About us

Regional Business Support Ltd is a local non-profit organisation that hosts government funded programs to foster regional economic development. Historically this included the Casino Regional Business Enterprise Centre, the Northern Rivers and the Mid North Coast Rural Financial Counselling Services and the regional Aboriginal Economic Development Officer (AEDO) program.

Committed to supporting rural Australia, in October 2006, with support from previous service providers, our organisation won the competitive grant application process to deliver under a new model, rural financial counselling services to the north eastern region of New South Wales.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW – Northern Region is administered from its Head Office based in Lismore, and today the organisation employs 15 rural financial counsellors. Outreach offices are located in Armidale, Glen Innes, Grafton, Gunnedah, Inverell, Lismore, Macksville, Moree, Narrabri, Richmond, Singleton, Scone, Tamworth, Taree and Tenterfield.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service programme is funded by the Australian Government and the NSW Government.

Our Vision

Strong and sustainable regional and rural communities

Our Mission

To deliver independent and professional services empowering members of regional and rural communities in NSW to reach their goals

Our Values

RBS Ltd has identified five high level values that underpin how we will operate to deliver our vision, mission and strategic priorities.

These values will guide and shape our organisational culture including how our Board and our team will work together, with our clients and with our stakeholders to be successful.

Trust

We build trust and authentic relationships by being open, honest and respectful.

Responsiveness

We are responsive and flexible when facing change by being strategic and open-minded.

Empathy

We demonstrate empathy at all times to listen and understand the perspectives of others.

Collaboration

We are consultative and collaborate to achieve more than we could by ourselves.

Delivery

We are dedicated to delivering unsurpassed service and continued improvement.

Our clients and communities can trust us to act with integrity in all of our dealings and respect their confidentiality. We will work closely with our clients and communities to empower them to take control of their futures.

Our team and Board work together in an open and transparent fashion to support each other to be successful and support each other to develop and manage in times of high workload.

Our organisation is dedicated to continuous improvement and is motivated to achieve great results for our region.

Our Services

The Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW Northern Region (RFCSNSW- NR) supports eligible farmers, fishers, forest growers, harvesters and small related rural businesses who are suffering financial hardship, and who have no alternative sources of impartial support, to manage and adjust to the challenge of industry and climate variability.

Rural Business Counselling Service

We offer free, unbiased, independent, confidential and expert support to farmers, fishers, foresters and other rural businesses

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Small Business Counselling Service

The Rural Business Support program is an independent financial counselling service available to small businesses in regional centres, who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing financial hardship.

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You make the decisions!

Your Rural Financial Counsellor will take a holistic view at your business, they will help you to understand your business situation and any underlying problems and will support you to come to terms with your situation to feel in control of your future. They will discuss different options and longer term goals to improve your financial position and develop your financial knowledge, skills and confidence, as well as engaging you in the decision making process.

Your Rural Financial Counsellor can assist you to: Analyse business performance & understand your financial position; Develop cash flow budgets & projections; Explore & identify options (business & risk management planning) to improve financial self-sufficiency; Prepare for succession planning; Prepare for and facilitate meetings with lenders; Access Government Assistance and Information; Prepare for and manage events such as droughts, floods and fire; Referrals to professionals and agencies.

Your Rural Financial Counsellor cannot:

provide rural financial counselling or other services to individuals who are not Eligible Clients;
cannot advise on estate or succession planning;
cannot advise on accounting, taxation or legal aspects of your enterprise;
cannot advise on debt agreement administration;
cannot provide family, social or emotional counselling;
cannot provide technical advice for your enterprise;
cannot recommend particular options or influence your decision on using particular financial products;
cannot charge any form of payment (including in-kind payments) for providing financial counselling;
cannot complete any sections of client documentation where legal, financial, accounting or taxation advice is required.