Category: Agri Labour

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/

Initial excitement in the farming sector about the introduction of an Ag Visa has been replaced with frustration for many farmers who are about to kick off their harvests.

With the new Ag Visa now unlikely to be introduced before next year, it is understandable some agribusinesses are concerned about how they will address pressing labour shortages before then.

The Ag Visa was proposed by the National Party to reduce restrictions on foreign workers coming into Australia and addressing chronic workforce gaps in the agriculture sector, particularly regarding seasonal unskilled labour.

The agriculture industry and the agriculture recruitment sector have long been lobbying for a dedicated Ag Visa to address the industry’s shortfall in workers.

The proposed Ag Visa was aimed at reducing costs and administration, which would simplify the process for Pacific Island and working holiday visa holders.

However, the new plan outlined by the Australian Government means once the new Visa has been introduced; farmers and agribusinesses will first have to register their work requirements with the National Harvest Labour Information Service.

If they are deemed eligible they will then be linked with welfare recipients who could be placed into the positions.

This new plan is problematic for farmers who need their agriculture recruitment requirements met in quick time for fast-approaching harvests. It is also an issue for farmers who cannot provide long-term work or a set number of hours each week.

The proposed plan also raises significant issues for larger agribusinesses, given the expense and time required to undertake large agriculture recruitment campaigns.

With time ticking on the upcoming seasons and workers needed now, Agri Labour Australia knows the demands that farmers face in trying to fill their staff vacancies and that they cannot wait for regulatory uncertainty to be clarified.

As Australia’s leading agriculture recruitment specialists, we understand the stress of harvest season and the needs of our farmers in the short and long term.

We are specialists at effectively and efficiently connecting large numbers of pickers and horticultural workers with businesses all over Australia through our harvest trail which allows our agriculture recruitment staff to engage workers for back-to-back roles.

When workers have work scheduled for the entire harvest calendar, they are motivated to stay the course and less likely to abandon a project if there are delays or if conditions change.

Agri Labour Australia is managed by a team of consultants who are committed to the ongoing success of our clients’ business and our candidates’ careers. We are dedicated to supplying employers with staff who are keen and work-ready.

Need staff for your upcoming harvest? Call 1300 247 823.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) Member and Family Transition Seminars are an excellent initiative by the Department of Defence. They are held throughout the year to assist defence members with transitioning successfully back into civilian life.

At the 23 October Seminar, Agri Veterans (a program developed by Agri Labour Australia) will be represented by our very own veteran, Tim Chapman. Tim will be there to chat with attendees about the various roles Agri Veterans recruits for and how effectively ADF skills translate into exciting and rewarding agricultural career options.

Like the land, Australian veterans lie close to our heart at Agri Labour Australia. We are genuinely committed to seeing our veterans connect their existing skills and capabilities to roles that provide stability, enjoyment and professional satisfaction.

Find Tim at the Seminar and talk to him about your possibilities!

When: Tuesday 23 October

Time: 9am – 4:30pm

Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre

For more information, visit: http://www.defence.gov.au/DCO/Transition/Seminars.asp or contact Tim Chapman at Agri Veterans on 0499 184 555

This week you’ll find Agri Labour Australia exhibiting at our very first BeefEx! Held from 8 – 10 October at Brisbane Showground’s Royal International Convention Centre and hosted by the Australian Lot Feeder’s Association, this is a major industry event aimed at all those involved in the grain fed beef supply chain.

With an established reputation for sourcing and supplying the best candidates around, Agri Labour Australia has placed 1500+ workers to the livestock industry since 2010, as well as a range of permanent roles, from Maintenance Technicians to Operations Managers.

As one of the leading suppliers of staff for the Australian livestock industry, members of our management team will be on hand to share their knowledge and provide expert advice on recruitment and workforce solutions.

Come and visit us at Booth 41!

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.

A cohort from Agri Labour Australia (ALA) will exhibit at the 2018 Poultry Information Exchange (PIX) and Australasian Milling Conference (AMC). The joint event is being held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from Sunday 3 June until Tuesday 5 June. ‘Supply Chain Opportunities – Farmers to Consumers’ is the theme of this year’s conference, which will feature the latest in innovation and information from industry leaders around the world.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from industry innovators, catching up with clients and connecting with new operators in the poultry and milling space.”

ALA will be exhibiting at stand 159, with leaders from both our Permanent and Casual recruitment divisions manning the stand. We encourage all attendees to stop by and hear about our workforce optimisation capabilities and latest poultry recruitment projects.