BUSINESS Rural West
Anyone standing on the land right now knows that dedication alone is being tested by an incredibly tough economic climate.
WHEN THE SEASON TURNS
How Rural West supports WA's vegetable growers
Walking through rows of leafy greens, brassicas and root vegetables across Western Australia, the dedication of our horticulture sector is undeniable. Anyone standing on the land right now knows that dedication alone is being tested by an incredibly tough economic climate.
Words Tamara Diver, Chief Executive Officer, Rural West
SOARING input costs (fertiliser, fuel, water, electricity) alongside spiralling overheads and shrinking retail margins mean the financial pressure on vegetable growers has hit a new level of intensity. When your energy is going into the soil, managing a business under these conditions can feel isolating.
The constant balancing act of cash flow can easily lead to sleepless nights. If you're feeling the weight of this, you don't have to carry it alone.
A national service, with a trusted WA face
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) operates across Australia, funded by the National and State Governments.
Here in WA, Rural West is the trusted local RFCS provider. Supporting primary producers and eligible rural businesses through whatever the challenge: cash flow pressure, succession, difficult creditor conversations or funding the next season.
The Rural West Team.
Rural West is the team growers across WA can sit down with, at their own kitchen table, to work through what's really going on in their business.
A statewide service, delivered locally
Rural West's team of Small Business & Rural Financial Counsellors travel across all of WA to meet with clients. Being a completely mobile team, as well as living in and being a part of local communities, makes visiting clients very accessible.
Last year alone, our counsellors travelled over 183,984 km to meet clients across every growing region of the state.
Because a busy farm doesn't stop for office hours. We come to you — to walk the property and look at the numbers together, wherever you feel most comfortable.
Our team comes from farming and regional business backgrounds. We understand the unique realities of growing in WA, from fast-paced crop cycles to volatile supply chains.
We aren't here to judge, tell you how to run your business or make decisions for you.
We're here as a trusted, objective sounding board so you can regain clarity and take back control of your financial future.
Client case study Crisis to clarity — a grower's fresh start
A long-time vegetable grower running a horticultural enterprise found themselves unable to keep working the family property after a serious injury. With little income, and lenders and creditors closing in, they came to Rural West carrying both financial pressure and the weight of a family legacy they could no longer sustain.
Matched with one of our experienced Rural Financial Counsellors (RFC), they worked together to understand what mattered most to the client: repaying every debt in full, if possible, without resorting to bankruptcy. Together they mapped out their full financial position and opened conversations with their bank, accountant and creditors to buy breathing space while a plan took shape.
Faced with a very real threat of bankruptcy, the client worked through their options, landing on a restructuring and negotiated repayment strategy. Both the space and strategy to achieve this were developed in a way that allowed the family to move forward together with a stronger relationship into a sustainable financial future.
How we walk alongside your business
When day-to-day pressure builds, it's easy to feel trapped by what looks like a limited set of choices. We work with you to unpack the complexity and build a structured path forward:
Understanding your true position: Mapping out cash flow, reviewing cost structures, and building realistic budgets to clarify exactly where the business stands.
Exploring all options: Whether that's restructuring debt, altering production scale, navigating succession or considering a change in business direction, we map out the pros and cons of every scenario.
Negotiating with lenders: Dealing with banks can feel intimidating when margins are tight. We can stand alongside you in these conversations so you can present a clear plan.
Cutting through red tape: Identifying and applying for government assistance programs and grants.
We can't change stock prices or the cost of outputs. What we can do is work with you to build a solid strategy to navigate them.
Every decision remains entirely yours. We simply provide the tools, options and strategies to make those choices with confidence.
Reach out today
Taking the first step can be the hardest part but it's often the moment the pressure begins to lift.
If you're facing an unexpected shift, feeling the strain of reduced margins or just want a clear second view on your financial outlook, reaching out to Rural West is worth the conversation. WAG
vegetablesWA's Angela Tarbottom speaks with Rural West
vegetablesWA's Angela Tarbottom recently spoke with Tamara Diver, Chief Executive Officer at Rural West, about the challenges facing regional businesses and the support available to vegetable growers across Western Australia.
Rural West's reach extends across regional Western Australia, with the organisation currently supporting 348 active clients and assisting more than 420 clients each year across 69 different business types.
"Our role is to walk alongside people when they're facing financial pressure and help them understand their options," Tamara explained.
"Sometimes having an independent person to sit down with and work through the numbers can make a real difference."
Despite the vast distances involved in servicing rural and remote communities, Rural West continues to prioritise face-to-face support. The team's mobile model allows counsellors to meet clients where they are, whether on farm, in town or online when travel isn't possible.
"We travel with mobile offices and can meet clients wherever it suits them best," she said.
"If road closures or other circumstances prevent travel, we can still provide support by phone or online."
Awareness of the service comes through a combination of radio, print and social media advertising, together with referrals from industry networks and local communities. However, personal recommendations remain the strongest source of new enquiries.
"Word of mouth is still our biggest referral source. Nothing beats a trusted recommendation from someone in the community."
Keeping pace with industry change is also a priority for Rural West. Tamara noted that the organisation maintains close relationships with government and industry bodies to stay informed about policy developments, emerging challenges and opportunities that could affect rural businesses.
For vegetable growers seeking assistance, Tamara emphasised that support is only a phone call away. Our counsellors are based throughout Western Australia and are completely mobile," she said.
"Whether that's a visit to the kitchen table or meeting somewhere neutral, we'll work with clients to find a time and place that suits them."
More information
• 1800 612 004 (free call)
• enquiries@ruralwest.com.au
• www.ruralwest.com.au
Our services are free to qualifying primary production enterprises and related regional small businesses across Western Australia.
Funded by the Australian Government and West Australian Government:
