The NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.
Key information
- Status: Not open for application
- Grant amount: Up to $1,652,000
Program objective
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is an Australian Government initiative that aims to build financially capable agricultural, fishing and forestry sectors that are profitable, financially self-reliant and better prepared to deal with risks.
In 2021, the Australian Government announced successful applicants to deliver services across 12 predefined service regions. This grant process was merit-based, open and competitive.
In NSW, the service is jointly funded between the Commonwealth and the State.
This program is administered by Rural Assistance Authority.
This program is funded by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Rural Assistance Authority.
Grant recipients
Recipients for this program were selected to meet the program objectives.
Eligible recipients were invited to participate and were required to meet the objectives.
What was approved
Approved for NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Northern Region
$729,250 was approved by
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryDate approved
March 2026Location of the project
Armidale Regional, Ballina, Bayside, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury 2193, Central Coast, Cessnock, City of Parramatta, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Council of the City of Sydney, Cumberland, Dungog, Fairfield, Georges River, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-Ring-Gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Liverpool, Liverpool Plains, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Moree Plains, Mosman, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Singleton, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield, The Hills Shire, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Uralla, Walcha, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, WoollahraLocation of the recipient
LismoreAbout the grant
Applications approved
2
Applications received
2
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service
Agencies funding this grant
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rural Assistance AuthorityProgram term
One yearWhat was approved
Approved for NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Southern and Central Region
$1,070,750 was approved by
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryMinisterial discretion by Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Program is jointly funded between the Commonweatlh and the State. DAFF are responsible for selecting the providers.
Date approved
March 2026Location of the project
Albury City, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Hay, Hilltops, Junee, Kiama, Lachlan, Leeton, Lithgow City, Lockhart, Mid-Western Regional, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Unincorporated Far West, Upper Lachlan Shire, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Wollongong, Yass ValleyLocation of the recipient
Wagga WaggaAbout the grant
Applications approved
2
Applications received
2
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service
Agencies funding this grant
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rural Assistance AuthorityProgram term
One yearWhat was approved
Approved for NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Northern Region
$729,250 was approved by
Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentDate approved
July 2025Location of the project
Armidale Regional, Ballina, Bayside, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, City of Parramatta, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog, Fairfield, Georges River, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-Ring-Gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Liverpool, Liverpool Plains, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Moree Plains, Mosman, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Singleton, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield, The Hills Shire, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Uralla, Walcha, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, WoollahraLocation of the recipient
LismoreAbout the grant
Applications approved
2
Applications received
2
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service
Agencies funding this grant
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rural Assistance AuthorityProgram term
One yearWhat was approved
Approved for NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Southern and Central Region
$1,070,750 was approved by
Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentDate approved
July 2025Location of the project
Albury City, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Hay, Hilltops, Junee, Kiama, Lachlan, Leeton, Lithgow City, Lockhart, Mid-Western Regional, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Unincorporated Far West, Upper Lachlan Shire, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Wollongong, Yass ValleyLocation of the recipient
Wagga WaggaAbout the grant
Applications approved
2
Applications received
2
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service
Agencies funding this grant
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rural Assistance AuthorityProgram term
One yearWhat was approved
Approved for NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Northern Region
$660,700 was approved by
NSW TreasuryDate approved
July 2024Location of the project
Armidale Regional, Ballina, Bayside, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, City of Parramatta, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog, Fairfield, Georges River, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-Ring-Gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Liverpool, Liverpool Plains, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Moree Plains, Mosman, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Singleton, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield, The Hills Shire, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Uralla, Walcha, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, WoollahraLocation of the recipient
LismoreAbout the grant
Applications approved
2
Applications received
2
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service
Agencies funding this grant
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rural Assistance AuthorityProgram term
One yearSupport and contact
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Phone: 1300 771 741
Web: www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/rural-financial-counselling-service
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Northern Region
Phone: 1800 344 090
Email: info@rfcsnr.org.au
Web: www.rfcsnr.org.au
NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service - Central and Southern Region
Phone: 1800 319 458
Email: info@rfcsnsw.com.au
Web: www.rfcsnsw.com.au
NSW Rural Assistance Authority
Phone: 1800 678 593
Email: rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au