Author: Liam Palmer

Agri Labour Australia (ALA) recently had the privilege of attending the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards held on 5 March 2019 in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra. Representing ALA were two of our very own vets; Agri Veterans Program Manager, Tim Chapman and Program Ambassador, Peter Thatcher.

The awards are an exciting annual event that recognise the achievements of organisations and individuals in creating employment opportunities for veterans and supporting their transition into the civilian workforce.

Award finalists in 2018 for our Agri Veterans Program, the ALA team attended in support of our Program which sees us providing career advice and placing returned servicemen and women in agriculture roles all over the country.

Program Manager, Tim Chapman said, ‘This is an excellent event which provided us with the perfect platform to speak to some of the key people involved. It was great to see the Prime Minister and other Ministerial representatives recognising the highly valuable skills and capabilities that defence personnel possess.’

‘ALA’s Program is unique in that we not only provide agriculture recruitment solutions but have also collaborated with Legacy to create our Agri Veterans Family Fund that assists families of fallen ex-service men and women. We are committed to keep building awareness of our Agri Veterans Program and are excited to pursue a meeting with Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester later this year, to explore some further options,’ said Tim.

From grain handlers to farm managers, the Agri Veterans team are always available to discuss role availability and job placements. Get in touch with us today on 1300 247 823

The following article was published in the 3 February 2019 edition of The Sunday Mail, written by Michael Madigan (Regional Reporter).

Farmers crying out for help have tapped an unexpected, and reliable, well of new employees – older workers.

Grey nomads are becoming the new backpackers for Queensland farmers, proving to be steadfast, committed and valued workers.

One major recruiter says the grey-backers comprise up to 10 per cent of the workers on their books.

With the National Farms Federation claiming up to 100,000 farm jobs are going begging across Australia, and discussions about a new class of agricultural visa on the backburner, they are filling an important gap.

Casey Brown, managing director of Agri Labour Australia, says there is enormous potential for older workers to move beyond 10 per cent of their workforce, with numbers set to increase as word spreads of the many opportunities available on properties throughout Australia.

Riding the grey wave sweeping the farms are Queensland couple Terry and Leesa Alexander, both 53, who opted out of the rat race in 2008, choosing to sell their house at Hervey Bay and hit the road in car and caravan.

The Alexanders travel for five months of the year and spend seven months, picking pineapples, mangoes, cotton – wherever unskilled labour is needed.

“We don’t think or talk about retirement – this is retirements and we love it,” Mrs Alexander said.

 

Terry and Leesa Alexander were two pioneers of Agri Labour Australia’s Grey Nomad worker stream. 

If you’re considering following in Terry and Leesa’s footsteps, or if you’re interested in accessing hard working grey nomads helping farmers for agricultural projects, get in touch with the Agri Labour Australia team at [email protected] or 1300 247 823.

The following article by Casey Brown, Managing Director at Agri Labour Australia, was published in The Global Recruiter on 17 December, 2018.

SECTOR WATCH – Casey Brown, managing director, Agri Labour Australia on ‘growing’ the Australian workforce in agriculture.

Australia has a problem. We grow some of the world’s premium fruit and vegetables to meet the demand and appetite of local and international markets and yet we can’t find enough staff to harvest the crops.The term ‘skills shortage’ is being bandied around a lot these days and our sector is anything but immune to this, with the National Farmers Federation revealing there will be an expected shortfall of 100,000 agricultural workers annually. It is a critical issue facing our food producers and if we are to find the staff needed to support our farmers, the labour hire sector needs to be prepared and thinking beyond today’s job sheet.

Changing Visa regulations

The shortfall of workers was impacted by changes in 2017 to eligibility for 457 Temporary (Skilled) Visas restricting those who could use them to enter Australia for work. Following this, we saw changes to Working Holiday Visas (417 Visa) and Work and Holiday Visas (462 Visa).

Now a push by the National Farmers Federation of Australia for a new Agriculture Visa (Ag Visa), strongly backed by the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, has been reinvigorated.

On October 18, 2018, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the National Farmers Federation Congress that the government would “work towards establishing an agricultural visa” giving a renewed push to the program. The Ag Visa had been expected to come into effect before the end of the year, but this has yet to happen much to the frustration of many farmers who are about to kick off their summer harvest seasons.

Finding staff

Given that many agricultural industries have their base in the soil-rich areas around mining basins in regional Australia, they are competing against the comparatively high wages of this sector to secure local staff for their farming roles. It’s a competition the agricultural sector cannot possibly hope to win given the mining sector is one of the highest paying in Australia.

We must continue to look to workers who are prepared to come here from other countries and earn a decent wage, subject to strict oversight by a number of bodies to ensure the worker is not exploited. If, however, Australia is to remain an attractive destination to a prospective seasonal workforce, the labour hire sector needs to be working on ensuring their clients are looking after the welfare of this workforce.

We strongly believe that for us to be effective recruiters for the agricultural sector, we need to interview and vet our clients in much the same way we do our candidates to ensure they are a good fit with the values and ethics of the recruiting organisation.

If you are speaking with a client who is looking to cut corners any way they can and are happy to loosely ‘interpret’ the rights of workers, it is pretty clear how they will treat your contractors. As a recruiter you need to ask yourself if that is something you want be a party to. I don’t know how anyone who would enthusiastically say yes to that one.

I think there are some clear indicators about the kind of employer your client will be. These include:

• Do they have safety documentation in place for each role you are placing? Are there thorough induction and safety training processes?
• What is their understanding and awareness of the industrial relations framework?
• Do they understand the Visa conditions of having an overseas workforce?
• Are there clear position descriptions for each role?
• What is the staff turnover rate and what are the reasons staff give for leaving?
• What is the quality of accommodation like?
• What are their expectations of their workforce and their recruiter?

By working together as a sector to encourage employers to engage in best practice and to educate them where their knowledge of legislation and compliance is lacking, we can raise the standard of our industry.

In doing so, we will also raise our reputation further with those eligible in other countries considering a work visa for Australia and this is going to be our best chance of filling the skills shortage.

As one of Australia’s leading agriculture industry recruitment companies we want to keep our workers safe.

Farms, factories, processing plants, logistics and other agribusiness have a high rate of workplace injury incidents and it’s something Agri Labour Australia are committed to seeing improved.

The nature of the work involved in the agriculture industry can lend itself to accidents that could easily be avoided if everyone took the issue seriously and committed to a culture of safety for themselves and their colleagues at all times.

Machinery such as tractors, quad bikes and forklifts are notorious for causing injury. This is a key reason why Agri Labour Australia ensure that only licenced and experienced operators are eligible for our roles. We also work closely with clients to understand their WHS processes and procedures and assist them in refining areas to prevent potential accidents to our candidates.

Here are the key tips we believe go a long way in keeping you safe so you can enjoy working in the Australian agriculture industry:

• Make sure you receive an on-site induction on day one!
• Wear the recommended PPE for your role at all times.
• If you think something is dangerous, report it to your supervisor immediately.
• Carrying or using your mobile phone while working in an agricultural role is generally prohibited – your Instagram story can wait!
• Many agricultural jobs are in a dusty environment – if you have any dust allergies or asthma it’s important that you are honest about this. It’s your health at stake!
• Be aware of any machinery operating (like a forklift or tractor) around you and keep clear
• If you are not trained and signed off to use machinery/equipment, you must avoid using it until you have been fully trained.
• Helmets on quad or other motor bikes are a necessity. The injury and death statistics as a result of the incorrect use of these vehicles is frightening.
• Safety procedures are there for you and your team mate’s protection – ensure you follow them.
• If you work outside – be aware of sun safety. The Australian sun is much harsher than other countries. Wear a hat, collared shirt with long sleeves, sunscreen and sunglasses (if permitted).
• If you see a snake, do not attempt to chase it away or pick it up – alert your supervisor immediately.
• Heat stroke can and does happen to anyone – keep drinking water at all times!
• Never forsake safety for speed!

Keeping safe sees you and your colleagues getting home at the end of the day.

For more information on work safety tips visit Safe Work Australia

We are pleased to announce the winner of our Instagram photo competition and $500 cash – it’s @seulkca with their winning shot of one of Agri Labour Australia’s hard-working blueberry pickers!

Arms laden with freshly picked blueberries from the orchard behind them, the vibrant and unmistakable blue of the Australian sky and the efforts of the picker plain to see, we think this shot captures the lot!

We had so many great entries in response to our competition. In the end, we raised $490 for Australia’s drought-stricken farmers through our charity partner Buy a Bale.

While the drought has eased for some, it’s still ongoing for many others. We urge everyone to get behind charities such as Buy a Bale to provide that much-needed support and relief to Australia’s farming communities at Christmas time.

Thank you so much to our entrants for all their incredible shots – it certainly wasn’t easy to choose just one winner!

For more information, contact Agri Labour Australia on 1300 247 823.

Working in the Australian agriculture industry is an exciting and highly rewarding experience where no two seasons are the same. Our country offers so much diversity in terms of crops, climate, incredible scenery and lifestyle if you’re willing to give things a go! There are also plenty of different types of farm work available, which keeps life interesting.

As one of Australia’s leading agriculture recruiters, we see many applications from job candidates each week. We’ve refined our processes for identifying the most suitable candidates for a job and the key attributes we look for when reading through applications.

Here are our tips for what makes an outstanding candidate and a few things to keep in mind when applying for an agriculture role:

 

Flexibility & Availability  

 Agriculture work is seasonal and can be extremely weather-dependent, which means job start and finish dates can vary greatly. As we say in the office: “Workers look to the recruiters, recruiters look to the farmers and farmers look to the sky.”

• Tip – Patience and flexibility is important and can often lead to other roles in the future if you are readily available and prepared to adapt to changing harvest and season demands.

 

Transport

Having your own car is a huge bonus when applying for agriculture roles. Your opportunities are greater due to your ability to travel instead of needing roles with onsite accommodation or relying on others to get you to work.

• Tip – Consider buying a car to increase your job choices and travel opportunities.

 

Licences & Qualifications

To legally operate machinery in Australia, you must hold relevant licences. Many employers are looking for people with experience in driving forklifts and trucks and are often prepared to pay more for those licensed skills.

• Tip – Obtain machinery licences/qualifications to increase your job options.

 

Honesty

Honesty pays off! As your recruiter, we would rather know upfront if you are unable to commit to a whole season or if you’re planning to move on. That way, we can find the right job to better suit your needs.

Some jobs require drug and alcohol testing, which can be problematic to you in the long term if you fail. If you’re unsure about this in any way, please talk to us so we can assist you through the process.

• Tip – Be as open and honest as possible with your recruiters. It will save everyone a lot of time in the long run. We are genuinely here to help and offer confidential discussions if you need us.

 

Here are some more quick tips to help you be a great candidate:

• Be reliable! Working hard, doing what you say you will and turning up on time each day will definitely help you stand out from the crowd.
• Be committed to the job – it can lead to better positions and long-term work relationships.
• Be prepared to work your way up. Performing well in a lesser role shows recruiters and employers you’re a willing worker who’s as an asset to any team. This is always helpful for future roles!
• Travelling alone makes it much easier to hire you.
• Always be polite – good manners go a long way in getting people to help you find work.
• Be positive and patient – recruiters will take note of your attitude.
• Don’t be too choosy – if you are contacted for a few work opportunities and don’t accept any, you may not receive further contact.
• Keep in touch with us regularly to show you’re keen to work.
• Be professional and maintain your working relationships.
• Ask for references or permission to contact your previous employers.

 

For more information and to apply for jobs with Agri Labour Australia, visit our job board or call 1300 247 823.

This year National Agriculture Day (Ag Day) is celebrating the ‘good’ Australian farmers do each year with their #GrowForGood campaign.

Our country enjoys some of the world’s best produce – with our farmers working tirelessly to provide us with the finest cotton and wool and readily available food that is safe and nutritious.

Australian farmers are among the most self-sufficient in the world – they don’t just grow crops or raise animals – farmers improve the sustainability of the land, donate to food relief charities and feed more people every year.

The agriculture industry provides short and long term employment opportunities for Australians and our international neighbours, while also significantly boosting the economy and populations of rural and regional areas.

In acknowledgement of Ag Day on 21 November and our significant role in agriculture recruitment across the country, Agri Labour Australia is hosting the ‘Ag-Limpics’. This one off special event will see the Agri Labour Australia team displaying their athletic skills in a range of events that showcase the produce and industries of some of our clients! The team will be participating in:

• Egg and spoon race
• Mushroom dexterity challenge
• Potato sack race
• Pin the tail on the pig
• Guess how many blueberries in the jar!

We’ll also be hosting a BBQ in honour of our beef farmers #GrowForGood

Click here for more information on National Agriculture Day!

With some of the country’s largest annual harvests about to commence and the need for agricultural workers more pressing than ever, the Australian federal government has announced changes to two visa programs in an effort to better support farmers and regional communities.

The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program will soon have some of its restrictions relaxed. From July 2019, visa holders (from subclass 417 and 462) will be able to stay in the country for up to three years – provided they complete six months of regional agricultural work during their second year. The Australian government is also allowing WHM visa-holders to work for the same employer for 12 months in response to increasing agricultural work opportunities.

Prior to the changes, Working Holiday Maker (subclass 462) visa-holders were only able to complete their regional days in Northern Australia. The new changes have opened up additional locations in Southern Australia that count towards the regional total.

This gives farmers an easier pathway for recruiting agricultural workers and will boost the economies of regional communities outside of Northern Australia. Increased numbers of workers across the country will be hugely beneficial for farmers, who will be able to achieve better continuity with crops and reduce the expense of training new workers.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, a total of 210,456 WHM visas (subclass 417 and subclass 462) were granted in 2017-18. As at 30 June 2018, there were a total of 134,909 WHM visa-holders in Australia.

These are significant numbers that are expected to grow with the introduction of the visa changes later this year. Backpackers have been a staple in agriculture recruitment for decades. By providing more flexibility and a greater scope for working and travelling across the country, the Government hopes these WHM visa-holders will be attracted to regional areas that were previously off limits.

Agri Labour Australia fully welcomes these changes, which enable us to more efficiently provide our clients with solutions to their agricultural worker needs in all regions of Australia.

November heralds the beginning of stubble and strange wispy chin hairs on men from all corners of the globe as they embark on their facial hair journey to raise funds for the Movember Foundation.

As the leading charity striving to change men’s health, Movember addresses some of the biggest issues faced by men, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

The Agri Labour Australia team is always keen to inspire, entertain and build awareness for a great cause, and Movember is one of their favourites. With male suicide rates, injuries and disease significantly higher in rural locations, the team at Agri Labour Australia are committed to assist the change through fund (and hair) raising for the Foundation.

We aim to raise $1000 by growing our our mo’s and for our fresh faces that aren’t quite up to the task we’ll also be participating in ‘Move for Movember’, where you can walk or run 60km during the month.

While men’s health remains a serious issue, Movember is a fun, easy and healthy way of raising money for a great charity.

Please help us reach our target by visiting https://moteam.co/agri-mo-australia?mc=1

Be sure to check out our ‘facial progress’ on Instagram

For more information on Movember, visit their site: https://au.movember.com/