Opportunities to commence career in agri offered with opening of 2026 Rabobank Australian graduate program

Applications for Rabobank’s 2026 graduate program are now open, providing university graduates interested in agriculture and agribusiness the chance to start their careers with the specialist agribusiness bank.

Rabobank is offering places for graduates from around Australia to join the bank early next year, beginning with a formal 18-month graduate program, which kicks off in February 2026.

The world’s leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of Australia’s largest agricultural lenders and a major provider of business and corporate banking services to the country’s food and agribusiness sector.

Rabobank Chief HR Officer Australia & New Zealand Belinda Webber said the program allows graduates to start meaningful careers with a major global food and agribusiness bank. “Since starting its formal graduate program in 2023, the bank has helped launch the careers of university graduates across Australia,” she said.

The Rabo Graduate Program was recently ranked third in the 2025 Top Graduate Employers – Small Program category, and also 2025 Top 10 Most Popular Banking, Finance and Insurance Employer by The Australian Financial Review and GradConnection. These awards recognise organisations that provide the most positive experience for new graduates based on the opinions of the graduates themselves.
 

The 2025 Rabo Graduate Program cohort

Ms Webber said each graduate would rotate across a range of teams in the bank, within their chosen function, as part of the program.

“The program is designed to provide substantial career development opportunities and support graduates in advancing in their chosen fields. Additionally, it offers a chance to be part of Rabobank's inclusive and flexible work environment,” she said.

To help accelerate career development, each graduate will be matched with a senior leader within the bank to act as their mentor throughout the program. Graduates would also have the opportunity for interstate and, potentially, international travel.

“All graduates spend time at a rural or regional branch in Australia – including locations such as Shepperton, Kadina, Geraldton, Wagga Wagga, Toowoomba and Port Lincoln,” Ms Webber said. “Through this important customer-facing experience, individuals gain a better understanding of Rabobank’s unique approach to supporting clients.”

University of New England graduate Molly Davidson joined the bank’s 2025 program intake and says she can attest to the professional opportunities offered.

Ms Davidson – who grew up on a farm near Lucindale in South Australia’s south east – has completed her first program rotation with Rabobank in Perth, and is now working in the Sydney office before soon heading to Wagga Wagga for her next placement.
 

Rabo Graduate Program participant Molly Davidson

“The opportunity to travel and learn about different agricultural production systems has been a real highlight,” she said. “Spending time in WA, learning about broadacre cropping and integrated livestock businesses was an amazing experience and opportunity to expand my knowledge.

“While in Perth, I was working in a credit analyst role. Not something I was naturally drawn to, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the intricate analysis of farming businesses. It is a very detailed way of thinking, requiring you to develop a high standard of writing.

“That’s the whole point of this great program, you get the opportunity to try different roles and then determine which you might like best.”

Now working in Sydney, Ms Davidson’s current rotation is with the bank’s operations team, learning about payments, online savings and the bank’s Farm Management Deposit product.

And for her next rotation, Ms Davidson will be moving to Wagga Wagga to work with the rural banking team. “I’m looking forward to spending more time on-farm and being able to work directly with clients and learn from the established local team,” she said.

Fellow graduate Tom Cruikshank joined Rabobank after studying at the University of Sydney and Marcus Oldham College, where he developed a “real passion for agribusiness finance, accounting and economics”.

While at Marcus Oldham, Mr Cruikshank undertook an internship with Rabobank, spending time working with branches in Perth, Geraldton and Esperance. “Having this opportunity to experience Rabobank’s culture – where people are approachable and supportive – ensured applying to the graduate program was the right choice,” he said.
 

Rabo Graduate Program participant Tom Cruikshank

Originally from a cropping and sheep farm near Ganmain, north west of Wagga Wagga, Mr Cruikshank is in the risk management stream and spent his first rotation with the bank’s operational and enterprise risk management team in Sydney.

“It has been a great opportunity to explore sophisticated and complex agribusinesses and learn about the different financial and non-financial risks,” he said.

For his next rotation, Mr Cruikshank will be working from Townsville, where he is looking forward to learning about sectors he has not been exposed to previously – cane growing and northern cattle production.

Applications for the Rabobank Australian Graduate Program will close on August 18 with successful candidates commencing in February 2026.

Further information about Rabobank’s Australian Graduate Program is available at Rabobank Careers | Graduate Program

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 87 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.