NATIONAL HARVEST GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS Disclaimer The National Harvest Labour Information Service Introduction 1 believes that all information supplied in this Guide New South Wales 8 to be correct at the time of printing. A guarantee Northern Territory 32 to this effect cannot be given however and no liability in the event of information being incorrect Queensland 36 is accepted. South Australia 60 Tasmania 75 The Guide provides independent advice and no payment was accepted during its publication in Victoria 85 exchange for any listing or endorsement of any Western Australia 103 place or business. The listing of organisations Grain Harvest 116 does not imply recommendation. This Guide does not take the place of current and accurate advice. For the latest information on WELCOME TO THE harvest labour opportunities please FREECALL 1800 062 332. NATIONAL HARVEST GUIDE Published January 2017 13th Edition Monthly updated text of this guide is also Revised available free of charge on the internet April 2019 www.harvesttrail.gov.au Click on ‘Download the National Harvest Guide © National Harvest Labour Information Service PDF’ 2018 • Left click to read* • Right click to save* This work is copyright. You may display, print and * Note: the National Harvest Guide is in pdf and reproduce this material in unaltered form only Microsoft word formats - please use appropriate (retaining this notice) for your personal, non software to read and save. commercial use or within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 all other rights are reserved. THE NATIONAL HARVEST HARVEST CROPS This guide lists a variety of crops and shows the GUIDE town or region where these crops are grown, together with the approximate time during the The National Harvest Guide provides job seekers year that labour is required for harvesting or other with concise and comprehensive information crop duties. This guide is updated annually on about harvest work opportunities, working www.harvesttrail.gov.au, however adverse or conditions, transport and accommodation. It is changing weather conditions can change the available free of charge to job seekers across expected harvest dates. Australia, both in hard copy and on the Harvest Trail Website We recommend you call the National Harvest www.harvesttrail.gov.au Telephone Information Service on 1800 062 332 before travelling for up-to-date GENERAL INFORMATION information. The Harvest Trail gives people the opportunity to WORK REQUIREMENTS combine seasonal harvest work with travel around To work in Australia you will require an Australian Australia. The service is available free to use for Tax File Number (TFN) and you will be required to anyone eligible to work in Australia. pay income tax. Taxes are collected by your employer and submitted to the Australian HARVEST WORK Taxation Office. You may be entitled to a refund of all or some of this taxation when you leave Harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops can Australia or at the end of the Australian financial involve working individually, in pairs or teams. year (30th June). For further information and You will need to be physically fit as the job can online service visit the Australian Taxation Office involve climbing ladders, standing, kneeling, website www.ato.gov.au. laying or sitting while moving through the crop or undertaking a range of duties in a harvesting If you are visiting Australia and you wish to work team. The work can be repetitious and tiring. Most you will require a current and appropriate Working harvesting jobs are done outdoors with little or no Visa. These may be obtained from the protection from the weather. Many jobs are in Department of Immigration & Border Protection. locations where extremely high temperatures are For further information and online service visit the common. website www.border.gov.au Crops are collected in various ways and can be TRAVELLING placed into buckets, tubs or lugs. They can be cut, Often work is located in remote areas and having clipped or picked and placed into a bag strapped your own transport would assist you to access to the shoulders. these vacancies. As you travel around Australia you might encounter different driving conditions Start and finish times will vary depending on the and traffic laws to those you are used to. To keep type of harvest work. Be prepared to start work yourself safe remember the following: you must early in the morning, and for some crops, late into wear a seatbelt in a passenger vehicle (car, van the day. Evening and night time work can or bus) whether you are the driver or a passenger; sometimes be required, especially if there is driving without a licence is against the law; do not packing of produce also to be done. There is often use a mobile phone or device while driving; work associated with the harvest in packing observe speed limits at all times; and you must sheds, canneries and other processing plants or wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. factories. Generally placement is easiest for job seekers that have their own transport and accommodation In addition to harvest work there are other but some locations and job placements may have activities required for crop production including on-site accommodation. Some town based pruning and trimming vines and trees, thinning accommodation providers may also offer transport and trimming flowers and bunches and general to harvest work locations. crop maintenance work. The locations of harvest work opportunities are Beware of paying money to secure farm work as listed by towns across the States. You should be scams are common. We recommend you call the aware that many of these areas are known locally National Harvest Telephone Information Service by regional names such as the Riverina, Far on 1800 062 332 before travelling. North Queensland, the Barossa Valley and the Some farms provide basic accommodation with Riverland. Always ask if you are unsure. beds, food storage and cooking facilities. You The information listed under the town names will may need to provide your own bedding, so check assist you with travel, accommodation and before you arrive. important local contacts. In many locations it is illegal to camp outside a Air, rail and bus services generally operate designated camping area. Camping in carparks, throughout Australia between state capitals and at a beach or a road side stop could result in you larger regional centres. Not all areas or towns in being fined. This includes sleeping in your car. Australia have local public transport and many Check with the local visitor information centre jobs are located on farms some distance from the before camping. town. Where possible this guide will include information Where possible this guide will include information on the types of accommodation available in each on the types of transport available to each town or town or region.Accommodation types are depicted region. Transport types are depicted by the by the following symbols: following symbols: Motel / Hotel Plane Backpacker Hostel Bus Caravan Park Train Camping Ground Car Farm Stay Always contact the National Harvest Labour Information Service on 1800 063 332 for up to date advice before moving to a harvest area. PAY RATES AND CONDITIONS FRUIT FLY It is illegal to carry some fruits and vegetables into Pay rates and conditions vary from crop to crop the fruit fly free zones which can be found by and may include: visiting http://www.interstatequarantine.org.au/ On-the-spot-fines can be issued. • wages paid on a weekly basis. • casual work paid on an hourly basis. ACCOMMODATION • piecework paid on a per unit harvested basis. Harvest workers with caravans, campervans or • negotiation agreed on a start to finish basis. tents can be accommodated on many properties and there is commercial accommodation such as Minimum rates of pay are regulated for all caravan parks or backpacker hostels in most industries and you can check the correct rates of areas if on-farm facilities are not available. pay and employment conditions with the Fair You may be required to pay an accommodation Work Ombudsman – deposit, but beware of paying upfront for long http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ or call 13 13 94. term accommodation if you have not yet found a job in the region. We recommend you call the It is a requirement of law that all workers are National Harvest Telephone Information covered by insurance for workplace injury. This Service on 1800 062 332 before travelling. insurance is paid by the employer. Make sure that you are properly instructed in all aspects of the work before you start work. Take care as it is your • Select services icon responsibility to follow all health and safety instructions and to report any injury immediately • Select JobSearch from the list of available to the farmer. member agencies • Now, complete a one-time Proof of Record Superannuation is a form of savings where money Ownership is set aside by your employer and invested for your retirement. Australia has a Superannuation • Select your preferred method to receive Guarantee scheme and your employer may be your one time activation code and confirm required to pay superannuation deductions on • Enter the activation code emailed or sent your behalf, depending on the amount you earn. via sms. Further information on superannuation is available • You are now linked! from the Australian Tax Office Superannuation Information Line: 13 10 20 or at the More help is available on the Jobsearch superannuation home page which is part of the You Tube channel and myGov YouTube Australian Tax Office web site at www.ato.gov.au. channel or the following websites. www.my.gov.au JOBSEEKER SELF REGISTRATION www.jobsearch.gov.au Jobseekers including Working Holiday Makers FWO have access to online services via the Harvest SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FAIR WORK Trail website.