5 minute read
Labour short market
3 THE Farm Investment Loans are designed for people planning to access markets interstate or outside of Australia.
In particular, it can identify your areas of strength and areas where you need to focus your energy. It might sound complicated, but it’s actually a very simple way to get a bank to understand what you are doing and what you want to do in the future. It’s a very practical way to build your bank’s confidence in your plans and it’s something that our team at Rural West can help you work through.
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By calling Rural West on 1800 612 004 we can run through what your business options might be and help point you in the right direction.
MORE INFORMATION
More information on the RIC loans is available at www.ric.gov.au or phone 1800 875 675. By calling Rural West on 1800 612 004, we can run through what your business options might be and help point you in the right direction.
Supporting growers in a labour short market
BY BERNICE RUSSO HARVEST OFFICER, RURAL ENTERPRISES AUSTRALIA
Harvest Trail Services (HTS) is a free initiative developed by the Federal Government, which aims to link workers, including Australian job seekers and working holiday makers, with seasonal harvest jobs to meet seasonal peaks in employer demand in locations across Australia.
After a successful 2019–20 season, placing over 23,000 employees to assist with seasonal work in the horticulture and viticulture industry, HTS has grown and has now expanded into the South West region — Rural Enterprises has been awarded the contract to be the Provider for this region. Rural Enterprises specialise in agricultural recruitment and have been supplying recruitment services to the industry for over 60 years. They are very well positioned to help whether you are an employer needing to hire harvest workers, or a job seeker looking for harvest work. Bernice Russo has been appointed as Rural Enterprises’ dedicated Harvest Officer. After being born and bred in the South West, she has returned with 15 years of recruitment experience to manage the Harvest Trail Service in her home territory. She will be meeting with growers to identify their labour needs and source job seekers. This is done through multiple resourcing channels to develop a database of job seekers to fill growers’ needs — connecting you with suitable harvest workers. Bernice will do the marketing and finding of
3 RURAL Enterprises Team — Emma Willis, Stuart Willis, Sarah Clayton and Bernice Russo.
workers for you so you can get on with managing your business. Harvest Trail Information Services (HTIS) provides comprehensive up-todate information about harvest work vacancies on the Harvest Trail website. They can provide you with reliable information about fair, safe and legal work arrangements. The HTIS produces the quarterly State of the Australian Harvest Trail Market Report, and they also contribute to and coordinate information for the National Harvest Guide. Being funded by the Federal Government, there is NO cost to you to use these services. If you would like assistance with your recruitment needs, reach out to Bernice at Rural Enterprises to arrange a site visit to your property, or visit our newly-opened office in Vasse.
MORE INFORMATION
Bernice Russo, Harvest Officer, email bernice@ruralenterprises.com.au or phone (08) 6166 9124.
MADEC Harvest Trail Information Service Provider
BY ROB HAYES STATE MANAGER, MADEC HTIS
A NEWLY-BRANDED AND enhanced Harvest Trail Information Service (HTIS) including a refreshed Harvest Trail website, new harvest guide and contact centre, has been delivered by MADEC Australia from July 1. MADEC is a successful not-for-profit and charitable organisation with a 50-year history providing education and employment services, including to disadvantaged groups. MADEC HTIS State Manager Rob Hayes said the new Harvest Trail Information Service will allow employers and job seekers to access greater benefits from the service. “As part of the reforms the Harvest Trail website has been revamped so job seekers (including Australians and visa holders) and employers can easily see what jobs and services are available.”
A new Harvest Guide will also be published and distributed in hard copy form to thousands of jobseekers, information centres and accommodation providers across the country twice a year. The guide details where and when certain crops are grown and when labour is needed to either pick and pack crops, or when other farm work such as pruning is undertaken. The third element of the HTIS is a national contact and communications centre, which operates from 8am to 11pm AEST. Mr Hayes said that, “Trained operators help employers list vacancies on the Harvest Trail
3 A Facebook page provides real-time information on vacancies and other relevant happenings within the horticulture industry. website and can also help jobseekers find horticulture jobs and what the work involves.”
“These staff will often provide valuable advice to travellers particularly when adverse weather conditions or natural disasters occur, saving people much time and effort in their search for work and keeping them safe.” A Facebook page also provides realtime information on vacancies and other relevant happenings within the horticulture industry. More than ever, the Harvest Trail Information Service will play a crucial role in linking seasonal workers with horticulture vacancies across the country. Mr Hayes strongly encouraged growers and labour hire contractors to contact the call centre to list vacancies if they were having difficulty recruiting. “Growers have been through a lot in recent times so knowing that a no-cost service is there to help them find required labour when they need it is just so important,” he said. “Our experience in the Call Centre is that while most unskilled jobs can be filled within a matter of days, the dwindling number of backpackers in the country is making it harder to fill vacancies and growers are strongly advised to contact the HTIS on 1800 062 332 well in advance of their need for workers.” In further good news for WA growers, there is now dedicated Harvest Trail Service providers located in Vasse and Kununurra to cater for the needs of growers. These are no-cost services that can source, screen and visa-check workers, before referring them to vacancies. The HTIS works closely with these service providers.
MORE INFORMATION
Call our Harvest Trail contact centre to speak to one of our team today on free-call 1800 062 332 (8AM – 8PM, Monday to Friday, AEST) or visit the Harvest Trail website to find or post seasonal farm jobs:
