Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland – Cairns QLD

We are employing a Rural Financial Counsellor to service the LGAs of Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Etheridge, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond.

We want you to maximise your prospect of becoming our employee, and you'll do this by:

Providing a CV detailing qualifications and relevant work experience (maximum three pages).

Providing written responses to all selection criteria (maximum three pages in total).

Applications not addressing those two criteria will be unable to be considered.

FIFO is not a preferred employment model.

This is a maximum term contract to 30 June 2028.

Closing date for applications is 28 October, although the employer reserves the right to close the application closing date earlier.

Please read on on to see if this is the job for you.

About us

Rural Financial Counselling Service North Qld is a business unit of the Central Western Qld Remote Area Planning and Development Board, or RAPAD. RAPAD is a leader in regional and economic development, advocacy, and a proud and effective delivery agency of many government programs. This role is funded by the Qld Reconstruction Authority, Qld Department of Primary Industries via the Federal Government's Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

About the role

The Rural Financial Counsellor will enhance the quality and quantity of financial support for primary production enterprises and related small businesses within the RFCSNQ catchment, who are recovering from AGRN 1243 Queensland Monsoon Trough, Cyclone Koji, Cyclone Narelle and Severe Weather, 24 December 2025 – 24 April 2026. The role will be home based with frequent travel throughout the service region,



operating primarily within the local government areas (LGAs) of Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Etheridge, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond, with support also provided in Charters Towers, Longreach and Winton where directed.

Key responsibilities

Analyse clients' farming or business activities and financial circumstances and provide objective information to help them identify their financial and business options for business improvement or adjustment

Provide case management support to clients where appropriate, with the aim of assisting the clients to achieve self-reliance and being better equipped to manage future change

Assist clients in negotiations with lenders and financial institutions in the presence of the client or with the written authority of the client

Provide information on government and other assistance schemes (including industry and community-based programs) to facilitate clients' participation in such programs

Provide referrals to appropriate professionals, such as accountants, lawyers, social counsellors, agricultural advisers and educational services, and to Centrelink and other relevant government agencies

Maintain client records and electronic data using a client management system

Help clients understand their financial and business position and options

Improve clients' abilities to plan operations, achieve realistic goals and identify risks





Connect clients to information about government and industry assistance

Develop a plan to implement the options chosen by the client and provide advice to implement that plan

About you

Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed financial analyses for clients, to develop and present a range of financial and business options for business improvement or adjustment

Ability and preparedness to provide case management support to clients to develop their capacity to take control over the financial affairs of their enterprise and help them adapt and change

Demonstrated high level of oral communication, interpersonal, mediation and networking skills, including the ability to communicate with diverse cultural groups

Demonstrated ability to self-motivate and to plan, manage and report on work, and to prioritise and meet competing deadlines while working as part of a dispersed team

Demonstrated understanding of rural issues, including production analysis, farm enterprise risk analysis and options, and business management issues

Demonstrated knowledge of how Australian banks and rural lenders assess, structure and enforce agricultural loans, including serviceability, security, restructuring and hardship processes, and the ability to interpret farm financial statements to negotiate effectively with lenders on a client's behalf

Demonstrated and proficient computer skills, including skills with Microsoft excel, a client management system, word-processing software, financial analysis spreadsheets, data entry and email

Demonstrated awareness and understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S;) issues relating to employment as a rural financial couns

📌 Rural Financial Counsellor (Cairns Regional)
🏢 Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland
📍 Cairns Regional