Author: sketch corp.

If you’re at the stage of life where you’re ready to travel and save money for your future, farm work in Australia allows you to do both. Agri Labour Australia’s working holiday makers get to travel the country exploring some of the world’s most fascinating natural attractions while earning a good wage doing farm work. Our farm work roles offer the opportunity to see places that many people – including Australians – have never seen, and maybe even kickstart a career in agriculture. 

With the Aussie ag industry accounting for about 55% of the nation’s land use, farm work can be found across the country all year ‘round. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy life on the land and the new experiences that come with it, but if you’ve never done agricultural work before, you may have a few questions. Candidates often want to know:

What is farm work in Australia?

Are farm workers essential in Australia?

How do I get a farm job in Australia?

How much does farm work pay in Australia?

What season is best for finding farm work in Australia?

Where is best for farm work in Australia?

How do I become a fruit picker in Australia?

How long can you stay in Australia without doing farm work?

How do I get a job as a backpacker in Australia?

Is agriculture a good career in Australia?

Ready for a working holiday in Australia?

What is farm work in Australia?

Farm work in Australia refers to any work opportunity on a farm. These opportunities include jobs in horticulture, aquaculture, livestock, poultry, meat processing and more – and depending on the season, there are often plenty available. Australian farms employ a large number of overseas visitors each year. In 2021, data from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment showed that the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries employed an average of 325,000 people over the course of a year. 

Are farm workers essential in Australia?

YES! Farm workers are essential not only to Australia’s economy, but also to national food supply. Farmers across the country produce more than 90% of food consumed in Australia, and that’s not all they do. According to the National Farmers’ Federation, agricultural businesses also make a significant contribution to improved environmental outcomes, particularly as they occupy and maintain as much as 51% of the country’s land. 

What type of work is done on a farm?

The term “farm work” covers a wide range of agricultural sectors and roles, with opportunities varying by season and location. Key industries include horticulture, cropping, livestock, meat processing, poultry, aquaculture, cotton, FMCG labour hire, and storage and handling, and many of these industries require skilled and unskilled seasonal workers each year. Depending on the season and your skill set, you could even find work in a fishery or a horse breeding operation. 

Can I work on a farm in Australia?

People of many nationalities, ages and stages of life can find work on Australian farms, provided that they have the appropriate visa for the work they intend to do. As international candidates are required to complete an often-involved application process, it’s also important to consider whether a farm job is right for you. Those well-suited to farm work in Australia generally meet the following criteria: 

• Right to work in Australia. International visitors will need to submit a few essential documents and pay an application fee in order to obtain the appropriate visa for the work they intend to do. While the visa application process is not the only stage in the search for work, it is one of the most important as it determines eligibility to work.  
• Physical fitness. Work in the agricultural industry can be physically demanding, often involving long days and repetitive physical movements, and certain roles require a degree of physical fitness. 
• Attitude. A can-do attitude goes a long way in the agriculture industry, particularly during busy seasons when the workload is more intense. The ability to take challenges in stride and carry on can make a candidate a major asset to any farming operation.
• Experience. With many positions available and suitable for unskilled workers, experience is not essential in the agriculture industry; however, experienced candidates may be more attractive prospects for employers or be able to secure higher paying positions.

How do I get a farm job in Australia?

Finding farm work in Australia often means going through a recruitment specialist – and for good reason. Working with an agriculture recruitment company that prioritises compliance and workers’ health and safety is the best way to ensure that all arrangements are above-board and in your best interests.  

For candidates with little-to-no agriculture experience, entry-level farm jobs are great opportunities to make a start in the field – you just have to know where to look. Here are a few reliable starting points: 

• Go through a specialist recruitment agency. Again, this is a great option if you’re new to the agriculture industry and want access to a wide variety of roles that align with the type of work you want to do. Agriculture recruitment specialists – like the team at Agri Labour Australia – know what employers are looking for in potential new hires and can help you present yourself as an attractive candidate for employers. 
• Search online job boards. Online search is a quick and easy way to find jobs across many industries, and agriculture is no exception. Rather than searching the vast collection of internet search results, candidates can find industry-specific, compliant job opportunities via the Agri Labour Australia job board. 
• Join a harvest. These major seasonal events run year-round across Australia, and thousands of workers are needed to ensure their success. This makes harvests an ideal opportunity to connect with employers or recruiters and demonstrate your skills and work ethic in an agricultural role. With any luck, strong performance will lead to further work opportunities – whether you want to stay for a month or two, or secure recurring work that takes you all the way from January to December. To find out more about upcoming harvest opportunities with Agri Labour Australia, click here. 

How much does farm work pay in Australia?

While there are some very well-paid job opportunities to be found on Australian farms, the pay rate you can expect to receive depends on the job, the location and the season. In any case, minimum rates are in line with legislation – and with extra hours on offer during seasonal peaks, committed workers have the opportunity to boost their earnings. 

What season is best for finding farm work in Australia? 

Australia’s agriculture industry has job opportunities all year ‘round, but roles can vary widely depending on the season. During the first half of the year, opportunities are plentiful along the East coast and in the south, with the rice, hops, vegetable and almond harvests in full swing and the cotton and citrus harvests running from April to October. Then during the summer months, Queensland has the pick of the harvest roles, with mangoes and grain in season. 

Not sure what time of year will be best for you? Farmers across the country are always looking for workers. Whether you plan your farm work experience around a particular role or location or extend it with a variety of seasonal positions, work opportunities are plentiful around Australia! 

Where is best for farm work in Australia?

While farm workers are needed in every part of Australia, the best opportunities are often dictated by the seasonal produce. Queensland is rich in farm work opportunities, being home to produce-rich locations like the Atherton Tablelands, Bowen, Ayr and Stanthorpe, where avocados, mangos, vegetables and citrus are in strong supply. Alternatively, if a trip to New South Wales or Victoria is on your mind, for example, you may find work picking grapes, citrus fruits or stone fruits. Meanwhile, the Tasmanian aquaculture industry is swimming with opportunity, and the cherries and berries are ripe for the picking. Wherever you go, there’s plenty of adventure to be had! 

How do I become a fruit picker in Australia?

Fruit picking jobs are suitable for unskilled, inexperienced workers and available year-round on seasonal harvests, making them ideal entry points to the Aussie ag industry. However, as these jobs typically involve long days and hard physical work, they may be unsuitable for some applicants. In any case, it’s important to read up on each role before applying so that you can make an informed decision. 

How long can you stay in Australia without doing farm work?

If you or someone you know has come to Australia on a temporary visa, student visa or working holiday visa, you may have heard that farm work can be a great opportunity to make the most of your travels. Visitors who want to secure, extend or renew one of these visas may be required to fulfil a set work quota – generally 88 days – on a farm. Visitors to Australia who choose not to do so can stay in the country for a maximum of three consecutive years. 

How do I get a job as a backpacker in Australia?

If you’re looking for temporary work that gives you the opportunity to travel and experience backpacker life, there are several options available to you. 

• Apply through a recruitment agency. If you have never worked in the Australian agriculture industry, going through a recruitment agency may be the best option for you. Specialist recruitment professionals know the industry and what employers are looking for. They can help you find and secure a position that works for you while making sure that everything is above board and compliant so you can focus on working and earning. 
• Check online job boards. The Agri Labour Australia job board includes industry-specific listings from a wide range of agriculture employers. Broader platforms like Seek and Gumtree can also be good starting points. 
• Check backpacker job boards. Similar to standard job boards, backpacker job boards feature opportunities which are well-suited to travellers seeking short-term opportunities. 

What qualifications do you need to work on a farm?

Many jobs in the Aussie agriculture industry are suitable for unskilled workers and require no qualification or experience. Even if you’re new to the industry, a willingness to learn and work hard may be enough to help you secure an entry-level position. However, some jobs can only be performed by semi-skilled workers – for example, those with a licence to operate forklifts or other heavy machinery. No matter which sector you want to work in, obtaining relevant licences is a great way to make yourself more attractive as a candidate. 

Ready for a working holiday in Australia? 

For international visitors chasing a new adventure, there are many reasons to travel and explore this great country. If you’re considering taking a working holiday in the land down under, it’s important to consider the type of work that will best suit your skills and availability. Choose carefully and you’ll have the opportunity to develop new skills and make unforgettable memories with new friends from all over the world, like the many candidates who have become part of #myagrifamily. To find out more about what it’s like to work in the Aussie ag industry, check out candidate testimonials or read stories from our past candidates on our blog. 

Talk to the agricultural recruitment specialists  

If you’re looking for work in the Australian agriculture industry, Agri Labour Australia has a wide range of opportunities to suit your skills, availability and – for international visitors – travel plans. We have been recruiting workers in the agricultural industry since 2010, and our candidate care policy makes us an employer of choice for thousands of workers across our international networks. When you secure a position with Agri Labour Australia, you don’t just take a job – you become part of a family, and our thousands-strong #myagrifamily candidate network is always growing.

Want to join us on a job and gain experience in Australia’s agriculture industry? Click here to search available jobs.

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, gain valuable work experience and earn money that you can put towards a better financial future for your family – and now, there’s another great reason to join us in Australia.  

As part of our industry-leading wellness program, we are excited to announce that former rugby league and rugby union star Lote Tuqiri has joined us as a PALM Scheme Cultural Ambassador. 

Born in Korolevu, Fiji, Lote moved with his family to Brisbane when he was 15 years old. He later represented both Australia and Fiji in rugby league and also played rugby union for Australia.

Since retiring from professional football, Lote has remained a long-standing role model for many Pacific Islanders and an active member of local communities through his many sporting and business endeavours. 

As a Cultural Ambassador, Lote will be responsible for leading our community engagement program and ensuring that all workers have the support, connections and inspiration to do their best work. 

His role is part of our comprehensive engagement program for workers which includes a range of initiatives, from training and social events to quarterly awards. 

Whether you’re working towards building a family home, starting a business, sending your kids to school, or any other financial goal, the PALM Scheme can help you get ahead of the game. 

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the opportunities available through the PALM Scheme, get in touch with Agri Labour Australia today on 1300 247 823. 

 

As an approved employer of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, Agri Labour Australia is committed to providing Pacific Islanders with opportunities to work in Australia and send money home to their families.

We always take great pride in the successes of the workers who make the most of these opportunities – workers like Israel “Issy” Kabsman from the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara.

A husband, father, leader and chef extraordinaire, Issy fulfils many roles in his community and has also become a valued member of the Agri Labour Australia poultry team.

While he loves joking around as much as the next crew member, Issy is serious about making the most of the time he spends away from his wife and kids.

Since arriving in Australia in August 2021, Issy has been working hard to build a home for himself and his family in Honiara.

Just ten months in, Issy is close to achieving his goal using the money he has earned through his agricultural work.

While he is missing his wife and kids and their weekly picnics at Kakabona Beach, Issy is looking forward to enjoying a financially stable future with his family when he returns home.

To find out more about PALM scheme opportunities and how you can join us in Australia, fill in the enquiry form on our website.

 

After a two-year interruption due to COVID-19, we’re looking forward to exhibiting at the 2022 Poultry Information Exchange (PIX) and Australasian Milling Conference (AMC). The event will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from Sunday 15 May until Tuesday 17 May.

“Beyond 2020 – Feeding the Future” is the theme of this year’s conference, which will feature the latest in innovation and information from industry experts around the world.

The comprehensive program will focus on chicken meat, egg production, free range and organic farming, flour milling and feed milling for all livestock species – including beef, dairy, pigs and others. Workshops on numerous special interest areas encompassing all aspects of the poultry industry will also be on offer.

Leaders from the Agri Labour Australia and Agri Talent team will be stationed at stand 240, and we hope you’ll come to see us should you also be attending.

ALA co-founder Luke Brown said he was looking forward to the return of the event: “We’re all excited to attend and present at the PIX conference again this year. The pandemic has brought about so many challenges for poultry farmers, particularly in terms of labour, and we’re looking forward to participating in the discussion of innovative solutions with industry stakeholders and exhibitors.”

At Agri Labour Australia, we understand that the idea of relocating to work in Australia can be as daunting as it is exciting. That’s why we’re here to help you understand the process and make it easier. 

As a Government-approved employer of the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS), we give candidates from participating countries the opportunity to secure work in the agricultural industry for up to three years at a time. This gives you plenty of time to settle into and explore your temporary home.

With guaranteed fair working conditions and competitive wages, you’ll be able to make your overseas working experience count towards school fees or bigger financial goals like building a house. Plus, you’ll be able to experience all the beauty and adventure Australia has to offer when you’re not working.

Once you become a member of “My Agri Family”, we’ll do whatever we can to make sure you get value out of your experience. Don’t just take our word for it, though – watch the short video below to see life in Australia through the eyes of some of our candidates from the Pacific Islands. 

When our company started in 2010, we were determined to create a real community within the Australian agriculture industry – one where our workers feel safe, valued and supported, and part of a wider family. To do this, we knew we had to prioritise building personal relationships between our recruiters and our candidates – it’s been ingrained in our ethos from the start. 

At Agri Labour Australia we make sure everyone sees their role as more than just a job, because it really is. Our recruiters are trained to go the extra mile for our candidates, and we encourage them to build genuine friendships – offering support throughout their placement and beyond.  

We also want our candidates to have a memorable and fun experience working for us – we know that, for many people, working in an agriculture role will be a time of life they never forget. That’s why we actively encourage team bonding, with supportive group chats led by our recruiters, and regular social meet-ups between them and candidates. 

Overall, we’re really proud of the community we’ve created at Agri Labour Australia. The positive feedback we receive from candidates is so important to us, and it’s helped shape the company we are today. We’ve put together a video that shows both candidates and recruiters talking about what it’s like to be part of our family here at ALA – we hope you enjoy it, and we’d love you to join us.

As Agri Labour Australia celebrates ten years of providing reliable workforces exclusively to the agriculture industry, co-founders and brothers Casey and Luke Brown are looking back over a hugely successful decade of mud, sweat and cheers.

In the early days of Agri Labour Australia, the challenges of establishing the business weren’t just operational and financial – they were sometimes physical, too. We still vividly remember Luke driving between remote business meetings in a battered old Hilux with no air con. Having to take back-to-back phone meetings in the car in order to grow the business, he couldn’t roll down the windows for the entire journey – resulting in him arriving at his destination drenched in sweat and decidedly less than fresh on more than one occasion.

We were born and raised in rural Goondiwindi, and a respect for the agriculture industry was instilled in us from a very young age. As country boys, we saw how extreme the agriculture industry can be – the recent drought, bushfires and floods are examples of how devastating an impact the weather can have on our farmers. Determined to support such a crucial industry, we created a company that’s grown and evolved to now be the leading labour hire agency for Australian agriculture – to date we’ve provided over 33,200 staff to 302 agricultural operations across 288 different locations.

At Agri Labour Australia, we’ve intentionally built an internal culture where every team-member appreciates how important the agriculture industry is, as well as the unique challenges it faces. With thin margins, tough conditions and many moving parts, the sector isn’t for the fainthearted, and everyone in the company understands the associated pressures. This is a stressful industry – we’re dealing with people’s livelihoods and we never forget that. It’s a hugely varied sector, and the highlights of the last decade encompass the scope of Agri Labour Australia’s reach.

In the last ten years, we’re proud to have founded Agri Veterans – a program that aims to bridge the gap between deployment and employment for Australia’s ex-servicemen and women, and lets us harness our knowledge of Australia’s agriculture industry in order to give back. We’ve also provided work opportunities for hundreds of grey nomads as they traverse the country.

Currently the agriculture sector has more jobs than Australians to fill them, and our foreign worker initiatives have been so successful that farmers are now able to go straight to foreign streams for project labour. We’ve helped refugees find employment, sanctuary and community – witnessing trauma-survivors begin to thrive as they learn new skills and integrate with local communities. We’re proud to have helped people find work who are ultimately sponsored and have the opportunity to live in our great country – settling into (and supporting the economy of) regional towns and communities throughout Australia.

Agri Labour Australia’s first mango project was a notable milestone – an undertaking that resulted in a team successfully picking 2 million mangoes by hand under extreme conditions, and saw Luke going back and forth to fetch ice for the workers. This personal, human-centred approach is an integral part of the Agri Labour Australia DNA – for us, our role has never been about simply posting a vacancy on a job-board and simply sitting back.

A less happy milestone was the recent and highly publicised issues we experienced with piece-rate payment – one of the most challenging things we’ve faced, not only as a company, but ourselves personally. The silver lining to the situation was resolving to put compliance and safety even more firmly at the centre of everything we do, and we’re now leading the industry in this respect. We’ve implemented rigorous due diligence – if clients aren’t up-to-scratch from a compliance and safety perspective, or if they don’t have the willingness to become so, we simply won’t partner with them. We’ve developed sophisticated systems to ensure every worker and client we’re involved with is compliant, and it’s become a key part of our service-offering to clients – we educate them on what they need to do and tell them how risk can be mitigated. We have aspirations to drive the most compliant, safety-focused and productive workforce in Australia, and our learnings from this turbulent period have only strengthened that resolve.

In an industry in which a handshake still holds huge weight, the future of Agri Labour Australia will see us combine new innovation, technology and processes with the old-fashioned values that underpin everything we do. Embracing data and technology will enable us to become even more efficient, with deeper client engagement that aligns with our values, and the systems and processes we’re continually fine-tuning will help us manage the quality we’re known for as we continue to grow.  On top of our mission to educate the industry around compliance and safety, we’re committed to improving the sector as a whole, as well as showcasing the clients we work with.

A decade down the road, Agri Labour Australia is so much more than labour hire – we partner with our clients to get their job done. Our reputation for excellence is such that clients now engage us to manage more than just people – our team provides training and onboarding, and helps ensure companies meet standards and compliance. Agriculture as an industry is one of huge extremes – of weather, of trade and of swiftly-changing political landscapes. At Agri Labour Australia we firmly believe that the more the industry can unite and collaborate, the stronger it is when those inevitable situations arise – and subsequently, the more prosperous it can become.

After the driest autumn in over 100 years, widespread drought across key parts of agricultural Australia is affecting crop prospects and communities.

Between March and May 2018, rainfall in Australia was a hefty 57mm below average. This marks 2018 as the driest autumn since the 1902 Federation drought.

Large swathes of New South Wales, western Queensland, eastern South Australia and north-west Victoria have been affected, with the BOM saying decent rain may not arrive until February next year.

Why so dry?

BOM senior climatologist Dr Blair Trewin told the ABC that, in the case of New South Wales, dry conditions are being caused by the non-appearance of the weather systems which usually bring rain.

“During the summer, you’re often looking at a feed of tropical moisture, when you get moisture feeding in from the tropical monsoon coming south,” he said. “But that didn’t really happen this year. All the rain stayed in the tropics.”

Devastating impact on producers

The worsening big dry is having a significant impact on some of our farmers. At Agri Labour Australia, we’re seeing cases where broadacre growers and storage and handling clients are expecting shrinking harvests next year because of the 2018 drought.

Knock-on effect on labour demand

Many dry land farming regions are in damage control which means a vast majority of casual and seasonal labour is on hold until it rains.

Fortunately, there are some commodities that remain unaffected by the drought, including our horticulture and poultry clients. There are plenty of roles still available year-round within these industries.

We can all lend a hand

To support those worst affected by the drought, there are a number of admirable charities in place that offer tangible support for farmers and their families.

Agri Labour Australia has pledged its support to ‘Buy A Bale’, where you can purchase hay, water, groceries, diesel to carry hay or make a general donation.

Other Agri Labour Australia-approved charities include:

• https://aussiehelpers.org.au
• https://www.redcross.org.au/drought?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9vqGlYLp3AIVT7aWCh2CowbEEAAYASAAEgJKNfD_BwE
• https://www.droughtangels.org.au

 

– Agri Labour Australia

This week, the Agri Labour Australia are exhibiting at the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast. From Tuesday 7 August until Thursday 9 August, you’ll find us at Booth 72 at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The Cotton Conference is all about connecting new and experienced farmers, agronomists and researchers, brands and marketers, students, supply chain partners, industry groups and cotton groupies. Together, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities facing cotton, share and learn from one another, and listen to some of the world’s best cotton experts.

Our Managing Director, Account Managers, Permanent Recruitment Managers and People & Culture Manager are holding the fort at Booth 72. We encourage all attendees to stop by and hear about our workforce optimisation capabilities and latest cotton recruitment projects.