The RSBSP Program provides financial counselling and related services for small regional businesses facing hardship due to drought, the COVID-19 pandemic or 2019-20 bushfires.

The program launched in January 2020 as the Drought Communities Small Business Support Program with an initial budget of $7 million and supported small regional businesses in drought-affected areas.

In mid-2020, the Australian Government expanded the program committing an additional $5.785 million for the provision of free financial counselling to affected small regional businesses.

The Australian Government announced a further $8.6 million to extend the $16.2 million pilot for 12 months from 1 January 2022 to help businesses with the challenges they are experiencing and get back on their feet.

The pilot, rebadged as the Regional Small Business Support Program, continues to support small business, while encouraging more eligible small businesses to apply.

The pilot program is being delivered through the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) to 31 December 2022.