Rural Counsellors in Tamworth and Gunnedah

TAMWORTH AND GUNNEDAH RETAIN RURAL FINANCIAL COUNCILLORS

Primary producers across the region recovering from years of drought, a fluctuating market, and floods will continue to have the opportunity to access the free NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service after the NSW Government committed an additional $5 million over the next three years.

Member for Tamworth welcomed the commitment, after hearing that many local producers had found the free, independent financial planning and support useful for their business.

“Our region’s producers have been through it all over the past few years. Severe drought, fires, flooding and a changing global market have severely impacted the viability of farms,” Mr Anderson said.

“For those producers who may need a helping hand, Tamworth and Gunnedah both have financial counsellors who are working with farmers to offer help with successional planning, farm debit mediation and guidance on what government assistance is out there.”

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said the Rural Financial Counselling Service has assisted farmers, fishers, forestry growers and harvesters experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship for 30 years.

“There are 50 Rural Financial Counsellors working in our regional communities across the state, who are undertaking immediate and long-term financial planning, succession planning, farm debt mediation and guiding people who need to access to government assistance,” Mr Saunders said.

“Ensuring this vital service will be readily available at a local level is essential to building business support networks and helps producers strengthen their knowledge and operations.”

Funding for the Rural Financial Counselling Service will continue through to 2025.

Farmers in the Tamworth and Gunnedah regions can contact RFCS Northern on 1800 319 458 or visit www.rfcnsw.com.au to find out more about the support services on offer.