Frequently Asked Questions
Maybe you’ve heard of our Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), but you want to know more about how we can help farming families. We’ve put together a few Q&As that address some of the common inquiries we receive. Alternatively, you’re welcome to give us a call on 1800 836 211.
What is RFCS and who is it for?
RFCS helps eligible farmers who are in financial difficulty to take action to develop and implement plans to improve their financial position.
This includes farmers, fishers, forest growers and harvesters and owners of small agriculture related rural businesses.
Rural Business Support (RBS) delivers the RFCS program in SA and NT with funding from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAW), Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Resources NT.
RBS is one of 12 services delivering the RFCS nationally – Queensland (2), NSW (3), Victoria (4), Tasmania (1) and WA (1).
Will it cost me anything to use RFCS?
Eligible RFCS clients can access the services of a rural financial counsellor (RFC) at no cost to them. The service is independent and confidential.
How long can a RFC work with clients for?
The support is provided for up to three years but is reviewed at least yearly.
Our days are full with keeping on top of things on farm. I don’t have time for a trip to town to see a RFC.
We understand that farm life stops for no-one. Our RFCs covered more than 328,000km last year travelling to meet with clients around their kitchen tables.
That said, if you’d rather catch up with a RFC during a trip into town, we have offices across SA – in Ardrossan, Berri, Clare, Magill, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte and Wudinna.
I’ve had the same accountant for 20 years – I’m happy with the job they’re doing. Why should I see a RFC?
A RFC can sit down with you, take a big picture look at your business and discuss some options to improve your financial sustainability that perhaps you haven’t thought about before (because, let’s face it, you’ve had your hands and days full with running the farm!).
A RFC will use a case management framework to help you understand your situation and identify financial and business options so that you feel more confident about the future.
I’m still unclear on how a RFC can help our business. What will I get out of it?
Our friendly and professional RFCs can help you with:
- Business analysis including long term cash flow and viability
- Meeting with lenders and financial institutions
- Referrals to other service providers
- Preparing for succession planning
- Identifying government assistance eligibility
After your first appointment the RFC will give you a clear idea of the possible ways they can help.
We’ve been down like this before and bounced back. “Others are so much worse off than us… “
We hear this so often. Everyone has access to an initial appointment with RFCS to discuss your eligibility for rural financial counselling. Please don’t self-assess.
We’ve worked with hundreds of farming families over 30 years, many of whom have been exactly where you are now. Many have unknowingly ruled themselves out as being eligible for RFCS help and government financial assistance.
RFCS also has information on government and industry programs that may be available to you such as Farm Household Allowance (FHA) and low interest loans available through the Rural Investment Corporation (RIC).
A RFC’s job is to help you understand your financial position, then work with you to develop and implement plans to improve this.
Our bank has told us we’ve run out of negotiation room – we’re facing foreclosure. It’s too late for RFCS to help me.
A RFC can help you to deal with lending institutions in relation to applications and contracts with them. We also can support you with processes relating to farm debt mediation.
The Farm Debt Mediation Bill 2018 requires mandatory farm debt mediation to support farmers and provide improved protection and financial security. This provides a formal structure for producers who find themselves in a situation where debt on their farm – their livelihood and home – has become unmanageable and all other avenues of negotiation with creditors have been exhausted.
Talk to a RFC to find out more.
I overheard a bloke talking about some new low interest loan for farmers. What’s this all about?
Our RFCs have up-to-date information from the Federal Government’s new central entity, the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC). The RIC provides low interest loans for farmers for farm investment, debt restructuring, operating expenses and drought recovery and preparedness activities.
My family has never been the type to accept government handouts – we don’t feel right about seeking financial assistance from Centrelink.
Rest assured you’re not alone. But sometimes rural families need an extra hand during tough times. It’s important to not self assess and you don’t have to be in drought to apply.
If you’ve decided to look into Farm Household Allowance (FHA), a RFC can support you with getting your application together.
FHA provides eligible farmers and their partners experiencing financial hardship with assistance through planning and training for long-term financial improvements as well as income support for up to four years. It’s the same rate as Newstart Allowance and is paid fortnightly.
The Federal Government has temporarily increased the farm asset test to $5 million until 30 June 2019 to allow more farming families to access FHA. The second of two supplement payments can also be applied for up until June 1 2019.
You can find out more and claim FHA online at www.humanservices.gov.au/farmhouseholdallowance. Our RFCs can help you with completing your application.
It sounds like seeing a RFC could sort out plenty of our problems. What can’t they do?
While RFCS can assist you with your farm business matters, there are some areas that are best left to other professional services such as lawyers, accountants, agronomists and the Australian Tax Office.
We can’t represent you in legal processes, or act as a mediator in farm debt mediation processes.
If a need for emotional counselling is identified, we will refer you to mental health service providers.
We will continue to work with you on your farm business challenges along with these other professional service providers.
How do I contact RFCS?
Please call 1800 836 211, have a look around our website (seeing as you’re already here) or email us: admin@ruralbusinesssupport.org.au
If you’re asked to leave a message, be assured one of our team will be in contact within 48 hours. If you have previously worked with a RFC, you’re welcome to call them – you can find contact details by tapping here.
