Earn
‘Can you help me?’: The pandemic’s impact on rural Australians
COVID-19 has pushed many rural Australians to breaking point after an already tough summer, an accountant has told nestegg.
‘Can you help me?’: The pandemic’s impact on rural Australians
COVID-19 has pushed many rural Australians to breaking point after an already tough summer, an accountant has told nestegg.
Simone Palfreyman is the principal of Palfreyman Chartered Accountants in Cessnock and has seen a number of clients suffering due to business closures and separation of family and friends due to social distancing and isolation requirements.
In the space of months, Ms Palfreyman said rural Australians have already struggled through “drought, bushfires, floods and now a pandemic”.
In her work, the most common question she said her clients are asking is, “Can you help me?”
“They are desperate for help to keep their businesses alive, to retain their valued staff and still have enough money to feed their families and save their home.”
From her perspective, “the role of being a trusted adviser has never been as onerous”.
While she has welcomed the introduction of government assistance measures, “the lack of detail and timing delays have not helped my clients to plan how to keep their business, their families and their lives afloat”.
Business-owner clients “have been confused by what entitlements are available to them, what rules apply and how they go about registering for these”, she said.
On the other end of the stick, she said she also has clients who are concerned that their employers “are trying to use COVID-19 to reduce their entitlements, and need help to navigate the constantly changing employment rules and government entitlements”.
Ms Palfreyman has conceded that “so many” of her clients are facing the same issues.
“We are assisting our individual clients with advice on JobSeeker versus JobKeeper payments, as well as issues such as enforced stand-downs and annual leave. We are preparing cash-flow forecasts and business mentoring, and generally trying to assist our clients to survive COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, they are also working with business clients to ensure they apply for all government stimulus packages they are entitled to.
She said: “Clients need more assistance than ever in navigating the new COVID-19 environment, [especially where] the legislation and government stimulus opportunities are changing on a daily basis.
“Our aim is to help our clients to survive this pandemic and have a business or career to return to.”
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Salary
The financial benefits of a diversified income stream
In today’s volatile economic environment, relying solely on a single source of income can be risky. Diversifying your income streams can provide financial stability, reduce the risk of financial ...Read more
Salary
Despite losing top spot, Elon Musk rakes in $400,000 hourly
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur known for his involvement in a wide range of innovative and technological businesses, has recently been dethroned as the wealthiest individual in the world, with Bernard ...Read more
Salary
Rising unemployment and skill shortages prompt Australian businesses to look globally for talent
Australia has witnessed its unemployment rate surging above 4% for the first time in two years, revealed by the latest Labour Force data. Read more
Salary
New findings link job mobility hurdles to stagnant wage growth
Recent research from the e61 Institute has unearthed significant links between slow wage growth in Australia and obstacles to job mobility, including non-compete clauses, complicated occupational ...Read more
Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to ...Read more
Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for ...Read more
Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. Read more
Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. Read more
Salary
The financial benefits of a diversified income stream
In today’s volatile economic environment, relying solely on a single source of income can be risky. Diversifying your income streams can provide financial stability, reduce the risk of financial ...Read more
Salary
Despite losing top spot, Elon Musk rakes in $400,000 hourly
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur known for his involvement in a wide range of innovative and technological businesses, has recently been dethroned as the wealthiest individual in the world, with Bernard ...Read more
Salary
Rising unemployment and skill shortages prompt Australian businesses to look globally for talent
Australia has witnessed its unemployment rate surging above 4% for the first time in two years, revealed by the latest Labour Force data. Read more
Salary
New findings link job mobility hurdles to stagnant wage growth
Recent research from the e61 Institute has unearthed significant links between slow wage growth in Australia and obstacles to job mobility, including non-compete clauses, complicated occupational ...Read more
Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to ...Read more
Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for ...Read more
Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. Read more
Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. Read more
