Primary producers in the Pittsworth and Goondiwindi districts have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, free of charge, at a series of Rabo Client Council workshops designed to help provide the financial skills critical to managing an agricultural enterprise.
The practical Financial Skills Workshops – providing farmers with an opportunity to both upskill and network – will be held in mid July.
The initiative has been spearheaded and funded by food and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank’s Rabo Client Council, a group of the bank’s farming clients who volunteer their time implementing programs that contribute to the sustainability of rural and regional communities.
These complimentary, interactive workshops provide practical, hands-on advice for understanding financial statements and banking requirements and explore topics such as taxation versus management accounting, essential business management ratios and understanding key components of a business’s financial profile.
Southern Queensland Rabo Client Council chair and Cecil Plains cotton grower Stuart Armitage said, “the agricultural sector is part of a rapidly changing world, in which financial skills play a critical role for both our current and next generation farmers”.
Mr Armitage said a strong understanding of financials is key to the smooth running of a successful farming business. “These workshops aim to provide crucial financial skills to manage agricultural enterprises effectively,” he said.
“There is increasing pressure and need for next-generation primary producers to understand financial reporting – the workshops aim to close the gap between farming expertise and financial knowledge.
“And while many of our well-educated next-generation primary producers have extensive on-farm experience, understanding the nuances of financial reporting and banking requirements can still be unfamiliar to them.”
Mr Armitage said the workshops are designed to allow couples and family members to attend together. “They offer a valuable chance for farmers to step away from their business, absorb the same knowledge and foster a shared understanding of financial reporting. By learning together, they can enhance their financial expertise as a team.”
Rabobank’s Rabo Client Council network is focussed on developing meaningful grassroots initiatives to support key themes focusing on agri education, rural wellbeing, sustainability, adaption and creating rural/urban connections, Mr Armitage said.
“By equipping farmers with the knowledge to efficiently utilise financial reporting and navigate banking procedures, the Financial Skills Workshops play a crucial role in enhancing the resilience and prosperity of local farming enterprises,” he said. “As a result, our rural and regional communities also reap the benefits of a financially robust agricultural sector.”
Rabobank regional manager for Southern Queensland, Brad James said producers who had attended previous Rabobank Financial Skills Workshops have told the bank the information provided is “real and worthwhile – practical information that they can readily apply to their farming operations”.
“Since the launch of the workshops in 2018, the Rabo Client Councils have extended this valuable learning opportunity to over 4,550 farmers across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“If you’re interested in attending these workshops, keen to meet other leading producers in the agri sector and increase your financial literacy and skills, confirm your place before the courses are fully allocated.”
The workshops – which will be limited to 30 participants each and are not restricted to the bank’s clients – will be presented by director of Hudson Facilitation, Tony Hudson.
Workshop dates and locations are:
- Tuesday, 16 July 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm – Pittsworth
- Wednesday, 17 July 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm – Goondiwindi
To register to participate, please visit the Rabobank Australia website, or click here
Morning tea and lunch catering will be provided.
Please contact rabocommunity@rabobank.com with any queries about the workshops.
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Media contacts:
Denise Shaw Will Banks
Media Relations Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Rabobank Australia
Phone: 02 8115 2744 or 0439 603 525 Phone: 0418 216 103
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com Email: will.banks@rabobank.com
About us:
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 125 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 38 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is one of Australasia’s leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 90 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
