It also aims to foster and develop strategic relationships and partnerships with key federal and state Government departments and agencies and the relevant private sector stakeholders, opinion leaders and suppliers.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service Tasmania is a division of RBT, a not-for-profit organisation primarily offering financial expertise and support to rural and regional communities through the provision of financial and business expertise.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service provides confidential and independent counsel to primary producers, fishermen and small rural businesses who are suffering, or at risk, of financial hardship and have no alternative sources of impartial support.

The experienced team of rural and regional financial counsellors can assist clients to gain a better understanding of their financial position.

This includes helping to identify financial and business risk and opportunities, budgets and cash flow projections, helping with the process of and communication between family members particularly around succession planning and providing clients with information about their eligibility for federal and state government services and financial assistance schemes that may be available from Centrelink for example.

This also includes assisting with feasibility analysis, business plan preparation, loan and/or re-finance applications, impartial support and mediation including negotiation with creditors and financial institutions and assistance to access government entitlements such as the Farm Household Allowance, age pension, and the like.

For professional expertise and guidance when you need it most, a helping hand is just a call away.

Rural Business Tasmania and the Rural Financial Counselling Service are located in Launceston.

For more information on Rural Business Tasmania and the Rural Financial Counselling Service Tasmania please go to www.ruralbusinesstasmania.org.au or call us on 1300 88 3276.