Rural Support Officer

3x Fixed Term Positions – ideally commence Monday 26th May 2024

Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Roma (or other central location as agreed, refer below)

Contract to 30 June 2025 (Full time)

Rural Solutions Queensland Inc (RSQ) is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing services to support the sustainability of rural and small businesses and their communities. Key programs that we deliver include the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), the Small Business Financial Counselling Service and the Business Wellness Coaching Program across Southern Queensland. These programs are funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments. With offices based across our Southern Queensland service region, we believe in having our people embedded in the communities we support. RSQ has received consecutive funding to deliver the RFCS since October 2006.

In addition, with support from the Australian and Queensland Government, RSQ also delivers the Grazing Futures Livestock Business Resilience Program throughout Southern Queensland. 

Recently, RSQ has been successful in obtaining supplementary RFCS funding for the period from 1/6/2024 – 30/6/2025 to provide additional support to rural business owners across Southern Queensland.

Within the RFCS Program, we are seeking to appoint 3 Rural Support Officers, based at key locations throughout our Southern Queensland service region. We have 3 RFCS Teams operating throughout Southern Queensland, servicing Central Queensland (Bundaberg role), South East Queensland (Toowoomba role) and Inland Queensland (Roma role). Whilst these are our preferred locations, consideration can be given to suitable applicants based at other locations within these regions, such as: 

• Central Queensland Team – Rockhampton or Biloela, 
• South East Queensland Team – Kingaroy or Warwick, 
• Inland Queensland Team - Goondiwindi or Charleville.

The focus of the Rural Support Officer role is to assist eligible clients with transactional support activities as a separate service to the case management support provided by the Rural Financial Counsellors. The Rural Support Officer shall report to the respective Regional Coordinator for each region and work collaboratively with 4-5 Rural Financial Counsellors in their team.

Transactional support activities shall typically include assisting eligible rural clients to access the Farm Household Allowance Program (FHA) or other financial assistance measures available via the Queensland Rural & Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) in the form of grants and rebates. Referrals to Rural Financial Counsellors for clients accessing more comprehensive support shall be a feature of the role.

Eligible clients for RFCS support are individuals who have an interest in a commercial scale primary production enterprise and:

• contribute a significant part of their labour and capital to the enterprise
• who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, financial hardship.

In undertaking their role, a Rural Support Officer shall:

• respond to initial client enquiries,
• complete client intake and data capture processes,
• review and maintain the client data contained within the client relationship management system (Salesforce) to ensure high-level proficiency and accuracy,
• identify client’s eligibility for support from the Rural Financial Counselling Service,
• seek to understand client’s eligibility for key financial support programs such as the Farm Household Allowance,
• support clients to work through the application process for financial assistance, including in-office support to complete applications,
• work with clients to respond to follow-up questions about their applications,
• highlight to clients the benefits of engaging with a Rural Financial Counsellor for comprehensive business and planning support to improve their financial position,
• refer appropriate clients to Rural Financial Counsellors for comprehensive assistance,
• support Rural Financial Counsellors with the coordination of outreach and communications activities,
• refer clients to broader professional advice for support as required,
• varied other ad hoc tasks required to support the coordination and delivery of the Rural Financial Counselling Service.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service does not complete application forms on behalf of clients. Assistance provided is to support the client to understand eligibility and application requirements, to collate supporting information and overcome barriers to accessing assistance measures (e.g. literacy, numeracy, technology, or connectivity challenges). 

To be successful in the role of Rural Support Officer, knowledge of the following shall be required or need to be rapidly obtained:

• awareness of rural industries and the impacts of natural disasters, drought and other economic pressures on businesses and individuals, 
• understanding of business structures,
• ability to read and identify key information from financial statements,
• ability to work in a highly confidential and ethical manner,
• be able to multi-task, work under pressure, and manage their own time,
• ability to connect and work with clients both in-person and remotely (phone, email and MS TEAMS),
• comfortable with process-driven workflow,
• professional and courteous communication skills (written and verbal),
• proficiency with Microsoft Office (mandatory) and Salesforce (highly regarded),
• ability to work within a large and geographically dispersed team,
• experience in rural business operations shall be highly regarded; and
• experience with the Farm Household Allowance Program (or similar application based financial assistance program provided by Government) shall be highly regarded.

In addition, a Rural Support Officer needs to be equipped with a professional and empathetic outlook, combined with proven communication and interpersonal skills. Support Officers also need to be able to work autonomously whilst remaining part of a small and close-knit team.

Base salary of $75,684 for a full-time position, plus superannuation. As a not-for-profit with public benevolent institution status, all employees have access to salary sacrificing of up to $18,550 p.a. including rent and living expenses via AccessPay. Portable Long Service Leave contributions are paid to QLeave.

Four weeks annual recreation leave are included in the package, plus four additional days (one per quarter) of professional, health and development leave (PHD leave). Further information on the RFCS Program is located on the RFCS Southern Queensland website 

Note – The Rural Support Officer is primarily an office-based role, providing in person support to clients accessing financial assistance programs. Structured work from home arrangements (e.g. 1 day per week) can be accessed, provided suitable home connectivity and workstation is available. Alternately, a compressed schedule (i.e. 75 hours over 9 workdays rather than 10) is available.

Please submit your resume and cover letter highlighting your suitability and experience to *****@rfcssq.org.au by 8.00am Friday 26th April 2024. 

Following completion of an interview process, the successful candidate shall be required to undergo a criminal history check and may be requested to complete a medical check. 

Regional Coordinator – South East Queensland: Derk Abberfield on 0428 755 ***

Regional Coordinator – Inland Queensland: Angie Bowden on 0419 737 ***

Regional Coordinator – Central Queensland: Kim Corfield on 0427 296 ***