Rabobank brings farm financial skills workshops to Gippsland communities

Gippsland farmers in the Warragul and Leongatha 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-May.

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 Victoria and Tasmania Rabo Client Council member and Westbury-based dairy farmer Chris Griffin said “financial skills are vital for our farmers and the next generation of farmers”.

Mr Griffin said the workshops were designed to bridge the gap between farming knowledge and financial expertise.

“While many of our next-generation farmers may be highly educated, or have extensive on-farm experience, traversing the complexities of financial reporting and banking requirements is often unfamiliar to them, which is why these workshops addressing these topics are so useful,” he said.

Mr Griffin said the workshop content would consider cash flow implications of a variety of farming operations and there will also be a focus on preparing annual cash flow budgets.

“These workshops are designed to allow couples and family members to attend together. It’s an incredibly beneficial opportunity for farmers to step away from their business for a day, soak up the same information, and develop shared knowledge of financial reporting. By learning together, they can enhance their financial skills together,” he said.

Mr Griffin said Rabobank’s Rabo Client Council network was focussed on developing meaningful grassroots initiatives to support key themes focusing on agri education, rural wellbeing, sustainability, adaption and creating rural/urban connections.

“By equipping farmers with the knowledge to fully utilise financial reporting and navigate banking procedures, the Financial Skills Workshops play a key role in enhancing the resilience and prosperity of local farming enterprises,” he said. “Consequently, our communities also benefit from a thriving farming sector.”

Rabobank regional manager for Southern Victoria and Tasmania, Deborah Maskell-Davies said primary producers who had attended previous Rabobank Financial Skills Workshops have told the bank the information provided is real and valuable – “useful knowledge they can walk away with and apply in their farming business”.

“Since their inception in 2018, the Rabo Client Councils have extended this valuable learning opportunity to over 4,340 farmers across Australia and New Zealand,” she said.

“If you’re interested in attending these workshops, keen to meet other leading farmers 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:

• Thursday, 16 May 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm – Warragul
• Friday, 17 May 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm – Leongatha

To register to participate, please click here

Morning tea and lunch catering will be provided.