Rural Business Support is set to further broaden its financial counselling services across the state to assist eligible small regional businesses affected by struggling in as a result of COVID-19, drought, or bushfires.
While already supporting more than 600 farming families, six specialist financial counsellors have been named to help provide support beyond the farm gates, making up the RBS Small Business team.
The team covers Kangaroo Island (Darren Keenan), Eyre Peninsula (Julie Wynne), the Mid and Upper North (Matt Petherick), Mallee and Riverland (Erica McAvaney), Adelaide Hills (Cheree Reichl) and drought-affected areas in NT (Peter Cottle).
These six specialist financial counsellors are from banking and business backgrounds, with the team soon to grow to nine counsellors.
The new team comes following additional federal government funding to RBS through the Regional Recovery Small Business Support Program. RBS is one of 12 providers of Rural Financial Counselling Services nationally to be included in the $4.7 million program.
The team can help eligible small business owners - with 19 or fewer employees - to consider different options to manage financial issues, develop budgets and cash flows, negotiate with creditors, access dispute resolution services, connect with broader professional advice and support, and apply for government and community grants, programs or schemes.
The service is free, independent and confidential.
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RBS chief executive officer Brett Smith says the not-for-profit organisation welcomed the opportunity to further expand and help more small business owners in an extremely challenging year.
"It's certainly been a year to remember for all the wrong reasons for many small business owners, but RBS wants to reassure our regional and rural communities that help is available," Mr Smith said.
"Our financial counsellors can be another set of eyes to help business owners take a clearer look at their situation and find a way forward.
"It can be challenging to ask for help, but this is where our experienced team can throw around some suggestions and perhaps provide a bit of clarity during what may otherwise seem a pretty overwhelming time."
To contact the RBS Small Business team, call 1800 836 211, and for more information, visit the RBS website.
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