Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)

The RFCS is an ongoing Australian Government program. It provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

The overarching goal of the RFCS program is to build financially capable agricultural, fishing and forestry sectors that are profitable, financially self-reliant and better prepared to deal with risks.

Using a case management approach the Program aims to:

• transition clients out of financial crisis
• improve clients’ financial well-being and resilience
• improve clients’ business profitability or facilitate a dignified exit through sale or succession.

The Program Logic, Program Logic infographic, Guidelines and the Monitoring Evaluation and Assurance Framework are integral to the RFCS Program and vision.

The Australian Government is investing over $101 million (GST exclusive) in Program funding from 2021 until June 2026.

Services

Free and confidential services are provided by qualified rural financial counsellors who will use case management to help empower you to engage in strategic business and financial decision-making to improve your financial situation.

They will listen to your financial problems and provide support unique to you.

They can help you:

• understand your financial position through developing budgets and cash flows to enable you to re-assess the viability of your business
• develop an action plan and take the necessary steps to get you out of financial difficulty
• negotiate with your lenders
• build your financial knowledge, skills and resilience so you can manage potential challenges in the future.
• through limited transactional support to identify and assist you to apply for other government programs and assistance that will support the path back to self-sufficiency, including Farm Household Allowance.

Counsellors will guide you through the process. You are always in control of the decision making.

Rural financial counsellors cannot give you advice relating to specific (branded) products, agribusiness, law, family or social issues, mental health or financial advice. They can refer you to other professional services for this assistance as part of their holistic approach.

RFCS locations

Rural financial counsellors are located in agricultural communities in 12 RFCS provider regions across Australia.

Find your local RFCS

Contact

If you are unsure which RFCS region you are in, you can call the RFCS Network’s national information line on 1300 771 741 which will connect you with your nearest RFCS office.

Background

The Australian Government has funded the RFCS in regional communities since 1986, in response to increased financial difficulties across the rural sector.

On 28 April 2021, the Australian Government announced successful applicants to deliver services across 12 predefined service regions under the 2021 to 2024 RFCS Program. This grant process was merit-based, open and competitive. These successful applicants have been granted an extension of funding until 30 June 2026. Further information is available on the Community Grants Hub website.

The RFCS is jointly funded by the Australian, state and territory governments.

RFCS reviews

The RFCS has been regularly reviewed. In 2019 the department conducted an internal review of the operation and structure of the 2016 to 2020 RFCS Program. The review made recommendations to improve client outcomes and the performance of RFCS providers. These recommendations were implemented in the 2021 to 2024 RFCS Program.

More support

Read more about drought, disaster and rural support options.