Applications are now open for the Rabobank Rural Community Hub Program.

Rural community hubs or halls are the heart of local life – bringing people together for events, meetings and celebrations.
They foster connection, resilience, and a sense of belonging, especially in isolated areas. As trusted spaces, they support everything from emergency response to youth programs, making them vital to community wellbeing.

We are delighted to contribute a total of $120,000 towards improvements to 12 community hubs or halls across rural Australia.

Application Process 

Applications will only be considered if received via this online application form. Key dates are;

A Community Hub is defined as as a building or space that is: open and accessible to the local community; providing services that the local community wants and needs, and provides a place-making opportunity to build cohesive communities, such as community halls and community centres.

Rural Australia refers to areas outside major cities and urban centres (major cities and urban centres are excluded from this program) to be assessed by Rabobank using its reasonable discretion. 

Applications will not be considered for any of the following;

• Individuals or entities outside Australia;
• Sporting Clubs (unless the grant is specifically designed for broad based community benefit);
• Political or religious organisations;
• Applications with incomplete or misleading information;
• Projects already funded elsewhere;
• Retrospective projects. 

Please note: you will also be required to submit photos of your Community Hub (and where you’d like improve it) as part of this application.

Our Client Council Members are tasked with reviewing each application for their region. To ensure key information isn't overlooked, please keep your responses clear, concise and within the word limits. 

Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to the Rabobank 2025 Rural Community Hub Program. Please read these terms and conditions before submitting your application to Rabobank Australia Limited (“Rabobank”). All Entrants must be eligible and meet the criteria to apply for the Rabobank Rural Community Hub Program.

1. Information on how to apply and Program details form part of these Terms and Conditions. If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any other published material, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail. 
2. This Program is being promoted and run by Rabobank Australia Limited with its registered address at Level 16 Darling Park Tower 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000, ABN 50 001 621 129 (“Rabobank”).
3. The Program commences at 0900hrs on Thursday, 17 July 2025 and closes at 2359hrs on Sunday 24 August 2025 (“Application Period”). All times and dates are times and dates in Sydney. All times are stated using the 24 hour clock.
4. Application to the Program is open during the Program Period for persons (“Applicants”) who are over 18 years of age at the start of the Program Period; groups or not-for-profit organisations seeking funds to positively contribute to their community hub. If Applicants are not applying on their own behalf, they warrant they have the necessary approval and authorisation to submit an application and agree to these terms and conditions.
5.  In order to enter the Program, each applicant is to answer the following questions. These answers should all form part of the application to the Program using the link 2025 Rabobank Community Hub Program, during the Program Period.
   1. Describe how your Community Hub is currently used. Who uses it, and for what purposes? Why is the Hub important to your local community?
   2. Outline the specific upgrades or improvements you are proposing. What issues or needs do these changes address?
   3. Explain how the proposed upgrades will benefit your local community. What positive outcomes do you expect, and who will be impacted?
   4. Detail your group’s financial contribution toward the proposed upgrades over the next 12 months.
6. Please also submit a picture(s) of the external view of the Community Hub and area planned to be upgraded. These pictures may be published on Rabobank’s website and social media channels and the applicant consents to the use of these pictures submitted.
7. The Community Hub nominated by the applicant must be based in rural Australia, and is defined as a building or space that is: open and accessible to the local community; providing services that the local community wants and needs, and provides a place-making opportunity to build cohesive communities, such as community halls and community centres.
8. The following are out of scope and will not be accepted for consideration by Rabobank:
   1. Individuals or entities outside Australia;
   2. Sporting Clubs (unless the Grant is specifically designed for broad based community benefit);
   3. Political or religious organisations;
   4. Applicants with incomplete or misleading information;
   5. Projects already funded elsewhere;
   6. Retrospective projects.
9. “Rural Australia” refers to areas outside major cities and urban centres (major cities and urban centres excluded from this Program) to be assessed by Rabobank using its reasonable discretion. 
10. Each Applicant may only nominate a Community Hub once (however an Applicant may nominate more than one Community Hub in separate applications for each Community Hub, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements in Clauses 4 to 7 above).
11. Applications will be judged on the basis of community need and benefit by the relevant Rabobank Client Council who cover the applicants' Community Hub location. Rabobank’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into resulting the outcome.
12. On or about Friday, 3 October 2025, the Grant recipients (“Recipients”) will be notified via the email address used to submit their application. The successful applicants’ Community Hub name and photo may also later be published on Rabobank’s website and social media channels.
13. There are twelve (12) $10,000.00 AUD (incl GST) Grants (“Grant”) to be awarded. The total value of the Grants pool is $120,000.00 AUD (incl. GST). Only one (1) Grant is awarded for each successful applicant.
14. The successful Community Hubs Grant recipient(s) will receive the Grant via electronic funds transfer conditional upon the recipient entering into a Grant Agreement which will outline how the Grant will be spent and any other applicable terms. These applicable terms may require provision of a scope of work/invoice evidencing information provided in an application before the release of funds.
15. The successful Community Hubs Grant recipients will be required to enter into a Sponsorship Agreement provided by Rabobank, outline the terms and conditions of the Grant and how the Grant will be spent.
16. The successful Community Hubs Grant recipients will agree to provide an update on how the funding has benefited the community within 6 months of the Grant being made.
17. If for any reason beyond the reasonable control of Rabobank, the Program is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated, including due to tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the control of Rabobank which corrupt or affect the administration security, fairness or integrity or proper conduct of the Program, Rabobank reserves the right, subject to written directions from State Regulatory bodies, in its sole discretion, to suspend, modify, or terminate this Program or disqualify any individual who tampers with the application process.
18. Rabobank shall not be liable for any loss or damage which is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) or for any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with any Grant/s except for any liability, which cannot be excluded by law. Rabobank will not be responsible for any incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete information communicated in the course of or in connection with this Program if the deficiency is occasioned by any cause outside the reasonable control of Rabobank.
19. Rabobank will use the personal data disclosed for the purposes of running this Program, announcing the successful applicants, distributing Grants, and to follow up and assess any feedback about the Program an Applicant has indicated they are happy to share. Rabobank may also disclose personal data to related companies of Rabobank, its Rabo Community Fund and Rabo Client Councils for the same purposes. Personal data will only be used in accordance with the Rabobank Privacy Policy which can be found at https://www.rabobank.com.au/privacy which includes information about individual rights such as access to and/or correction of the personal data which we hold, and how an individual may make a privacy related complaint. Rabobank may be contacted by telephone on 1800 025 484 if an Applicant has questions about Rabobank’s use of personal data.