Coronavirus (COVID-19) statement:
Continuing support for you and your rural business

26/03/2020

Rural Business Support wants to reassure you that our team is doing all we can to continue supporting our clients during this uncertain time.

Our “meet you at your kitchen table” service will have to look a bit different for a while. This doesn’t mean our clients won’t continue to receive personalised, one-on-one financial counselling support to help them navigate whatever challenges their business is facing today, or will face in the days ahead.

To look after the health and wellbeing of our clients and staff, we are temporarily stopping face-to-face meetings. We have made this difficult decision based on the Prime Minister’s advice on Tuesday March 24 around social distancing and the need to avoid “non-essential” public contact.

Be assured that our financial counsellors are still holding client appointments – it just means that these will need to be via online video link, or telephone.

If you know your way around a computer, have a web cam and reliable internet coverage, your financial counsellor will be able to email you a link to click on to make your next meeting happen. But if you don’t, it’s okay. Talking over the phone or using Face Time are other options.

Please look after yourself and those close to you.  If you are starting to feel like you’re not coping with whatever challenges you’re faced with, please call your local GP or contact the Regional Access Network (RAN), a free phone and online counselling service for people living in regional SA. Call 1300 032 186 for RAN support. Another useful, free and farmer-specific resource is www.ifarmwell.com.au.

If you need to talk to a financial counsellor, please call our freecall number on 1800 836 211.

If you have any concerns about Coronavirus please call the Department of Health hotline on 1800 020 080 or visit www.health.gov.au.

Together, we will get through this.

Brett Smith
CEO – Rural Business Support