for rural financial counselling
Rural Financial Counselling Service Program
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, 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.
Contact Details
Financial Counselling and Community Support
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 1800 686 175
Fax: (02) 6272 4414
21 May 2013