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As the end of the financial year looms, clients of the Rural and Small Business Financial Counselling programs are preparing information, receipts and statements for their accountants, advisors and the Australian Tax Office.
Our team of Financial Counsellors can assist with understanding your financial statements and getting prepared for the future.
Don't wait until July to think about tax - call us today!
Rural clients - 07 46 22 5500 or Small Business clients - 1300 732 777
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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO, JENNY WHIP
The Rural and Small Business Financial Counselling Service in Southern Queensland will continue to be provided by Rural Solutions Queensland Inc. trading as Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland until June, 2024.
The Board and Management welcomed the announcement this month and sincerely thanks the Australian and Queensland Governments for their ongoing commitment to the Service.
The RFCS-SQ Team look forward to continuing to assisting new and existing rural producers and small rural businesses across Southern Queensland.
Additionally, two new Tourism positions have also been announced and will be provide great value to small businesses in the tourism sector.
Please see media release below.
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SUPPORT CONTINUES FOR RURAL QUEENSLANDERS
AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud has announced this week, Rural Solutions Queensland Inc. Trading as the Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland (RFCSSQ) will continue to deliver free financial counselling support for eligible primary producers in Southern Queensland for another three years.
CEO, Jenny Whip said the announcements reinforced the work the RFCS-SQ team had been providing through the assistance through the RFCS Program funded by both the Australian and Queensland Governments.
“Rural Queensland is always dealing with unexpected droughts, floods and fires and more recently COVID-19.
The announcement of the continuation of funds for our service is very welcomed and is a huge relief for our clients and our team of highly skilled rural financial counsellors.”
The service offers a free, impartial, confidential program for primary producers and small business owners who have identified a financial challenge and are willing to consider options and put plans in place to deal with the issue.
“The service has been streamlined but will continue to focus on effective case management and efficient client engagement to enable primary producers to make decisions to drive long-term behavioural change,” Jenny said.
“The program helps to achieve a sustainable, resilient and profitable primary production sector.”
The Southern Queensland service is part of national Rural Financial Counselling Service consisting of ten providers which have been allocated over $56 million.
Rural Financial Counsellors work one-on-one with their clients to help them examine their business, consider options and makes changes for better outcomes.
You can contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 07 46 22 5500 or visit www.rfcssq.org.au
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Small Business Financial Counsellor, Felicity Sansom-Gower said businesses across Southern Queensland will benefit from a new tourism focused service.
SUPPORT FOR TOURISM BUSINESSES
TOURISTS aren’t the only income stream for aviation business, Gold Coast Helitours, but prior to COVID19, tourists provided 95% of the small businesses income.
The impact of the 2019 pandemic was dramatic and swift.
“On January 27, 2019, we went from hero to zero overnight from COVID and we’re still struggling to get back on our feet,” business owner, Scott Menzies said.
“A lot of companies are in the same boat especially in the tourism sector and luckily we’ve been able to diversify at Gold Coast Helitours but we’re still down about 80% on our overall income.”
Gold Coast Helitours has been operating for over 30 years and at the time of the pandemic outbreak had been riding a wave of record international tourists arriving on the glitter strip.
The closure of international and national borders crippled the business and this week’s lockdown has stopped trade again for Mr Menzies and other frustrated business owners.
A $2 million Queensland government announcement last week means Small tourism business operators struggling with the COVID19 recovery phase can now access free specialised financial counselling as they rebuild.
The funding is designed to support Queensland’s $28 billion tourism sector as JobKeeper wraps up.
The Southern Queensland Small Business Financial Counselling Program is delivered by Rural Solutions Incorporated and has been granted funding for two Tourism Small Business Counsellors which expands the organisation’s existing Small Business program.
CEO, Jenny Whip said COVID19 shutdowns had a dramatic effect on the tourism sector, “The pandemic put a lot of pressure on the entire business community but the tourism sector has certainly been on the front line.”
“These new roles funded by the Queensland government will complement our existing Financial Counselling programs for rural and small business owners in Southern Queensland, allowing us to support business owners to recover, plan and rebuild.”
Gold Coast Small Business financial counsellor, Felicity Sansom-Gower said tourism businesses on the Gold Coast have been heavily impacted.
“The industry is feeling the impacts of the loss of international travellers and the downturn in domestic tourism as a result of the international pandemic.
“The funding will enable small businesses to access free, impartial, confidential financial counselling.
“They can take a good look at their books, investigate options for the businesses moving forward and actually make changes happen for a brighter future,” she said.
Gold Coast Helitours was shut down for six months in total but owner, Scott Menzies is determined to remain viable and is looking to the future.
“A service like the Small Business Financial Counselling Program that can provide support for government benefits and bank negotiations is essential.
“Financial Counselling can’t tell you how to run your business but you’d be able to look at ways of keeping on top of your financial situation and have access to loans and government grants that can help move a business forward.
For more information please contact the Small Business Financial Counselling Service on
1300 732 777 or visit www.rfcssq.org.au.
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CHEMCLEAR QUEENSLAND
Queensland Collection – Registrations are open now until 13 June.
Collections are scheduled based on the volume of chemical registrations received by region and state across Australia.
On average ChemClear undertakes 2-3 state collections and several local regional collections annually.
If your disposal requirements are urgent please contact us directly on 1800 008 182 and our team will be able to advise of any options available to you.
Download a ChemClear Inventory Form to assist you with your registration.
There are six steps to the program:
Step 1:
Take an inventory of your chemicals
Step 2:
Register your chemicals either online or via form
Step 3:
Continue to store the chemicals you have registered with ChemClear safely and securely.
Step 4:
ChemClear will contact you directly to advise the location and date of the collection point in your local government area.
Step 5:
When a collection is scheduled in your area ChemClear will contact you
For more information click here.
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BEEF AUSTRALIA 2021
The team is heading to Beef 2021 next week and we're grateful for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for allocating some space at their site for the duration.
Call in to see a Financial Counsellors at Site 23 and 24 in the Sidney Kidman Pavilion
or call ahead on 07 46 22 5500.
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TOOGOOLAWAH SUCCESSION PLANNING WORKSHOP
Getting organised for Succession planning is the key and this Toogoolawah workshop is designed to ensure you have all the information you need to get yourself sorted for a generational transfer of your primary production business.
Register today at www.rfcssq.org.au
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SMALL BUSINESS MONTH
We're so excited about May - it's Small Business Month
and we'll be attending events right across Southern Queensland
including Chinchilla, Logan, Beaudesert, Moura, Gympie,
Goomeri, Maroochydore, Rainbow Beach and Toowoomba.
Do you have a Small Business focused event and would like us to be there to explain our service?
Call us on 1300 732 777.
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ST GEORGE RAPID RELIEF DAY
The Rapid Relief team headed to St George this month and we were there!
Nicole Gamack is pictured with Bryson Head (left), National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency and Will Small from the Rapid Relief Team.
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TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
RFCSSQ Media and communications officer, Sharon Purcell headed to Charleville this month to film a new testimonial with Rural Financial Counsellor, Brian Dodson and RFCSSQ client, Blue Bredhauer (centre).
Blue owns Rosevale Station, 100,000 acres at Wyandra, (south of Charleville) and runs sheep, cattle and some goats.
He's a big fan of the Rural Financial Counselling Service and has worked with Brian on budgets and bank negotiations.
The video will be released in coming weeks on Facebook and Twitter.
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MAKING MASKS LOOK GOOD
The mask wearing might not be necessary now, but we (like all organisations) complied with the regulations earlier in the month.
CEO, Jenny Whip caught up with John Lacey (left), Kim Corfield (centre) and Bronwyn Schultz (right) at Biloela during the restrictions.
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AGROTREND 2021
At the time of newsletter circulation, Bundaberg's Agrotrend 2021 was underway.
RFCSSQ is being represented by Rural Financial Counsellors, Kath Clarke (pictured) and Kim Corfield at the event.
Farming and lifestyle focussed activities for the whole family to enjoy are key to the appeal of the Agrotrend field days, being held in the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Friday, April 30 and Saturday May 1.
”Whether you’re keen to check out and invest in the latest farming technologies or you are after a great family afternoon out, Agrotrend 2020 will deliver."
Ainsley Gatley, Agrotrend Event Manager
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BURNETT EVENT
Rural Financial Counsellor, Belinda Clair attended the Broadacre in the Burnett Beyond 2021 forum this month at the Kingaroy Town Hall.
“We’re learning about rainfall averages, risk and decision making and more,” Belinda said.
Belinda is pictured with Stephanie Denman, Principal Agriculture development officer with DAF.
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CHAIR'S REPORT
Karen Tully
“As social distancing, border closures and lockdowns became commonplace, Australians turned online for the things they needed. And they did so in record numbers with over four in five Australian households (almost 9 million) making an online purchase at some point during the year”.
Rodney Boys Acting Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Australia Post (2021)
Did you enter the online purchasing realm for the first time during 2020/21?
Or have you been a regular online shopper?
If so, did you shop more frequently using e-commerce in 2020/21?
Nationally and globally, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online shopping, and as a result, has forever changed the consumer attitudes and behaviours of spending their hard-earned money in the digital world.
Online shopping is forecast to continue growing strongly over the coming years as the NBN rollout enhances internet speeds and as consumers gain more confidence in purchasing online.
As a society, we are becoming more demanding and trusting of the technology that safeguards transaction security and the platform which delivers a more functional, customised and interactive shopping experience.
Is your business in a situation where it can or should seize opportunities offered by this sudden boost to e-commerce purchases?
If you are considering moving your offline business into the online world, it will take research, preparation and hard work to determine your online business model and to set it up.
Thought will need to be given to the risks surrounding the initial investment, ongoing expenses and projected income.
Logistics and customer service (including delivery and product returns, which is where most customer complaints originate) and the ongoing management of the online platform where your goods or services will be promoted and purchased needs careful thought and planning, as well as investment.
There are numerous support services provided by private providers and government supported programs that can assist you with this journey to shift your offline business online.
However, if you are experiencing financial hardship within your primary production or small business, your local rural or small business financial counsellor may be able to assist you with the financial analysis surrounding your e-commerce business planning.
As Australians become more comfortable with online shopping, 2021 could be the time to move into e-commerce. It may be a game changer for your business!
Karen Tully
Chair
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Disclaimer of Liability
Every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information in RFCSSQ’s newsletters, however, RFCSSQ cannot guarantee that there will be no errors.
RFCSSQ makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the newsletters and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this newsletter.
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