GO8291: Rural Financial Counselling Service Program 2027 to 2032

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open process to apply to deliver services under 1.12 Rural Programs, Rural Financial Counselling Services from 2027 to 2032.

This initiative provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small-related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk, of financial hardship.

This program is ongoing and is subject to regular and open approaches to market.

Funding rounds and approaches have been continually reviewed and adjusted over the years to improve the performance of the program and drive efficiencies to support structural adjustment in the agricultural sector in times of financial hardship.

The objective of the program is to support structural adjustment through transitioning clients out of immediate financial crisis or concerns, assessing business viability to make informed decisions about the future of the business and improving financial wellbeing and resilience through building clients’ financial knowledge and skills, and by referring clients to other professional services.

The ultimate outcome is financially capable agricultural, fishing and forestry businesses that are profitable, financially self-reliant and resilient.

Grantees drive these changes through case management and effective and efficient client engagement.

A key performance indicator for the program is that a minimum of 80% of clients receiving services are case-managed and on exiting the service have come to a better understanding of their financial position and have met their goals to make an informed decision outlined in the program outcomes and objectives listed in the program logic.

To be eligible to apply you must be one of the following legal entity types: Company, Cooperative, Incorporated Association or Indigenous Corporation (if applying as Trustee on behalf of a Trust the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types).

Applications from consortia are acceptable provided the lead applicant is an eligible entity and is solely accountable to the Commonwealth.

Applicants must have an ABN, an Australian bank account or be able to create one, be capable of entering into a legally binding grant agreement with the Commonwealth, and not be receiving other Australian Government funding for the same purpose.

If successful, rural financial counsellors employed by the grantee must hold (or obtain within the stipulated timeframes) the CHC51115 Diploma of Financial Counselling (Rural) (or equivalent) and meet licensing exemption requirements under s20(5) of the National Consumer Credit Protection Regulations for financial counselling agencies/financial capability providers.