Tag Archives: @harvesttrail

Commodity in Focus – Melons

The Australian melon industry is thriving, with growers from all over the country working tirelessly to produce the best melons for domestic and international markets. This article aims to showcase the industry’s unique features, accomplishments, and contributions to Australia’s horticultural landscape Fun Facts about Melons Did you know that melons are Cucurbitaceae family members, which […]

Site Profile: NT Farmers – Expanding Opportunities in the Top-End

The Northern Territory has long been known for its massive cattle stations and beef production, but with the growth of horticulture in recent years, NT Farmers has stepped up as the Harvest Trail Service provider for the Top-End. This expansion in horticulture, particularly around Darwin and Katherine, has led to increased demand for labour in […]

Worker Profile – Yoke, Jamie, Kee & Chia

Yoke Peng Chong (24), Jamie Zi Ling Ling (26), Kee Qui Tang (27) from Malaysia and Chia Chun Liu (30) from Taiwan have been in Australia for nearly three years, working mainly in Victoria. Jamie and Kee studied Engineering in Malaysia before deciding to travel and settled on Australia as their first destination. Yoke Peng […]

Worker Profile – Dylan Preston

Meet Dylan Preston, a physiotherapist from Northern NSW. He recently headed to the South West of WA to hit up Margaret River for its weather, lifestyle, and world-beating surfing conditions. Deciding to get back to nature and out on the road crossing borders following a COVID-interrupted couple of years, Dylan came across a grape vine […]

Grower Profile – Chinnery Farm, Carnarvon, WA

Carnarvon on WA’s mid-north coastline, midway between Perth and Port Hedland, is a unique location that makes for a truly memorable work or holiday experience. It’s the ideal mid-point for restocking supplies, fishing, exploring outlying areas, or, of course, sampling locally grown produce. Produce of which there is an abundance. Think of any staple fruit […]

Site Profile – South West Western Australia (Rural Enterprises Australia)

Rural Enterprises Australia (REA) has been providing rural recruitment services for over 60 years in Western Australia forging strong relationships with farmers and farm workers alike. Rural Enterprises is very much a family business and focused on more than just filling vacancies. They have a passion for agricultural and rural business, and enjoy hearing people’s […]

Commodity in Focus – Cotton

Cotton – it’s only natural Australia’s cotton industry is known for producing high-quality fibre using efficient and sustainable farming practices. With a focus on environmental responsibility, the industry is well-positioned to continue its success in the global marketplace. Do you know how cotton is farmed? Cotton in Australia is mainly grown in New South Wales […]

Pay Deductions – know what can and can’t be deducted

Employees deserve to be paid for the hard work they do, and while they may choose to utilise transport or accommodation provided by employers, they cannot serve as payment in lieu of wages. If the employer proposes to deduct money for those services from an employee’s pay, then Fair Work’s rules must be followed. Pay […]

Piece Rates – still legal

Mark Twain is often mis-quoted as saying “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”.  And so, it is with piece rates too.  While there have been significant changes, piece rates are still quite legal under the Horticulture Award – but not everybody knows that! Don’t believe everything you read in the papers Despite inaccurate […]

Seasonal workforce attraction and retention

This article is the second in a series on Seasonal Workforce Attraction and Retention.  Last issue we identified who seasonal workers were and suggested some employment practices that may attract them other than just wages. This issue we’ll identify some ways employers can grab the attention of people looking for seasonal work. We will then […]