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
NSW – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
There are two service providers that employ rural financial counsellors in New South Wales. To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Download
NSW rural financial counselling services map (PDF 1.96 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
NSW Northern
PO Box 54
Lismore NSW 2480
Level 1, Suite 2
75 Magellan Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: 1800 344 090
Fax: 02 6662 4105
Email: info@rfcsnr.org.au
Website: www.rfcsnr.org.au
NSW Southern and NSW Central
Phone: 1800 319 458
Email: info@rfcsnsw.com.au
Website: www.rfcsnsw.com.au
Address details
PO Box 761
Cooma NSW 2630
137 Macquarie Street
Dubbo NSW 2830
Phone: 02 6434 4991
104 Baylis Street
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Queensland – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
There are two service providers that employ rural financial counsellors in Queensland. To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Download
Queensland rural financial counselling services map (PDF 624 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
Northern Region
PO Box 592
Longreach QLD 4730
100 Galah Street
Longreach QLD 4730
Phone: 07 4652 5669
Fax: 07 4622 5500
Email: ceo@rfcsnq.com.au
Website: www.rfcsnq.com.au
Southern Region
PO Box 433
Roma QLD 4455
42B Wyndham Street
Roma QLD 4455
Rural financial counselling
Phone: 07 4622 5500
Email: admin@rfcssq.org.au
Website: www.rfcssq.org.au
Small business financial counselling
Phone: 1300 732 777
Email: info@sbfcssq.org.au
Website: www.sbfcssq.org.au
South Australia - Northern Territory – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Download
South Australia - Northern Territory rural financial counselling services map (PDF 744 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
555 The Parade
Magill SA 5072
Phone: 1800 836 211
Email: enquiries@ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
Website: www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
Tasmania – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Download
Tasmania rural financial counselling services map (PDF 504 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
62 York Street
Launceston TAS 7250
Phone: 1300 771 441 or 1300 88 FARM (1300 88 3276)
Email: admin@ruralbusinesstasmania.org.au
Website: www.ruralbusinesstasmania.org.au
Victoria – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
There are three service providers that employ rural financial counsellors in Victoria. To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Download
Victoria rural financial counselling services map (PDF 734 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
Victoria Eastern Region
PO Box 362
Leongatha VIC 3953
1 Peart Street
Leongatha VIC 3953
Phone: 1300 045 747
Email: support@rfcsgippsland.org.au
Website: www.ruralfinancialcounselling.org.au
Victoria North Eastern Region
102 Hume Street
Wodonga VIC 3690
PO Box 1619
Wodonga VIC 3689
Phone: 1300 834 775
Fax: 02 6100 6123
Email: info@agbizassist.org.au
Website: https://www.rfcsvicne.org.au
Victoria West Region
PO Box 715
Hamilton VIC 3300
77 Kennedy Street
Hamilton VIC 3300
Phone: 1300 735 578
Email: admin@wswrcs.com.au
Website: https://wswrcs.com.au
To locate your nearest rural financial counsellor, contact the service provider's head office below.
Western Australia – Rural Financial Counselling Service contact details
Download
Western Australia rural financial counselling services map (PDF 852 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
PO Box 919
Jurien Bay WA 6516
Phone: 1800 612 004
Email: enquiries@ruralwest.com.au
Website: https://www.ruralwest.com.au
Download
financial counselling service map of Australia (PDF 5.51 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact the RFCS team for assistance.
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.