Client Stories 

For more than 50 years, our family had worked hard to build and maintain the farm. It had always been our foundation and something we hoped to pass on to the next generation.

But over the past eighteen months, a series of livestock health issues reduced our herd so dramatically that our income fell to a level we had never faced before. The bank initially provided a temporary overdraft to help us through, but as the situation continued to decline, the facility slipped beyond its limit and we were asked to make an urgent reduction. The financial pressure, the growing list of creditors and the strain on our wellbeing became just so overwhelming.

At this point, we reached out to NEX for support. Connecting with the team helped us slow down, look at our situation properly and understand our options. Together, we reviewed our financial position and explored several possible pathways. Some involved taking on more debt or accessing our retirement savings, while others involved selling assets or scaling down the business. Recognising our age and health, we knew that taking on additional debt or drawing on superannuation carried significant risk, and we were not ready to consider selling part of the farm. Just having someone to talk through these difficult choices made an enormous difference and helped relieve some of the pressure we were feeling.

With guidance, we chose a plan that reduced pressure without compromising our long-term security. NEX also helped us access the farm household allowance and prepare accurate cashflow forecasts, which gave our bank confidence to continue supporting us.

We made practical changes on the farm too, including regular herd testing, cost reviews and improvements to infrastructure and herd management. Our first forecast still showed a loss, but it was manageable and showed that we were starting to move in the right direction. Not only did the team at NEX help with our financial challenges the wellbeing support we received through NEX helped us regain confidence and reconnect with a sense of control.

There is still more ahead, including applying for infrastructure funding and progressing succession planning. But for the first time in a long time, we feel steady, supported and optimistic. Reaching out to NEX gave us clarity at a time when we could not see a way forward, and they helped us believe in the future of the farm again.

I have been farming for most of my life with the property being in my family for generations, so leaving it or changing direction never felt like an option. But in recent years the combination of falling commodity prices, dry conditions and declining income pushed me into a position where I could no longer ignore how much pressure I was under. I returned to NEX because I felt stuck and needed help to make sense of everything, and I knew that they helped me before.

When I reconnected with my Rural Financial Counsellor, I arrived with a long list of ideas. I was thinking about farm stays, carbon credits, share farming, expanding a small hire business, completing more subdivision work and even applying for farm household allowance again. I also knew I needed to start thinking about retirement and how my decisions would affect the next generation. It was overwhelming to juggle all of it on my own.

Instead of rushing through each idea, my Rural Financial Counsellor helped me sort out what was realistic, what was worth pursuing and what needed to be set aside. Those early conversations were super important. They helped me understand that not every idea had to be solved at once, and that I needed to take responsibility for my part in the process. I had a habit of waiting for others to do things for me and then wondering why progress had stalled. Hearing this was uncomfortable, but it was also the turning point for me.

Over time, I became more productive and accountable. I started completing my own tasks, keeping notes, calling people back and turning up to meetings with updates rather than excuses. As this happened, the path ahead slowly became clearer.

Some options, like carbon credits, were ruled out once I understood the detail. Others showed real promise. I reapplied for farm household allowance and was accepted again, which eased the immediate pressure. I worked with the local council to set up farm stays, which now bring in a small but reliable extra income. I improved the marketing for my hire business and saw a small increase in enquiries. A subdivision that had been completed earlier created two small blocks. I prepared one for sale with a permit to increase its value and made plans to gift the other to a family member. We also explored additional subdivisions but paused it when the compliance costs no longer made sense.

Another important part of this journey was looking at my own wellbeing and safety. With help, I reached out to My Aged Care and explored other organisations focused on retirement and long-term planning.

The hardest realisation came later. After years of losses and reviewing my financial position in detail, I had to accept that continuing the farm in the same way was not sustainable. For a long time, I refused to even talk about selling the main property. It felt like giving up on everything my family had built, and I just didn’t want to face that decision. But through open conversations, I began to see that selling, while keeping a smaller portion for myself, could give me stability in retirement and allow the farm’s legacy to continue - just in a different form. I now talk about this openly and I am working through plans that consider the needs of my family as well.

With the support from NEX, I feel more grounded and more prepared for the future. I am no longer avoiding the difficult decisions. I have a business plan, a clear set of priorities and a much stronger understanding of what needs to happen next. Most importantly, I feel like I am taking charge again instead of waiting for things to fall apart. 

I had been managing the farm for many years, and although I was proud of what I had built, the day-to-day work had become harder. Ongoing health issues, my age and the constant struggle to find reliable contractors for picking and pruning meant that things on the property were slipping out of my control. Income had dropped to almost nothing and I was living off what little savings I had left. 

A family member suggested I contact NEX, but I was hesitant. I had never asked for help in this way before and the idea sat uncomfortably with me. I felt pressured by my family and worried about outsiders being involved in my personal affairs. It took time for me to warm to the process. I was guarded at first, unsure whether this support was for me, and unsure how much I even wanted to change. Building up my trust took patience, sensitivity and a lot of reassurance from my Rural Financial Counsellor.

As we worked together, they helped me see the bigger picture. I had several ideas floating around, ranging from staying on the farm with minor adjustments to selling the property and retiring somewhere familiar. The most important thing for me was being able to retire comfortably while still considering the needs of my family. With no debt on the farm, I did have options, but understanding which ones made the best sense required clarity that I did not have at the start.

We explored every possibility. Doing nothing was no longer viable. My health and the lack of labour meant I could not maintain the property as I once had. Diversifying or planting new varieties was technically possible but not realistic given how long they would take to become productive, and the work involved was simply too much for me now. Continuing on could only ever be a short-term plan, buying me time but not really solving the underlying issues. Selling the farm also came with challenges because a family member operated their own business on the property, which complicated the transition.

Eventually, I began taking steps toward exiting the business. I looked into government supports, including the aged pension and flood grants. I applied for farm household allowance, which allowed me to access to professional legal and financial advice. This was incredibly helpful as I worked through estate planning, succession considerations and what my income would look like after leaving farming. I also had honest conversations with my family about my intentions, even though I knew they would create tension.

These conversations, while difficult, helped me understand what I truly wanted for my future. I began preparing the property for sale and updating the agency handling my farm household allowance on every change. I looked into housing and financial arrangements for life beyond the farm and slowly started to develop a sense of direction.

With the support from NEX, I have gained clarity and confidence. I am no longer waiting for circumstances to force my hand. I am taking control of my financial and personal decisions, accessing support without hesitation and planning for a future that feels secure. For the first time in a long while, I feel positive about the next chapter of my life.

I had been running my business for more than two decades when I finally reached a point where I could no longer ignore how much I was struggling. For over 30 years I had lived with low mood, depression and thoughts that scared me. I kept most of it hidden and tried to push through, believing I just needed to cope on my own. Everything changed after I went to a screening of the movie ‘Just a Farmer’. Seeing someone else’s story unfold made something click for me. I realised I had been dealing with these feelings for far too long and that if I did not reach out soon, I might end up in real danger.

As soon as the movie finished, I knew I needed help. My suicidal thoughts had been getting worse and I was frightened about what could happen if I did nothing. That moment was the turning point that led me to contact the wellbeing support team at NEX. For the first time, I felt a small sense of hope that maybe I did not have to go through this alone.

From the beginning, my main goal was to improve my mental health. I was dealing with suicidal ideation, overwhelming anxiety, paranoid thoughts and almost no self-esteem. Together, we talked through the events that had shaped my life and how long these symptoms had been present. Even though I was in a bad place, I was determined to make changes. I knew I could not keep living the way I had been.

We explored several options. The first priority was medical support. Because my symptoms had been present for so long and were worsening, and we arranged an appointment with my GP straight away. We talked through what to say, created a clear timeline of symptoms and prepared questions about medication. I also committed to learning more about my triggers and the situations that caused my thoughts to spiral. Understanding why things happened the way they did was important to me. I wanted to recognise the signs early so I would never end up in this dark place again.

Social connection was another area I wanted to work on. I had isolated myself because I did not want anyone to notice something was wrong. The plan was to work on my mental health first and then slowly rebuild those connections when I felt more stable.

I decided to focus on two things: medical treatment and gaining insight into my thoughts and feelings. This combination felt achievable and gave me a sense of direction. I wanted not only to feel better but also to understand myself better so I could avoid future decline.

The work began quickly. I saw my GP, received a referral and started medication. I attended regular counselling sessions where we reviewed my progress, discussed setbacks and developed strategies. We went through grounding and calming techniques and practised them together. Box breathing became one of my go-to tools. I trialled a couple of grounding strategies and eventually chose two: one for when I needed something quick and one for when I felt deeply overwhelmed. The longer technique helped me get through some very dark moments and even stopped suicidal thoughts from escalating.

There were challenges along the way. Finding the right medication was a long and draining process. It took nine months before we found something that made a real difference, and even then the dose had to be monitored and adjusted. At times I felt exhausted from all the trial and error. I reached a point where I stopped using the strategies for a few weeks because it all felt like too much. During that break, my GP changed my medication again and I had two weeks without any medication at all. My mood dropped but, importantly, the suicidal thoughts did not return. That gave me confidence that things were slowly improving, even if it was not obvious day to day.

Over time, the changes became clearer. My mental health has improved a lot. I still have periods of low mood, but I can cope with them in a way I could not before. My anxiety no longer controls my life. I am laughing more, enjoying people again and reconnecting socially. I finally feel like I am part of the world rather than watching it from a distance.

I also have a much stronger understanding of myself. I can recognise early signs of decline and act quickly before things get worse. I now advocate for myself, address health concerns immediately and use strategies that genuinely work for me. This has even flowed into my farming decisions. During very dry conditions, I found myself able to make timely, practical choices about stock and feed. I no longer freeze or second-guess every decision the way I used to.

Looking back, the progress has been life changing. I feel more engaged, more hopeful and more willing to participate in life. Most importantly, I no longer feel the need to hide behind my mental health. I am ready to move forward and I finally believe I can. 

I've been running my beef farm successfully for over 40 years. Having creek frontage, I have been hit by floods before. However, my business was hit hard by flooding last year, leaving my land and infrastructure severely damaged. Desperate for help, still recovering from other health and personal issues I reached out to RFCS Gippsland for assistance in finding any available flood grants or funding.

During my sessions with a counsellor, I realised that my farm needed more than just financial support to ensure its future viability. I also needed to focus on my own health and wellbeing.

Together, we identified several goals to help me get back on my feet. I needed to seek grant funding to cover the costs of repairing the flood damage and get quotes for the necessary repairs. I also had to undertake rehabilitation works on my land, as well as get my farm back in order. I also needed help with getting in touch with the correct governing bodies to assess and fix any remaining damage within the drains. RFCS Gippsland helped me juggle all this and more.

I knew I had to focus on my health and wellbeing so I could be around for the longer term, but I also made plans with my Rural Financial Counsellor to ensure that my farm could remain viable and easy to manage, even as I got older. I wanted to have all my ducks lined up so that, if anything happened to me, my family could manage the farm. I also wanted to develop a plan that would allow me to stay on the farm, even as I reached an age where most people would be comfortable in retirement homes.

I have been running my small business in East Gippsland for six years now, and I recently sought assistance from RFCS Gippsland to complete a grant application.

During our first meeting, my rural financial counsellor helped me figure out some goals to improve my business. Right off the bat, I wanted to get a better idea of where my business stood and what growth opportunities were out there. We also talked about whether there might be any government programs that could help with funding. RFCS Gippsland then helped me to create a solid business plan that cut costs and aimed to expand my business into new export markets. Ultimately, I want to make my business run more smoothly and increase my income.

Thanks to the counsellor’s guidance, I was able to submit my grant application within a four-day turn around, which was necessary to attend an international trade event in 2023. They also helped me understand my expenses better, the importance of working with my accountant to keep on track, and helped me develop a budget and cash flow analysis, which formed the baseline for my business plan.

We also discussed areas of marketing and sales; representation on the road; email marketing, and website sales as potential avenues to explore. My sales had stagnated over the Covid period, so marketing became a particular focus for me.

Thanks to RFCS Gippsland's support, I was able to successfully submit and receive the grant, which has given me back confidence in my abilities and to pursue my business goals. I am now more aware of the need to embed improved processes and structure into my business to support its growth, which ultimately could lead to the business being a viable asset to sell to a larger organiSation in the future. Who knows, but it’s exciting?

RFCS Gippsland has recently provided support for me to apply for an Export Marketing Development Grant that will enable me to travel oversea and attend a significant trade event. My rural financial counsellor provided me with a level of support that has increased my confidence to implement a range of activities that can contribute to improving my business. I was encouraged to look at my business in a positive way rather than avoiding tasks I knew were important. RFCS Gippsland helped me identify some missing pieces to my puzzle [which is my business] and I now feel more empowered to work on it.

Joining the program in 2022 as a small farming enterprise in South Gippsland, I was feeling the weight of personal and work challenges. Dealing with the stress of a troubled marriage and farm-related issues left me feeling mentally and emotionally drained. With the help from RFCS Gippsland, I set goals to handle my emotions and learn better ways to manage stress.

During the sessions, I learned to navigate my emotions and make tough decisions about my marriage and its impact on my kids. I also discovered how to handle stress and take care of myself better. I got better at saying 'NO' when I needed to and realised that it's okay to put myself first without feeling guilty.

As time went by, I found myself dealing with tough situations with a clearer mind and managing my emotions more effectively. The wellness program taught me the value of self-care and how it's not selfish; it's crucial for wellbeing.

Even though my marriage ended, the support I got helped me navigate the process and move forward with more focus and determination. I'm really thankful for how this program has helped me, and I'd definitely recommend it to other farmers who might be going through tough times.

I've been running my orchard business for over 50 years. But when the COVID pandemic hit, my business suffered. I struggled to find suitable contractors to help with picking and pruning, and being in my late 80s this made it difficult to manage the farm independently. Cash flow was minimal and I was living off the small amount of savings I had.

My son worked in the business, which made me feel conflicted. I was reluctant to seek support, thinking that it might not meet my expectations. However, I knew that some action had to be taken. A family member referred me to the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), and was surprised the service was free.

The RFCS financial counsellor helped me identify my goals for the future. After much discussion and review, my primary goal was to be able to retire and live comfortably, whether that was on the farm or in town. The RFCS financial counsellor explored different options with me, including adjusting my farming practices, maintaining the farming business and transitioning out of it, or selling the farm and moving on.

Together, we decided to start the process of exiting the business and selling the farm. The RFCS financial counsellor helped me explore Centrelink and government assistance that was available, including aged pension and flood grants. I also applied for the Farm Household Allowance and utilised the FHA Activity Supplement to access legal and financial advice.

The most difficult action for me was discussing my future plans with my family members. I felt emotionally attached to the land and business, and I worried about letting my family down. But with the RFCS financial counsellor's help, I was able to communicate my intentions and plans for the future to my family.

Thanks to the RFCS assistance, I had a clearer understanding of my financial situation and options for moving forward. I took positive steps and made proactive decisions relating to my future. I am now more open to accessing appropriate support, both financial and personal.

Without the RFCS involvement, I may not have made the necessary changes until it was forced upon me due to financial or health reasons. Thanks to the RFCS, I am now taking control of my financial and personal situation, and am on my way to a secure personal future.