The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) operates across Australia, with new counsellors appointed thanks to Federal Government funding.

The initiative will see free financial counselling provided to farmers, fishing enterprises, forest growers and harvesters, and related small business owners.

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RFCS chief executive officer Jeff Caldbeck said the counsellors were now undergoing final training and would commence work in the region in late November.

“They’re the same as a mental health counsellor, but they’ve been brought in for the drought,” he said.

“They’ll do face-to-face and phone counselling.”

The RFCS counsellors will be available to help support people to make the right decisions for their business, including: identifying financial and business options; developing an action plan; negotiations with lenders; and applications for the Farm Household Allowance.

Mr Caldbeck said while existing counsellors had been extremely helpful to those in need, he was unable to provide any data on how many people had been assisted.

He said that the RFCS’ NSW Central Region did however make 6000 outbound phone calls during August to assist clients.

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Mr Caldbeck said the counsellors would help people affected by the drought to cope with short and long term issues.

“Short term has a lot to do with immediate financial issues such as putting food on the table and just keeping your life upright,” he said.

While Mr Caldbeck said long term issues could involved rising debt levels.

“We can also help people to exit the industry if they want,” he said.

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“We can help with access to loans and mediation services with banks or financial institutions

Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee welcomed the new appointments and said the counsellor in his electorate came following weeks of lobbying by him to the Federal Government and the RFCS.

“Many farmers are utilising the Rural Financial Counselling Service to access support measures such as the Farm Household Allowance, transport subsidies and drought concessional loans,” he said.

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“As I travel around the electorate, the feedback I’m receiving is that these financial counsellors are heavily booked by people needing help.

“Following the announcement made by the Federal Government of $5 million for the Rural Financial Counselling Service, I got on the phone to the Federal Agriculture Minister and requested that additional financial counselling services be rolled out in the Central Tablelands.

Call 1800 940 404 to speak to your nearest RFCS office.