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Reviews of the Rural Financial Counselling Service Program
2004 Review of the RFCS Program
In May 2004, the Australian Government announced a review of the performance of the rural financial counselling services across Australia to determine the efficiency, timeliness and suitability of current administrative and community management structures and delivery mechanisms.
The Review was led by the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC). The Review committee submitted its report on 13 December 2004.
You can download the report of the 2004 Review of the RFCS Program from our publications page.
The Australian Government endorsed the key recommendations of the review and on 26 October 2005, the Primary Industries Ministerial Council agreed to a national framework for the enhanced RFCS Program. This framework includes national principles, aims, objectives, strategies and outcomes to provide consistency for the Program across Australia.
2003 Acumen Alliance performance review and audit
In 2003, Acumen Alliance completed a performance review and audit of 24 rural financial counselling services.
The review found that, overall, a significant number of services were undertaking activities contrary to the funding agreement and that no service was fully compliant with the audit criteria and funding agreement requirements.
A summary of the review's findings and recommendations, containing the publicly available information, is available for download.
2000 Evaluation of the Rural Communities Program (RCP)
The Rural Financial Counselling Service Program (formerly the Rural Communities Program) was previously reviewed in 2000. The Evaluation of the Rural Communities Program examined Program performance and future directions and options for change.