Women in north west New South Wales are being offered the opportunity to attend financial empowerment workshops in their local area in mid-May.
Designed to give regionally-based women skills and tools to improve financial 'wellness', the one-day workshop, Supercharging Women's Wealth & Wellness, will be held in Walgett on May 10, Narrabri on May 11 and Warialda on May 12.
Backed by food and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank, the workshop program has been designed to give regionally-based women access to financial education in the communities in which they live.
The interactive workshops, which are free of charge, have been developed for rural women – both farmers and those living regionally – to "reflect on self-worth and net worth". Facilitated by Zoe Lamont, co-founder of Verve Money, the sessions will focus on individual goal setting and the development of money management strategies to help achieve those goals.
The initiative has been spearheaded by the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales Rabo Client Council – the local chapter of the groups of the bank's farming clients who volunteer their time implementing programs that contribute to the sustainability of rural communities.
Rabo Client Council vice-chair for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Nicky Littlewood from "Burringbar", Boggabilla, said she hoped the in-person workshops would be "a valuable educational, learning and networking opportunity" as participants came together to set their goals for the years ahead.
"COVID has prevented many of us from gathering in the last couple of years. The workshops are all about coming together, networking and inspiring ourselves and talking about life and money," she said.
Focused on understanding finances and financial options – including savings, debt, investment portfolios, superannuation and insurance – Mrs Littlewood said the workshops would give women the opportunity to articulate their short, medium and longer-term goals and the steps to help get there.
"Women attending the workshops will have the chance to reflect on their purpose and vision for the decade ahead. Develop powerful goals and align their money to their mission and create a practical plan for their next phase," she said.
After running similar workshops for women in March 2020, Mrs Littlewood said, the local Rabo Client Council had been "working on getting Zoe back into regional communities ever since. COVID slowed our plans down a little, but we are excited to be able to offer women this unique opportunity again".
Rabobank regional manager for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales Brad James said the workshop – initiated through the bank's Rabo Client Council – was one way the bank, together with its farming clients, could address some of the big challenges facing the ag sector, with building long-term industry capacity a key objective.
"Women play such a crucial role in their business, community and family and we hope that by attending this workshop they feel empowered to achieve some of their longer term financial goals," he said.
Funded by Rabobank's Rabo Client Council, the workshops are open to clients and non-clients of Rabobank and there is no cost for participants to attend. F
