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 2027.
Rabobank Australia CEO Caroline Oosterbaan said the program gave graduates the opportunity to begin meaningful careers with a major global food and agribusiness bank.
“Since launching our formal graduate program in 2023, Rabobank has helped university graduates from across Australia who have a passion for agriculture start their careers while at the same time building a strong pipeline of talent for the bank,” she said.
The Rabo Graduate Program was recently ranked sixth in the Australian Association of Graduate Employers list of Top 75 Graduate Employers – Small Program category. This accolade recognises organisations that provide the most positive experience for new graduates based on the opinions of the graduates themselves.
Ms Oosterbaan said the Rabobank program would see each graduate rotate through a range of teams across the bank, within their chosen function.
“The program offers strong career development opportunities, supporting graduates to progress in their chosen fields while experiencing Rabobank’s inclusive and flexible work environment,” she said.
“All graduates spend time at a rural or regional branch in Australia – including locations such as Townsville, Kadina, Geraldton, Wagga Wagga and Port Lincoln,” Ms Oosterbaan.
“Through this important customer-facing experience, individuals gain a better understanding of Rabobank’s unique approach to supporting clients.”
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.
One of those graduate mentors, Rabobank state manager for Victoria and Tasmania Sally Bull said the goal of mentoring a graduate is to support and guide them throughout the program and into a meaningful long-term career within the bank.
“It’s really rewarding to see the graduates progress in their careers and find roles they enjoy, because ultimately we want to retain them beyond the program,” she said.
Ms Bull said the graduates she has worked with have stayed with the bank and progressed into Country Banking roles. “The program is designed so that after completing their rotations and gaining experience, they can move towards a manager position,” she said.
As a mentor, Ms Bull said, she set monthly meetings with her graduate mentee, “and they can reach out anytime if they need guidance”.
“The conversations I have with graduates are really about their career aspirations and how I can help them get there, including who they should be connecting with within the bank and where they should be going for their rotations,” she said.
“The rotations are a key element of the program – where graduates gain exposure across different parts of the business and different parts of the country. I’m a big believer in encouraging graduates to go somewhere they may never go again – in a branch with a mix of commodities and a broad range of experiences.
Rabobank state manager for NSW Toby Mendl is another of the bank’s senior leaders mentoring graduates in recent cohorts. He said the graduate program delivers a strong, well-rounded experience for participants while also building a pathway of highly-capable future employees for the business.
“The program provides a platform for developing skilled, engaged graduates who can move into long-term roles,” he said.
“The graduates bring energy, new ideas and fresh thinking into the Rabobank teams they work with.
“They have a ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude and a genuine willingness to contribute.”
Mr Mendl said within 18 months, graduates gain exposure to a wide range of agricultural industries, environments and regions across the country. “The opportunity to work across different commodities and geographies gives participants a genuinely broad understanding of Australian agriculture,” he said.
Applications for the Rabobank Australian Graduate Program will close on August 18 with successful candidates commencing in February 2027.
