Ben and his wife run a contract shearing business that used to tick along reliably. A mix of unpaid tax during the COVID leniency period, fewer livestock in the district, and a run of extreme weather shrinking shearing days put them behind with the ATO. Fines and interest were mounting. They were willing to pay, but the process felt messy and their reliance on an already-stretched accountant led to delays and frayed nerves.
Their Rural Financial Counsellor (RFC) started with informed consent and plain-English ground rules: confidentiality, independence, and that decisions would remain with Ben and his wife. Then came steady, practical work. The RFC took time to understand the business structure and goals before untangling the pressure points—what was urgent, what could wait, and where agency sat.
To ease immediate strain, the couple accessed the RBS Relief Fund through a Wyatt Trust Capacity Grant. That single, targeted payment to a key creditor unlocked a realistic repayment plan for the balance and stopped the sense that everything was slipping at once. While the RFC coordinated with the accountant on the ATO matter, equal attention went to rebuilding confidence and day-to-day capability. Together they reviewed recent financials in simple terms, traced how the tax debt had grown, and mapped habits that would prevent a repeat.
The changes were small, consistent, and owned by the clients. Ben began reading his own profit-and-loss reports and asking better questions. BAS and ATO payments were diarised and made regularly. Instead of waiting passively, he and his wife started following up their accountant with clear timeframes and expectations. They also looked at ways to widen their shearing run and smooth out seasonal dips.
Recognising the link between money stress and headspace, the RFC encouraged Ben to try ifarmwell. He found the short podcasts and practical exercises useful on long drives, and used a couple of tools to manage frustration when paperwork dragged.
By the time their ATO proposal went in—one they helped shape and were confident they could stick to—Ben and his wife had regained a sense of control. They knew where cash was going, which debts were moving, and how to read the signs earlier.
The plan now is straightforward: keep the repayment schedule on track, review quarterly results with the accountant when needed (not only in a crisis), and keep building local work to steady income through the year.
What began as a tax tangle and a hit to confidence has become a quiet reset. With calm guidance and their own follow-through, Ben and his wife have moved from overwhelm to informed choices—back on the tools, and back in charge.
