Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria-Gippsland Inc

Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria-Gippsland Inc (RFCS Victoria-Gippsland) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting agricultural industries and small rural businesses in southeastern Victoria, Australia. The organisation provides free, confidential, and independent rural financial counselling and planning support to help primary producers and rural enterprises achieve financial sustainability and adapt to changing economic conditions.

Service Area and Coverage

RFCS Victoria-Gippsland serves a broad region covering eleven council shires across southeastern Victoria. These include Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Cardinia, Casey, East Gippsland, Latrobe, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, South Gippsland, Wellington, and Yarra Ranges. The service area encompasses smaller acreage properties from southeastern Melbourne to the New South Wales border, as well as coastal fishing and central Gippsland farming regions[1][2].

Objectives and Mission

The organisation’s mission is to champion and empower primary producers and small rural businesses to plan for a secure future. Its vision centers on fostering economically and socially prosperous rural communities. RFCS Victoria-Gippsland emphasizes values such as integrity, open and honest communication, recognition of individual and team effectiveness, and continuous improvement[2].

Services Offered

RFCS Victoria-Gippsland provides experienced and qualified Rural Financial Counsellors who meet clients on-site at farms, business premises, or any convenient location. The counselling service includes:

• Helping clients understand their financial position by developing budgets and cash flow forecasts.
• Assisting in the creation of action plans to improve financial situations and business viability.
• Negotiating with lenders on behalf of clients.
• Building clients’ financial knowledge, skills, and resilience to manage future challenges.
• Providing support in applying for government assistance programs, including drought support and farm household allowances[1][2][3].

The service is free of charge, confidential, and independent. Counsellors do not provide specific product advice, legal, family, or mental health counselling but can refer clients to appropriate professionals when needed[3].

Organisational Structure and Promise

RFCS Victoria-Gippsland operates through offices strategically located across the service region, with a head office in Leongatha. It is supported by both Victorian and Australian Federal Government funding programs aimed at aiding farming communities and small rural businesses.

The organisation commits to delivering flexible, effective, and efficient rural financial counselling services, supporting the ongoing development of professional counsellors, facilitating structural adjustments for farmers wishing to exit the industry, and maintaining strict client confidentiality[2].

Community Impact

RFCS Victoria-Gippsland plays a crucial role in strengthening the financial resilience of rural communities by providing accessible and tailored support to those facing economic difficulties. It helps clients navigate complex financial challenges and prepare sustainable plans that contribute to the long-term viability of rural industries within its service region[3][5].

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria-Gippsland Inc, highlighting its role, services, and impact in supporting rural financial wellbeing in southeastern Victoria.

[1] https://ruralfinancialcounselling.org.au [2] https://ruralfinancialcounselling.org.au/about-2/ [3] https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/rural-financial-counselling-service [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/c244862a-39af-e811-a960-000d3ad24282/documents/62cd441a-46c8-e811-a961-000d3ad24282 [5] https://rfcsnetwork.com.au