Category: Agri Labour

October is National Work Safe Month – a great initiative from Safe Work Australia delivering this year’s message of ‘Be A Safety Champion’.

Agriculture is an exciting industry that offers a wide range of opportunities all over the country. Like many others, agriculture jobs can pose a wide range of risks and hazards that see workers exposed to heavy machinery, chemicals, animals, noise, dust, sun exposure and other extreme elements along with accidents involving power tools, falls and factory equipment.

There’s no doubt work risks can be high but with tighter laws now in place, real improvements to workplace safety statistics are being evidenced across Australian agriculture. The ‘Be A Safety Champion’ campaign raises awareness and further supports those all-important government regulations that see employers being accountable and legally obligated to uphold safety compliance standards for their workers.

However, it’s not just employers who hold the responsibility of safety – it’s workers, managers and those visiting the business who also have a requirement to take reasonable care at all times. As the campaign states, ‘Anyone can be a safety champion and promote best practice work health and safety initiatives at work. We all have a duty and responsibility to build a safe and healthy workplace.’

Dedicated to Safety

Safety is our number 1 priority at Agri Labour Australia and something we continuously work at improving. As at December 2019, our Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIFR) has reduced by 68% since 2015/16 and our Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIFR) has reduced by 48% in the same time.

Agri Labour Australia, Managing Director, Casey Brown says, ‘While it is positive that our statistics are improving, they still need to be better. We are continuously refining and reviewing our safety processes which sees us now ensuring our candidates only go into workplaces that are compliant and meeting all the necessary safety regulations. Our stringent induction processes make sure our workers are fully trained in their safety responsibilities and skilled in identifying and mitigating those potential risks.’

For more information on how you can ‘Be A Safety Champion’ visit WorkSafe Australia

Merryn Gilham has been a valued member of the Agri Labour Australia candidate team for almost one year. Initially registered with an external job service provider, Merryn applied for a role through ALA and has been doing a fantastic job since ever since.

Working at the Costa Group Mushroom Exchange in Spreyton Tasmania, Merryn has been selected to be our Candidate Conversation by Tasmania Area Manager, Melissa Britt because of an outstanding work ethic and exceptional attitude to her job – proving that age is no barrier to being a great employee.

What are the main tasks you perform?

Harvesting mushrooms to the required size and grade according to specifications and packing to a good quality and presentation into boxes.

What’s the best part about your job?

The challenge of doing something, which I have not done previously and continually endeavouring to do the work quickly, efficiently and to the company’s standards.

What skills have you learned since joining the Agri Labour Australia team?

Time-management, organisation, thinking ahead and working in a team environment where the work each person does impacts on others.

What is the most challenging part of your work?

Not to be complacent, to continually aim to do better than the day before.

What are your career goals?

As an older employee approaching retirement, my message is to assure an employer that if a potential employee shows interest, demonstrates a willingness to work outside their skillset, there is good reason to employ mature age employees and those from diverse work backgrounds.

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

I am not sure how I have grown or changed as a person, but the experience has given me the ability to be flexible in a work routine, which then relates to life in general.  Similarly, anticipating and taking the least number of steps to perform a task efficiently, but more quickly.

What would you tell other people who are considering working for Agri Labour Australia?

ALA is a very good intermediary between workers and the host company.  Their Account Manager is able to relate equally to employees and the employer and resolve any concerns, misunderstandings or problems.  Plus, correspondence and payroll information received from administration is responsive and clear, which is great, especially for new employees.

Where to from here?

Whilst there is a place for me in my current employment, I would hope to remain with ALA and with the host company to see what level of competency I am able to achieve.

Favourite place in Australia and why?

Without hesitation, Tasmania! Our little island at the bottom of the world still has large areas of unspoiled wilderness, accessible and beautiful coastline, beaches, lakes, rivers and mountains and a ‘clean, green environment.  I’ve noticed more in recent times that there are more people from other backgrounds coming here, creating a diverse multi-cultural communities which reflects so positively in many aspects of life.

Tasmania’s primary industry is now diversifying in to grapes, berries, poppies, pyrethrum, dairy products, seafood and all the commercial and artisan food and beverage products that so many people love. I’m a very proud Tasmanian and am excited by the continuing and very positive economic, employment and tourism future for this wonderful state!

Spring has arrived in Australia and in the more northern areas of the country, so has a distinct change in season. Noticeably warmer days with the sun allowing for earlier starts and later finishes, Spring is the season that marks an abundance of growth and activity across the Australian agriculture sector.

While the absence of spring rain and ongoing drought has most certainly made things challenging for many primary producers, the demand for workers remains high and the team at Agri Labour Australia have been busily recruiting a range of skilled staff for our many agriculture clients.

From machine operators for the much anticipated North Queensland mango season and forklift drivers servicing the Australian grain harvest in NSW, down to citrus workers in Victoria and vegetable pickers in Tasmania – farms all over the country are hugely active at this time of the year.

Spring also sees the arrival of many overseas backpackers looking for work – it’s a great time of year to start building skills for the harvest trail or other farm work while travelling and enjoying the diversity of this amazing country.

With over 300,000 people employed within the Australian agriculture industry, it is one of the largest industries in the country and provides a countless opportunities for those seeking to find work within the field.

Casey Brown, Managing Director, Agri Labour Australia says, ‘Australia’s has over 394 million hectares of farmland located in vastly differing geographies and climate. This in itself allows for diversity of produce all over the country and delivers a constant demand for agriculture workers across all states and territories at any given time of the year, most especially in spring and summer.’

Whether it’s horticulture, livestock, poultry or one of the many other industry areas within agriculture, Spring is an exciting time for agribusiness and paves the way for the bumper summer produce that is just around the corner.

This week officially heralded the beginning of the Bushfire season with fires affecting every state and territory of Australia – most significantly in South East Queensland and around the NSW border.

These devastating fires that fiercely damaged homes and land in Stanthorpe, Mt Tamborine and Peregian Beach over the last week are very much a part of the ongoing drought that’s been challenging rural and regional communities in Queensland, NSW and South Australia since the start of 2017.

With hotter than normal temperatures over the last two summers and drier than usual winters – Australia’s annual rains have failed to arrive in many of our major farming areas and, as the drought goes on, the threat of fire increases drastically.

The continuing drought has a major impact on the agriculture sector – from livestock, wool and dairy jobs, to vegetables and grain, with farmers everywhere experiencing huge challenges as they try to maintain production with little or no water.

Partnering with our clients who range from family owned farming operations to ASX listed agribusiness, the Agri Labour Australia recruitment team are always at the forefront of the industry and seeing the changes in demand for workers in some areas.

While Victoria is set for a bumper crop, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the annual Australian Grain Harvest in Queensland will be down 60% less than its ten year average and NSW, more than 50% less.

This kind of economic impact resulting from drought is far reaching – businesses, families and workers are all hurt financially, followed by the impact on their rural communities and the diminishment of key services such as education, retail and medical in those areas.

For those of you who have friends and family affected by the fires and this epic drought, we urge you to lend your support through these tough times.

In the spirit of R U OK? Day on 12 September, it’s a good time to make a call or pay a visit to see how our rural and regional friends are really doing.

The Australian poultry industry is a thriving one. It is also one of the industries that doesn’t fall ‘foul’ of the issues so many other crop and livestock producers experience with seasons, weather and other environmental factors affecting their output and profitability.

The stability of the poultry industry is just one of the many reasons why it’s an excellent field to pursue a career in.  It’s this continuity across industry that allows for longevity in jobs, which in turn develops individual skill sets and opens pathways for legitimate career progression.

While disease has been an issue in the past, the strict Australian biosecurity measures and animal welfare standards now in place do an excellent job in protecting the industry, its workers and the birds – making it a great choice for people looking at safe and steady employment options.

The Australian poultry industry also offers excellent renumeration with many employers often provide great wage incentives and employment packages for staff that include accommodation, vehicle plus a great salary as a starting point.

Candidates who are considering a career in the poultry industry don’t need trades or a specific skillset. Tim Chapman, GM Permanent Recruitment, Agri Labour Australia says ‘The Poultry industry is one where you can really build your career and earning capacity quickly. For those just starting out, we welcome people who display good common sense and a great work ethic. For management roles, you need to be a forward thinker, skilled in people management, equipped with computer skills and good with numbers.

Tim adds, ‘We have also seen some of our ALA workers transition into management roles over the space of twelve months.  It’s all a matter of being able to quickly pick up the skills they needed, showing a commitment to the job and being proactive at all times.’

What Can You Expect to Earn in the Poultry Industry?

• Farm Hand                 $45 – $50K
• Farm 2IC                     $50 -$70K
• Manager                      $70 – $90K
• Site Manager              $90 – $110K
• Operations Manager $100 – $130K
• State Manager            $130 – $140K
• General Manager       $150K +

At Agri Labour Australia we’ve been working with some of the country’s largest egg and chicken meat producers for over a decade, delivering a range of employment solutions for their needs. From broiler farms and breeders, to rearing and laying across traditional and organic organisations – we know the industry inside out and work with the best operators in the business. Stay tuned for poultry hire & poultry recruitment updates.

 

A Growing Force in the Field

Historically the Australian agricultural workforce has been one predominately male, with women playing critical, yet often ‘behind the scenes’ roles. In earlier times, women were usually in unpaid work – dedicating their time and support towards the family farm or volunteering in various ways to help their local businesses and communities.

However, over the last decade there has been a significant rise in the number of women becoming more visible in paid jobs across the agriculture employment landscape. This is an exciting and much welcome change to the industry and of particular interest to the Agri Labour Australia recruitment teams.

From fruit picking and cotton ginning to poultry and piggery attendants, women are now employed across all areas of agriculture. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women have also been outnumbering men in agriculture degree enrolments at universities since 2016.

With the agriculture skills shortage an ongoing problem and the lack of succession planning across an aging workforce becoming more prevalent, Casey Brown Director, Agri Labour Australia believes that having more women in agriculture is exactly what the industry needs to start addressing these longer term issues.

‘The scarcity of good quality staff has definitely forced businesses to open their views on employing females which is really positive. Women have outperformed and proven themselves to be of huge benefit to agriculture businesses and it is this that’s helped pave the way for that much needed change in perception across the industry.

Casey also adds, ‘Women are great communicators and offer a great deal of improvement around reliability with coming to work. Based on the constant feedback we receive from employers and our internal workforce management data; we know that safety statistics improve significantly when women are on the job. When it comes to machine operating, women take less risks, can have greater attention to detail and take more care when it comes to handling the machines – this has seen a growing trend in a preference for females filling certain roles.

Our statistics (Table 1) show a clear trajectory of growth relating to women working in agriculture. With females representing 30% of Australia’s farmers and farm managers, we are going to be seeing a lot more women in leadership and industry leading roles in the very near future, said Casey.

Historically the Australian agricultural workforce has been one predominately male, with women playing critical, yet often ‘behind the scenes’ roles. In earlier times, women were usually in unpaid work – dedicating their time and support towards the family farm or volunteering in various ways to help their local businesses and communities.

However, over the last decade there has been a significant rise in the number of women becoming more visible in paid jobs across the agriculture employment landscape. This is an exciting and much welcome change to the industry and of particular interest to the Agri Labour Australia recruitment teams.

From fruit picking and cotton ginning to poultry and piggery attendants, women are now employed across all areas of agriculture. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women have also been outnumbering men in agriculture degree enrolments at universities since 2016.

With the agriculture skills shortage an ongoing problem and the lack of succession planning across an aging workforce becoming more prevalent, Casey Brown Director, Agri Labour Australia believes that having more women in agriculture is exactly what the industry needs to start addressing these longer term issues.

‘The scarcity of good quality staff has definitely forced businesses to open their views on employing females which is really positive. Women have outperformed and proven themselves to be of huge benefit to agriculture businesses and it is this that’s helped pave the way for that much needed change in perception across the industry.

Casey also adds, ‘Women are great communicators and offer a great deal of improvement around reliability with coming to work. Based on the constant feedback we receive from employers and our internal workforce management data; we know that safety statistics improve significantly when women are on the job. When it comes to machine operating, women take less risks, can have greater attention to detail and take more care when it comes to handling the machines – this has seen a growing trend in a preference for females filling certain roles.

Our statistics (Table 1) show a clear trajectory of growth relating to women working in agriculture. With females representing 30% of Australia’s farmers and farm managers, we are going to be seeing a lot more women in leadership and industry leading roles in the very near future, said Casey.

After some smaller cases were identified earlier in the year, the outbreak of African Swine flu in China has now spread to over 55 countries across three continents. This particularly virulent strain has seen over 2 million pigs destroyed across China and Vietnam with numbers set to rise as the disease continues to be spread by migrating wild pig populations and humans moving contaminated pork products.

As the world’s largest consumer of pork and home to 440 million pigs (half the world’s entire pig population), the effect on China’s pork industry is set to be catastrophic.

While not dangerous to humans, the disease is one that Australian authorities are desperate to keep out of the country. Casey Brown, Managing Director of Agri Labour Australia says, ‘This is a tragic event that is going to have an ongoing effect for many years to come. While pork prices are yet to reflect what’s happening in China and Vietnam as they are still able to draw on their frozen stocks, the world is most definitely going to see significant changes in the pork industry.’

‘The Australian pork industry has experienced challenging times due to the large quantities of cheap pork being imported from Asia. With Australia’s strict biosecurity measures in place, these imports will be significantly reduced which should see an increase in demand for local pork across the domestic and export markets,’ said Casey.

Casey adds, ‘There’s also going to be a further demand and potential expansion opportunities for the beef and poultry industries in Australia as China seeks to source alternative meat to fill the consumer requirements of their country.

With Australia well known for its high quality meat and dedication to animal welfare standards, it will be great to see our country’s pork producers increase their production to fill those imminent supply gaps. Not only will this boost the profile of the Australian pork industry, it will also create additional jobs and help stimulate local industry.’