Welcome to RFCS Gippsland

RFCS Gippsland offer planning and support for farm businesses with free, independent and confidential financial counselling

Financial counselling provides clients with:

- - - The ability to understand their financial position and the viability of their business
    - Identify options and resources to improve in times of growth, or recover from a crisis or downturn
    - Assistance and support to develop and implement plans in an ongoing mentor role (up to 4 years)
    - Referrals to other support agencies, professional and industry specialists, health and wellbeing services, as well as government assistance packages

Click on the images below to view information on all the services and support available

our Financial Counsellor will go through this assistance when you meet. They will be in contact with you soon to arrange a meeting

It is important that you understand what is involved for the application processes, and help you prepare for meeting

INFORMATION, SERVICE & SUPPORT AGENCIES

READY TO ASSIST YOU

Backbone Support Directory

Central Directory of Service & Support Agencies

business operations · agriculture · disaster resilience · wellbeing · emergencies & crisis

RFCS Gippsland are able to connect you with available support, as well as offer emergency grocery and fuel vouchers thanks to donations from local businesses, community groups and individuals.

Agriculture Victoria

Central reference for all available resources

Dry Season support including:

· Technical · Financial · Personal & Family · Regional

Gippsland Agriculture Recovery Guide – 1 February 2021

Statewide Support Reference Guide – December 2019

Farm Financial Support

The following links are to organisations currently offering farm relief support

Rural Finance – State Drought Relief, Pasture Recovery, Water, and Infrastructure Grants
Rural Aid
Aussie Helpers
Gippsland Farmer Relief
Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House
Lions Club – Need for Feed
Drought Angels
CWA

Centrelink – MyGov

To receive Government Assistance, you must have a MyGov account

Download Instructions

Centrelink Farmer Hotline 132 316

Our Team

KYLIE HOLMES - CPA, B Bus (Accounting), GAICD.Executive Officer (Leongatha)

Kylie commenced as Executive Officer of RFCS Gippsland in September 2016. Kylie has worked in the banking and finance industry, and more recently with water service and supply organisations in various management roles including finance, IT, regulation and business services. Working with water service organisations, Kylie has had involvement with the rural and farming sectors assisting with water supply services.

MARSHALL SCOTTCounselling Coordinator

Marshall’s career as a Rural Financial Counsellor has spanned over 15 years, assisting over 1,000 farmers and rural businesses throughout the Peninsula, Bass Coast, Casey/Cardinia, South Gippsland and beyond, often navigating clients through serious disasters and crises.

With an applied background in Accounting; Banking; Insurance, Corporate Recovery & Insolvency, his speciality is negotiating with banks on clients’ behalf, particularly Farm Debt Mediation, being 100% focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients.

Marshall also brings extensive personal experience in agriculture and farm management, coupled with a vast array of qualifications including Masters of AgriBusiness, G.Dip Applied Science (Horticulture), B. of Business (Accounting), as well as Dip. Rural Financial Counselling.

CHRIS JEHURural Business Support Officer & Team Leader (East Gippsland)

Chris is a qualified Rural Financial Counsellor supporting small business and farming clients in East Gippsland and Wellington Shires.
Chris grew up in South West Victoria working for local dairy farmers and contracting business and has resided in Gippsland for 10 years. He brings over 7 years of banking and finance experience with previous rolls as small business personal banker, financial planner and accounts manager. He has a passion for business and farming, particularly the diverse and unique Gippsland businesses with the support they give each other.

WAYNE SANDERSRural Financial Counsellor (Leongatha)

Wayne is a qualified Rural Financial Counsellor, commencing with RFCS Gippsland in June 2016.
Wayne has a background in banking and finance in the Gippsland region of over 25 years. Previous roles have included Regional Finance and Regional Finance/Administration Manager with Wesfarmers, Branch Manager with Bendigo Bank and Gippsland Area Finance Manager with Westpac/AGC. Over the last 10 years Wayne has worked in employment within the job network and retail management in Leongatha.

Wayne has lived in Berry’s Creek for 22 years and is an active CFA firefighter for 20 years.

TRUDI LAINGRural Financial Counsellor (Maffra)

Trudi is a qualified Rural Financial Counsellor, commencing with RFCS Gippsland in July 2016, based in the Maffra region.
As a former dairy farmer, she has owned and operated a dairy farming business in south Gippsland for 24 years until 2012.

She formerly worked at South Gippsland Water as the Procurement Officer and IT training and support. Trudi has a background in banking having worked at the Commonwealth Bank and has held positions in accounts payable and purchasing in the communication industry.

Trudi holds a diploma of Agriculture; Cert IV in Training and Assessing; as well as diploma in Rural Financial Counselling.

CHRIS MARSHALLRural Financial Counsellor (East Gippsland)

Chris commenced with RFCS Gippsland in April 2019, passionate about supporting our farming communities.
With a farming background, Chris also has significant experience understanding and representing fellow farmers as a committee member for the Southwest Rural Counselling Service for 10 years, as well as bringing substantial understanding of government assessment criteria working within Centrelink for 23 years (7 of those as a Rural Service Officer and Farm Household Case Officer), receiving written commendation from Federal Minister for Agriculture for work as a rural public servant.

ANNI BLANCHRFC Support Officer (East Gippsland)

Anni commenced with RFCS Gippsland in 2020, bringing a broad and diverse background in small business, financial services and farming, with over 20 years experience as a holistic financial planner, operating her own financial planning practice and sheep farm in regional Victoria. She holds postgraduate qualifications in Finance and a Diploma in Financial Planning, while currently completing a degree in Animal Science as well as a Diploma of Rural Financial Counselling.

AMY STARKWellness Support Officer (Southern Gippsland)

Amy Stark is our Wellness Support Officer, and along with her husband and 3 children, is also a Gippsland dairy farmer. Knowing first-hand the challenges farmers face daily & the impact on their wellbeing, Amy wanted to make a difference and became qualified in Mental Health services and worked within recovery support, helping people with strategies for better self-care. Amy loves working with local farmers to support their wellbeing – ensuring they keep enjoying what they do.