Business advice and skills training
Boost your business skills or find free government services and programs to help grow your small business.
Free financial advice
Talk to a rural financial counsellor. It is a free, confidential service. They can give you individual support to meet your needs and help you to make the right decisions for your business. They can also negotiate with your lenders and identify other assistance schemes.
Call 1800 686 175 for referral to your nearest rural financial counsellor or check the NSW rural financial counsellor contact list.
Business advice
A structured negotiation process where an accredited, independent mediator helps farmers and their creditors to negotiate and reach agreements about farm business debt.
The NSW Government has introduced Easy to do Business, a free service offered across a range of industries, that gives you personalised help and support when starting or expanding a small business so you can focus on your business and save time and money.
Agency: Service NSW
Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start, run, adapt or grow your small business.
Tailored, independent business advice for your small farm or non-farm business from an experienced, accredited professional.
Agency: Treasury NSW
Register online with Business Connect or call 1300 134 359 for your local Business Connect advisor.
Find grants, funding and support programs from across government to help grow your business.
Agency: business.gov.au
Skills training
The Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program is an initiative of the NSW Government’s Drought Strategy and has been developed to support farmers and provide access to vocational and skills training. Three professional development priority areas have been identified:
- Risk management
- Financial and business management
- Farm business planning/drought preparedness.
Up to 50% of eligible costs for an approved course or activity, with a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 per farmer and $9,000 per farm business.
Agency: Rural Assistance Authority
Fully subsidised courses are available under the Smart and Skilled program, providing the opportunity to develop new income sources or explore career options.
Agency: Training Services NSW
The Young Farmer Business Program is creating opportunities for young farmers and fishers to enter into or expand their existing businesses by helping them improve their business skills.
Agency: Department of Primary Industries