Rural Financial Counselling
Independent support at your kitchen table
Support is Free and Confidential - Call Today
- Gaining a better understanding of their financial position
- Identifying and exploring options and opportunities
- Information on industry programs
- Identifying and applying for grants
- Negotiating with lenders/creditors
- Negotiation with insurers
- Debt mediation
- Referrals to professional services incl. RFCS wellbeing support
Helping
primary producers with:
Helping to develop
plans/strategies including:
- Business planning
- Cash flow budgeting
- Marketing planning
- Succession/exit planning
5 Reasons for calling RFCS VicWest
Whatever financial challenges you are facing, getting support and considering your options as soon as possible is crucial. That’s why we arrange a catch-up at the earliest opportunity. Our wait times are days, not weeks, and our first conversation is usually within 24 hours. In most instances, the counsellor you see first will remain working with you until all your issues are resolved.
5 - Fast Appointments
We understand the 24/7 committment of farming, and the inconvenience of taking time out to travel to an appointment, so to save you the trouble, our counsellors do the driving and come to you. We can meet you at your house or in an agreed location and when we finish up, you can get back to work with a toolbox full of new strategies and a clear direction in mind.
4 - We Come to You
Our counsellors are passionate about their work because they live in the region they service, many from farming backgrounds themselves.
When they visit you at your farm, the connection is real - they are aware of local issues and there’s a sincerity about helping one of their own.
3 - Local Connection
RFCS has been providing rural financial counselling since 1986 and has supported primary producers through bushfires, drought, storms and floods for years.
Our Board of Directors and our dedicated staff know the landscape and understand the issues that farmers face on a daily and seasonal basis.
2 - Proven Experience
RFCS VicWest is funded through State and Federal Government Grants, donations and philanthropic contributions. It allows us to offer our services for free, and independently of outside interests.
We are bound by client confidentiality by Law, so you don’t have to worry about others finding out about your personal affairs.
1 - Free | Independent | Confidential
Eligibility
Location
Your farm or farm business needs to be within the area we service. Check the map to see the shires included in our catchment.
ABN Registered
Your farm or primary producer enterprise needs to be a registered business with the Australian Tax Office.
If you’re a farmer or primary producer (including fishing, forestry and small related enterprises) and facing financial challenges you are likely eligible for our free support.
In some instances where we can’t assist directly, we will refer you to a service provider who can. A quick call to us in the first instance is it all it takes to confirm. In saying that, there are a couple of basic requirements you need to fulfil for RFCS support:
What's the criteria?
Testimonials
“It’s been awesome it really has, it’s really helped put perspective on our business and where our priorities should be.”
“Having it all on paper and a forward plan, and ticking it off on paper as we go - that’s been a lot better than trying to wing it in your mind.”
“I think soon after I contacted the service I realised what support the counsellor was being for me."
"I was concerned contacting the service [about my] pride, but the counsellor was fantastic. She was extremely supportive, she was a farmer herself…”
““The rural financial counsellor lives in our community and is within reach… he just knows the situation locally.”
“I’ve become more confident over the years thanks to a financial counsellor. It’s helped me achieve my goals every year.”
Meet the Team
Sunraysia-Millewa
David Talbot
Financial Counsellor
Ashley Kuhl
Financial Counsellor
Stephanie Ferdelja,
RFC Coordinator (NW)
Cara Clark
Financial Counsellor
Andrew Scott
Financial Counsellor
Lauren Fowler
Financial Counsellor
Anna McGee
RFC Assis. Coordinator (NW)
Swan Hill
Bendigo
Erica McArthur
Financial Counsellor
Leeanne Summers
Financial Counsellor
Wimmera-Southern Mallee
Central Highlands
Malcolm Rowe
RFC Assis. Coordinator (SW)
Patrick White
Financial Counsellor
Michael White
Financial Counsellor
Matthew Soul
Financial Counsellor
Sarah Moncrieff
Conn Lilley
Financial Counsellor
George Leishman
Financial Counsellor
Karen Brady
Financial Counsellor
Sarah Moncrieff
RFC Coordinator (SW)
Great South Coast
