Author: Liam Palmer

This month we are excited to be chatting with a couple of our favourite Argentinian’s – Renzo Campanella and Ezequiel Vergara. These two hard working young men are both qualified agronomists who have been a fantastic addition to the Agri Labour Australia (ALA) workforce since 2019.

Initially commencing with ALA on last year’s Grain Harvest in Queensland before heading down to Renmark in South Australia for the big citrus season, we are pleased to have them returning for the 2020 Grain Harvest.

Known for their exceptional work ethic, great attitude and always popular wherever they go, we chatted to Renzo and Ezy to find out a bit more about them and what they think about agriculture work in Australia.

How long have you been with Agri Labour Australia?
We started late last year on the Grain Harvest in Emerald where we worked for four months, before joining the citrus season in South Australia.

How did you get started with us?
We applied online for Grain Harvest worker roles.

What roles have you had?
We started as grain samplers and grain handlers. We were provided with all the training that was needed to do the job, but our agronomy background also helped us to pick up the details quickly. We’ve also been forklift operators in the citrus season.

What are the main tasks you performed in these jobs?
As grain handlers we worked mainly in the sampling stand and interacting with truck drivers to analyse their product, and if the quality matched the company standards, got them into the system.

As a forklift operator in the citrus pack shed, I had to safely drive the forklift, moving pallets, fruit bins and all sort of fruit containers – making sure we always followed the quality procedures as directed by our supervisors.

You’ve just finished citrus season – what did you enjoy about this?
It was a really nice season because we had a lot of interaction with many international people. We both made a lot of friends and learned new skills.

You’re now coming back to grain harvest – why?
Because I had a great experience. The work is straight forward and it’s a really good working environment with great people. Working in the grain harvest also allows you to save money.

What’s the best part about working in the grain harvest?
While it is very busy, the work is relatively simple and you can keep learning a lot. We also love being in the countryside – the surrounding nature is beautiful and relaxing.

What skills have you learned since joining the Agri Labour Australia team?
We have learned so much more about farming, grains and storage. This was a new aspect of farming for us, so it’s been excellent at providing with great information to help us in our future agronomy careers.

What is the most challenging part of your work?
The most challenging part was having to make decisions on product quality that can affect the farmers. Sometimes they were not happy about the results, but we had to follow company standards and do what’s best for everyone.

What are your career goals?
We would like to become a full time agronomists here in Australia. We have the skills and knowledge to do it and believe we work hard to perform and do an excellent job.

How has ALA helped you while you’ve been working in Australia?
Having the chance to experience farming at lots of different levels and with different crops – it’s so interesting and we have loved learning.

How have you grown as a person since working with ALA?
We had some challenges because of not having much experience in that field. We both had to study and trust in ourselves to accomplish the goal in the best way possible.

What would you tell other people who are considering working for Agri Labour Australia?
Yes! Go for it! Do not hesitate! It’s a great company, pretty good payrates and their staff are always understanding and ready to listen about their workers concerns.

Where to from here?
Grain season again!

Would you like to stay in Australia? Why?
Yes. We think it’s a great country, where we can grow personally, professionally and financially.

Favourite place in Australia and why?
Sellicks Beach, SA. I love the beach and the quiet environment. It’s not very well known yet so it’s still kind of natural and it’s not far from the city. But, there’s also still a lot to see around this amazing country!

Agriculture. It is the very industry our country was founded upon and one that remains a constant and reassuring presence during these unknown and challenging times.

With the arrival of COVID-19, subsequent social distancing and self-isolation, the demand for meat and perishables hit an unprecedented high during March and April. This huge increase in consumer shopping saw farmers working harder than ever to meet these demands for quality produce. This rise in demand resulted in many businesses hiring more staff to meet immediate production needs while still laying the groundwork for winter crops.

For many, the agriculture industry provides an excellent platform for people to utilise existing skills that are transferrable across a range of sectors. It can be a win-win situation where people find rewarding new jobs and business operators in rural and regional Australia get the experience and knowledge from a wider pool of candidates who may not have previously considered agriculture as a career industry.

Casey Brown, Managing Director, Agri Labour Australia, says, ‘Agriculture has many facets. It’s not just about farming cattle and crops – there’s diversity, sociability and world leading technology applied throughout the industry that makes for solid job prospects. One area is Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) – this is now a huge part of agriculture and roles can be anything from business development managers and WHS officers right through to packhouse supervisors, mechanics and data analysts. This is just one sector – there really is endless opportunities across all fields of agriculture.’

There’s also plenty for those who don’t have a trade or key set of skills, with interesting roles happening all over Australia. People can find work anywhere from the Northern Territory all the way down to Tasmania, with many business farm owners and operators open to giving people the chance to prove themselves if they’re willing and show commitment to the job.

Another key facet of agriculture is the lifestyle associated with living in rural and regional areas. Having experienced extremely difficult times for several years with record breaking droughts and bushfires, these communities play a vital role in supporting all our farmers and the many people who come to work for a season or long term.

The inclusiveness, community events and lifestyle that country living offers is going to become even more attractive as COVID-19 abates and people focus more on the health and wellbeing of themselves and their families.

Agri Talent is the latest, exciting chapter for Agri Labour Australia. Currently celebrating our tenth year in the industry, Agri Talent is a culmination of the experience and success of Agri Labour Australia’s Permanent Division.

With the appointment of General Manager, Tim Chapman in 2018, the Permanent Division went from strength to strength – continuing to evolve and expand its capability to meet the recruitment needs of the diverse agriculture sector.

Officially launched on Wednesday 20 May, Agri Talent offer an extensive recruitment service to agribusinesses and the various organisations and communities that support Australia’s rural and regional communities. Experts in sourcing executive solutions, RPO/MSP, permanent placements and skilled trade roles, Agri Talent has a true understanding of the land and the specific needs of the agriculture industry.

Agri Talent delivers permanent recruitment solutions with a difference. Agri Talent consultants are each specialists across a range of agriculture sectors, giving clients confidence in their ability to identify and source the best permanent and professional candidates for their business.

Their reputation in the industry and commitment to the agriculture industry is well known and it’s this ongoing client acknowledgement, professional achievement and team growth that has progressed the division into forming its own identity.

Casey Brown, Managing Director, Agri Labour Australia says, ‘This is such an exciting step for Agri Labour Australia and showcases the hard work and commitment of our team in supporting the growth and success of the Australian agriculture industry. It’s been great to see this area of the business building rapidly and we know Agri Talent is going to continue to lead the way with their unique and client driven recruitment processes.’

‘From Paddock to Plate’ Agri Talent cover all areas of agriculture. From aquaculture, cattle, broadacre and FMCG, to medicinal, supply chain and logistics, horticulture, dairy, poultry, piggeries and everything in between, Agri Talent have an unrivalled specialist knowledge. Their expertise is supported by access to an extensive candidate database and vast digital reach, allowing them to source the right candidates who will add long term value to a client’s business.

For more information, visit Agri Talent.

While it might not be the usual crowd lined streets that pave Australian cities and towns for ANZAC Day this year, however, the spirit of mateship will still be felt strongly in honouring our servicemen and women on this important day.

This is the only time since WWII that ANZAC Day Celebrations have been cancelled. But, with the usual Aussie ingenuity that our country and the ANZAC’s were founded on, we will be remembering and paying our respects differently this year.

Here are some great ways we can all continue to support ANZAC day while observing social distancing measures.

Light Up the Dawn – At 6am on ANZAC Day, go to the end of your driveway, balcony or paddock and listen to a commemorative service. You can also sign a pledge to ‘Light Up the Dawn’. Take a photo of your ‘Dawn Service’ and post it to social media so that those who have served and continue to serve us can see the support and respect for their incredible sacrifices.

Live Services – From 5:30am onwards there will be a live broadcast of the National Memorial Service from the Australian War Memorial. You can access this through RSL Facebook links or on ABCTV, iView, Radio and online and allows you to pay your respect at the same time as your local community.

Show Some ANZAC Mateship – with so many alone during this time of isolation, it’s a great time to reach out and ‘check in’ on someone who would appreciate hearing from a mate.

Donate – the ANZAC Online Appeal is a vital element in continuing its support to Australian veterans and their families.

Agri Labour Australia strongly believes in supporting our ex servicemen and women. We look forward to continuing our activity on the Agri Veterans Program which assists in transitioning veterans into new and meaningful careers within the exciting Australian agriculture industry.

Lest We Forget

From the time he arrived in Australia from Indonesia almost two years ago, Bill Suyapmo has been a welcome and popular member of the Agri Labour Australia Team.

Commencing as a candidate, Billy has proven himself to be an excellent all rounder and works as a supervisor on some of our horticulture projects. Billy also helps out with recruitment in the Kelvin Grove office from time to time.

Always ready with a smile and willing to assist wherever needed, we thought we should have a chat with Billy to find out more.

 How did you start with Agri Labour Australia?

ALA has a great reputation amongst the Indonesian community. People I spoke to said that ALA provides the best opportunities, so I made contact and here I am today!

What is your role?

I’ve had lots of projects since starting, the last one was for the Mango harvest in North Queensland and I’ve also been helping the recruitment team in the Head Office.

What are your main duties?

As a supervisor, I need to make sure all the crew are safe and doing well in their jobs. I am responsible for them following the correct procedure and of any issues with safety. I also work closely with the client – by connecting with them we can understand what they truly need from their workforce.

What’s the best part of your job?

I enjoy having to adapt to different situations. It’s a basic yet challenging skill and I like applying my adaptability when working with large groups of people, different working environments and also the various cultures and personalities that are a part of daily life.

What skills have you learned since joining Agri Labour Australia?

Time management! Also, joining the recruitment team has shown me how quickly things can happen – again it’s about being adaptable! Learning recruitment skills is new and something I never thought I’d be doing when I first started. I feel so lucky to have that opportunity and it’s been exciting to go from farm to office and back to the farm again.

What is the most challenging?

The constant need to travel can be a challenge, but also very exciting. ALA offer so many opportunities that allow you to travel to so many different parts of Australia. Living in a really remote area can be very different if you are used to having lots of people around and going out a lot, but I made the most of it by sightseeing, cooking, picnics and hanging out with one or two new friends!

What are your career goals?

Working in Australia has opened my view of how things could be done back in my home of Indonesia. I have a dream of having my own blueberry farm which is something that had never entered my mind until now! I really hope I can apply what I have learned during my time here and use it to build a successful future.

How has ALA helped you while you’ve been in Australia?

The recruitment team is awesome, and they really work hard to help connect you with good jobs. This has been such a help to me – especially at the end of a season where many people can be confused about where to go or what to do next. I never felt this way working with ALA – I believe that as long as you do the best in your job, ALA will do everything they can to help you find further work.

How have you grown as a person since working with us?

Back in Indonesia I never had the opportunity to work with people from other cultures and I’ve learned to adapt to more situations than I ever thought possible. My view of how agriculture works in Australia has also really broadened.

What would you tell other people who are considering working for ALA?

If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy company, then apply to ALA – you won’t be disappointed!

Where to from here?

I plan to continue my studies in engineering, but to be honest I am a little confused as to whether I want to pursue a career in this or start studying horticulture!

Favourite place in Australia and why?

Waikerie, South Australia. ALA connected me with a great job down there – it was the best time, great work environment, lovely weather and a beautiful town. Just perfect!

 

Agriculture. It is the very industry our country was founded upon and one that remains a constant and reassuring presence during these unknown and challenging times. 

With the arrival of COVID-19, subsequent social distancing and self-isolation, the demand for protein and perishables has hit an unprecedented high. This huge increase in consumer shopping sees our farmers working harder than ever to meet these demands for quality produce and they need extra staff to keep up. 

While we have previously seen the effects of economic downturn, people must be fed and clothed, and this increased demand is already resulting in more job opportunities across the agriculture space. This increase in jobs may be a lifeline to those unable to continue in their current role due to the new restrictions, or through the drought and recent bushfires (which are still impacting the country).  

For many, the agriculture industry provides an excellent platform for people to utilise existing skills that are transferrable across a range of sectors. It can be a win-win situation where people find rewarding new jobs and business operators in rural and regional Australia get the experience and knowledge from a wider pool of candidates who may not have previously considered agriculture as a career industry.  

Agriculture has many facets. It’s not just about farming cattle and crops – there’s diversity, great mateship and world leading technology applied throughout the industry that makes for exciting job prospects. One area is Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) – this is now a huge part of agriculture and roles can be anything from Business Development Managers and WHS Officers right through to Mechanics and Forklift Operators. This is just one example – there’s just so much opportunity across the board.  

There’s also plenty for those who don’t have a trade or key set of skills, with interesting roles happening all over Australia. People can find work anywhere from the Northern Territory all the way down to Tasmania, with many business operators open to giving people the chance to prove themselves if they’re willing and show commitment to the job.  

Another key facet of agriculture is the lifestyle associated with living in rural and regional areas. Having experienced extremely difficult times for several years, these communities play a vital role in supporting all our farmers and the many people who come to work for a season or long term. The inclusiveness, community events and lifestyle that country living offers is going to become more attractive as the Coronavirus subsides and people focus more on the health and wellbeing of themselves and their families. 

With the arrival of COVID-19, it’s more vital than ever that Australia’s agricultural networks remain working to ensure everyone has continued access to quality fresh produce and groceries.

To support the industry and our fellow Australians, our team has been working hard to implement strict procedures so that our clients feel confident that Agri Labour Australia workers arrive on site healthy, well informed and ready for work.

With our team now already working from home, Agri Labour Australia have readily adapted our stringent screening and training processes to align with government directives and information obtained from the World Health Organisation. any new candidates who arrive in the country must self-isolate for a full fourteen days. These new staff must also declare full details of their travel leading up to their time of arrival into the country.

We have also developed our own COVID-19 training so that workers are fully informed as to the critical hygiene, social distancing and work processes that must be applied to ensure the ongoing safety and wellness for themselves and others. Our candidates know that anyone showing flu like systems must report to their supervisor and immediately self-isolate. Our Head Office will then make the necessary steps to provide support and assistance to the staff member who is unwell.

In addition to our large Australian workforce, we have a diverse range of outstanding people and cultures that make up our highly valued team at Agri Labour Australia. To support this, we’ve ensured our training and direct communications are not just published in English, but also issued to international workers in their first language which includes Mandarin, Malay, Indonesian and Estonian.

Our ability to tailor our information assists greatly with providing essential support and advice to our candidates which is now issued each week via email and social media to address the rapidly changing situation. This information is also readily available on the Agri Labour Australia’s website – Coronavirus page.

Looking after our people, clients and fellow Australian’s is our primary focus while we continue to support the farmers, producers and other facets of the Australian agriculture industry.

For More Information

Visit the Australian Government’s Coronavirus website or contact the Coronavirus Helpline: 1800 020 030 (all hours)

Our most southern state might be small in size but when it comes to its impact on the Australian agriculture industry, Tasmania is mighty impressive.

Recognised across the globe for its world class produce and some of the cleanest air on the planet, Tasmania plays a pivotal role in supplying the Australian domestic and overseas markets with a variety of produce including dairy, lamb, beef, poultry, salmon and seafood, along with fruit and vegetables and other crops.

With over 40% of the island protected National Park and 28% dedicated to agriculture, Tassie is a produce powerhouse providing endless career opportunities for those that wish to enter the exciting agriculture industry.

Having first established a Tasmanian presence in 2013 with a leading potato operation, Agri Labour Australia has since opened two offices in the ‘Island State’ in Devonport and Hobart, to better connect with our clients and candidates.

Luke Brown, Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Agri Labour Australia was the first representative of the team in Tasmania and believes the agriculture industry operates in a significantly different way to the rest of Australia.

‘Tasmania has a rich, long and very successful history of agriculture and it shows in their communities, values and approach to various challenges. The TAPG (Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group) is also unique in that it represents the primary, secondary and service levels of Tasmanian agriculture – giving voice to all sectors within the Tasmanian ag space through a cohesive and focused state based body that’s dedicated to the success of the industry.’

Luke believes another big plus in Tasmanian agriculture is the commitment to compliance and safety. ‘Our business is extremely focused on only working with clients who are industry compliant to ensure workers are trained, safe, productive and being paid what they should be. We have an extensive national footprint with clients and workers all over Australia – and it’s our Tasmanian operators definitely leading the way in meeting all those industry standards.’

From apples and aquaculture, to medicinal industries, vegetables, FMCG and trades – Agri Labour Australia continues to support primary producers and connect candidates across all corners of the exciting Tasmanian agriculture industry.

The New Year has arrived and for many parts of Australia, it has been a catastrophic beginning across our drought affected country.

Thankfully, we are seeing some promising rain which has been exciting for the farmers and residents in rural NSW and Queensland. While the falls haven’t been enough to fully impact those areas that haven’t seen rain for many years, it’s a positive and welcome start.

While the drought and fires continue to affect the Australian agriculture industry, our team is still very busy recruiting and placing candidates all over the country for the summer harvest and other seasonal primary production activities.

Over a four week time period leading up to 17 January, our recruitment consultants placed 823 candidates in roles all over Australia! From Far North Queensland all the way down to Tasmania, we have been connecting clients with skilled workers in a diverse variety of jobs including; tractor operators, fruit pickers, vegetable packers, electricians, mechanics and other trades, poultry workers, truck drivers, irrigation managers and more.

Our growing numbers of candidate placements during these times of challenge is a strong indication of just how large and resilient the Australian agriculture industry is. It’s also a reflection of the efforts of the Agri Labour Australia Team and our dedication and capability in operationalising skilled workforces across all sectors.

With exciting new initiatives being launched from our business later this year, we are primed and ready for a busy and productive journey in 2020.