Primary producers in the South Australian communities of Arthurton and Spalding have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, free of charge, at a series of Rabo Client Council workshops designed to help provide financial skills key to managing an agricultural enterprise.
The practical Financial Skills Workshops – providing farmers with an opportunity to both upskill and network – will be held in early October.
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 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 South Australian Rabo Client Council member and Spalding-based crop and sheep producer Melissa Longmire said, "these workshops are designed to help equip farmers with key financial skills and tools for managing agricultural operations effectively".
The workshops – which will be limited to 30 participants each and are not restricted to the bank's clients – will be delivered by director of Hudson Facilitation, Tony Hudson.
Ms Longmire said the workshops – designed specifically for farm owners and managers – aim to assist in closing the gap between farming expertise and financial knowledge.
"Even some seasoned farmers might not be very familiar with financial reporting and banking requirements, or they may simply wish to update their knowledge of business financial analysis," she said.
Ms Longmire said that the workshops are intended for couples and family members to attend together. "These sessions provide a valuable chance to step away from the day-to-day of running a farming business, absorb the same information, and develop a shared understanding of financial reporting. By learning together, farming families can improve 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, Ms Longmire said.
"By equipping primary producers with the skills to effectively use financial reporting and navigate banking processes, the Financial Skills Workshops help strengthen the resilience and prosperity of local farming businesses," she said. "As a result, our rural and regional communities also gain from a financially healthy local agricultural sector."
Rabobank state manager for South Australia, Northern Territory and North West Victoria Roger Matthews said since the launch of the workshops in 2018, the Rabo Client Councils have extended this valuable learning opportunity to over 5,000 farmers across Australia and New Zealand.
"Producers who had attended previous Rabobank Financial Skills Workshops have told the bank the information provided is very valuable," Mr Matthews said.
"The workshops are open to all primary producers, no matter who you bank with. If you're interested in attending one of 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," he said.
Workshop dates and locations are:
- Wednesday, 9 October 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm (Arthurton)
- Thursday, 10 October 2024 – 8:30am – 3:30pm (Spalding)
To register to participate, please visit the Rabobank Australia website, or click here
Morning tea and lunch catering will be provided.
