Rabobank to host farm financial skills workshops in South Australia

South Australian farmers have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, free of charge, at workshops designed to help provide financial skills key to managing an agricultural enterprise.

Hosted by the South Australian Rabo Client Council, the practical Financial Skills Workshops – which are open to all farmers, not just the bank’s clients – will be held in Loxton and Port Lincoln in late September.

The initiative – which provides farmers with an opportunity to both upskill and network –has been led and funded by food and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank’s Rabo Client Councils, a group of innovative, forward-thinking farming clients who are passionate about making a difference in their communities and support a range of activities designed to make a meaningful impact on the vibrancy and resilience of rural Australia.

The complimentary, interactive workshops provide practical, hands-on guidance on 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.

Rabobank head of relationship management Kate Facy said, “the workshops are intended to provide farmers with financial skills and tools for managing agricultural businesses effectively”.

The workshops – which will be limited to 30 participants each – will be delivered by director of Hudson Facilitation, Tony Hudson.

Mrs Facy said the workshops, created for farm owners and managers, aim to help bridge the gap between farming skills and financial knowledge.

“Even experienced farmers might not be fully familiar with certain financial reporting and banking requirements, or may want to improve their knowledge of business financial analysis,” she said.

Mrs Facy said where possible couples and families are encouraged to attend the workshops together. “The sessions aim to provide participants with the opportunity to take a break from daily farming commitments, and receive the same information, developing a shared understanding of financial reporting. Through joint learning, farming families can enhance their financial skills as a team,” she said.

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, Mrs Facy said.

Since the launch of the workshops in 2018, the Rabo Client Councils have extended this valuable learning opportunity to over 5,200 farmers across Australia and New Zealand, she said.

“The Financial Skills Workshops provide primary producers with knowledge in financial reporting and banking procedures, with the goal of supporting the resilience and profitability of their agricultural enterprises. This may also contribute to the financial stability of rural and regional communities through improved financial health in the agricultural sector,” Mrs Facy said.

“Producers who had attended previous Rabobank Financial Skills Workshops have told us the information provided is extremely valuable.

“The workshops are open to all farmers, regardless of who you bank with. So, if you’re interested in attending a workshop, 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.”

Workshop details:

• Tuesday, 23 September 2025 – 8.30am to 3.30pm (Loxton)
• Thursday, 25 September 2025 – 8.30am to 3.30pm (Port Lincoln)

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.
 

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.