Richard Lewis

About Richard

Richard Lewis services all sectors of rural industry across the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac Regional Council area.

Richard has spent 26 years serving the farming community as a Rural Financial Counsellor (RFC) with both the Queensland Government, and the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Central and North Queensland. This has involved working with a wide range of clients across the great diversity of rural industries from the Burnett to the Atherton Tablelands and West.

Richard uses his financial counselling skills, honed over the last 26 years, combined with hands on farming experience and an understanding of farmers issues and industries to assist clients to understand and navigate the complexities of the financial issues arising in their rural business. This ranges from assisting with position analysis, business planning, budgeting, loan applications, accessing assistance following natural disasters and drought to assisting in negotiation with creditors and their financiers.

A major part of Richard’s role includes supporting clients with the preparation and negotiation process with their financiers and when Farm Debt Mediation is requested to achieve the best outcome for them, and importantly providing ongoing support after mediation.

Richard emphasises that one of his greatest challenges is that farmers with financial problems don’t get their Counsellor involved until it is a serious problem. When financiers and other professionals encourage farmers to seek their RFC's help early all parties have more options for better outcomes.

Richard considers an important part of his role as an RFC is building the financial skills and awareness of his clients to ensure a strong and prosperous rural community.