Federal funding has assured the future of the Rural Business Supports’ running of the Rural Financial Counselling Service until June 2019.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
![RBS CEO Brett Smith. RBS CEO Brett Smith.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/d60650e3-a16e-4ca2-83bd-08b586158e4d.jpg/r992_0_1572_541_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The RBS has managed the counseling service since 2006 and will continue to provide free, confidential and independent support to rural and regional farmers and fishers facing hardship in SA and NT.
From April, the service will also be open to forest growers and harvesters for the first time.
RBS Board chair Sharon Starick said that the board and staff were extremely pleased with the announcement.
“The RFCS has assisted 7000 clients over the past nine years with a range of support services including access to government funding, communicating with lenders and providing a valuable referral service,” she said.
“We have professionally trained staff based around SA and offer a fly-in/fly-out service in the NT and with SA currently experiencing harsh conditions such as bushfires and drought, we are in an excellent position to assist where required.
“We work closely with clients to plan for the future and to be better prepared for climate variability and manage through periods of economic difficulties.”
The office has reopened from today and can be contacted, freecall on 1800 836 211.