Looking for work in Australia?
Harvest Hotline Australia is an Australian
Wide and International employment company specialising in
the recruitment of seasonal/temporary vacancies.
We offer a unique package containing working
opportunities and tourism throughout Australia. Our aim
is to make your working holiday in Australia as hassle free
as possible.
After joining The Harvest Hotline Australia
Club, our members have the opportunity to experience Australia
and our outback areas whilst earning an excellent wage.
We have also carefully selected the most popular venues
and tourist attractions in Australia and are able to provide
you with member discounts for your whole trip.
No longer will you be spending money calling
numerous job agencies to find no suitable jobs, or travelling
1000's of kilometres (spending your money) to find no job
exists. Let us do the hard work for you!
CLICK
HERE to register with Harvest Hotline Australia
SEASONAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Harvest Hotline Australia is able to offer
you job opportunities for the whole year. In Australia there
is always a crop to be taken off or planted, depending on
the season. If you are willing to take on any position there
will be work available.
We have endless opportunities available branching
from not only from fruit picking and farming work, to nannies
and bar work, if you are looking for temporary work, then
we can help.
Fruit and Vegetable Harvesting (All
Year Round)
Harvesting fruit and vegetable crops around
Australia will involve working on your own, in pairs or
as part of a team. The job can involve climbing ladders,
standing, kneeling, laying or sitting while moving through
the crop. The work can be repetitious and tiring, but rewarding
and often a means to an end when travelling.
Crops are collected in various ways; produce
is often placed into buckets, tubs or lugs. It can be cut,
clipped or picked and placed into a bag strapped to the
shoulders. On some occasions produce can be harvested in
bunches and placed onto trays or placed into bins.
There is also work available associated with
the harvest in packing sheds, and other processing plants.
There are crops within this area that require
machinery operation for example olive, grapes, potatoes
and onions are all harvested by machine. Experience in this
area is highly sort after.
Winter Crop Field Preparation (January-April)
Winter crop field preparation (cultivation)
includes crops such as cereals, canola, grain and legumes.
Most farms are between 2 000 acres and 30 000 acres, with
many still over this. The positions involve operating tractors
up to 400 hp with harrows, discs and cultivators up to 50
foot wide. There are also positions available for people
to spray the crop with by an implement behind the tractor
or using a spray rig for broad acre crops, some with rigs
up to 24 metres wide.
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Winter Crop Seeding (April-June)
/ Summer Crop Seeding (September-March)
This work involves using equipment similar
to the field preparation. Positions are available for operators
to drive large 4WD tractors and air seeders. The typical
working hours are 10-12 hour shifts.
Winter Crop Harvest (September-January)
/ Summer Crop Harvest (January/February-
May)
The winter crop harvest requires experienced
header operators, truck drivers and tractor drivers, for
chaser bin driving. Positions area available with farmers
and contractors, the crops harvested include wheat, canola,
chickpeas and other legumes. The contractors usually start
in Queensland and work their way down through the state
into NSW and continue on down into Victoria to finish.
The summer harvest works the same area harvesting, sorghum,
maize, sunflowers, soybeans and other legumes.
Cotton Planting and Irrigation (September
–January)
General tractor drivers are also required
at planting time. Most cotton is grown using irrigation
to water it. Irrigation workers are required to operate
different irrigation systems. This work is very labour intensive
and involves working a 12 hour shift.
Cotton Harvest (March-June)
Operators are required on the cotton harvest
for driving cotton pickers, module builders, boll buggies,
trucks, and general tractor operation. The cotton harvest
commences in Early March and continues through until early
June in most areas. Long hours are worked, usually 10-12
hour days. Module builders, also known as press operators
do not require any previous experience to carry out the
position. Operating a cotton picker and boll buggy requires
good machinery and maintenance knowledge. International
applicants looking to apply for a position over the cotton
harvest are encouraged to apply as we realise that prior
experience is not an option and we can easily train you
on these machines.
Hay and Silage (Mostly all year Round)
Workers are required to operate mowing, raking,
bailing (small square, big square and round) and silage
wrapping equipment. There is also irrigation work involved,
on most farms. Positions are available working directly
for the farmer or with a contractor.
Other vacancies (All year Round)
Harvest Hotline Australia is also able to
place you in other vacancies as cooks, cleaners, bar work,
waitress, labouring, plant operating and office work to
mention a few.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Pay Rates and Conditions
Pay rates and conditions vary form crop to crop and may
include:
- Wages paid on a weekly basis
- Casual work paid on an hourly basis
- Piecework paid on a per unit harvested
basis
- Negotiation agreed on a start to finish
basis.
Rates and conditions
are based on registered awards that are binding between
the farmer and you.
As an EXAMPLE ONLY the
average wage for a fruit picker who is paid hourly is between
$14.00 - $15.00 per hour. The average wage for a machinery/header
operator is $14.00 - $20.00 per hour. Some contractors will also
pay a weekly retainer + an hourly rate (eg $500.00 per week
+ $6.00 per rotor hour).
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Weather
Most harvesting jobs
are done outdoors with little or no protection form the
weather. Many jobs are in locations where extremely
high temperatures in summer are common up to 45 degrees
Celsius.
Physical/Personal
Most harvest jobs require a reasonable level
of individual physical fitness, in particular fruit and
vegetable harvesting. Lifting is often required with all
harvest positions.
Hours of Work
When crops are ready they must be harvested
as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Many harvesting
jobs require working six or seven days a week to get the
work covered. Usually the long hours of summer daylight
are used to advantage in harvesting the crops.
Transport
Air, Rail and Bus services operate generally
throughout Australia between State Capitals and larger regional
centres.
Accommodation
Harvest Workers with caravans, campervans
or tents can be accommodated on many properties and there
is commercial accommodation, caravan parks and backpacker
hostels in most areas if on-farm facilities are not available.
You are also able to rent accommodation off some farmers,
to be able to stay on farm. If you are working for a contract
harvester, your accommodation is usually provided for you
as you are travelling around.
WORK REQUIREMENTS
Australian Tax File Number (TFN)
To work you will require an Australian Tax
File Number. Appropriate taxes are to be paid on all earning
you make. The rate will be determined by your current working
arrangements. These are collected by the employer and submitted
to the Australian Taxation Office. If you fail to provide
a TFN you will be taxed at the highest rate.
Visas
When visiting Australia and wanting to work
you must have a current and appropriate working visa. It
is no good coming to Australia and then applying, it takes
a long time. Apply for your working visa at least two months
prior to coming to Australia; it is recommended 12 weeks
prior. Sponsorship can also be arranged for experienced
operators wanting to come to Australia who have already
used their visas.
Contact our representative in Canada with any questions.
Harvest Hotline Australia is unfortunately
not able to help anyone without an appropriate working visa,
unless sponsorship is being arranged through us.
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Catering for 1 or 400 people, we understand
the need for providing a comprehensive service.
Our aim is to provide you with an efficient,
cost effective solution to employment, allowing your harvest
to run smoothly.
Harvest Hotline Australia, “getting the job done,
for you”.
