Harvest Trail Services collaboration trial to help Wide Bay farms

The Morrison Government is encouraging more people to take up seasonal work opportunities in horticulture in Wide Bay as part of an expanded collaboration trial.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien said the Harvest Trail Services trial, which now extends across 91 per cent of Wide Bay, will help horticultural growers to gain access to more workers.

“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring job seekers in regional areas like Wide Bay can find work, and to helping growers meet their workforce needs to ensure their crops can be harvested and sold in a timely manner,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is a win-win for jobseekers and our growers in Wide Bay, as many have struggled to attract staff.”

Five organisations are being funded as part of the $1 million Harvest Trail Services Industry Collaboration Trial to find new ways to encourage people to take up opportunities in the horticulture sector to meet employer demand.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the trial will test-run different ways to promote harvest work to Australian job seekers.

“As part of Harvest Trail Services, we have provided additional funds to a number of growers groups for them to develop innovative approaches to promote new opportunities in the horticulture sector,” Minister Cash said.

The organisations selected are:

• Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Limited (GrowCom)
• Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Cooperative Limited
• AUSVEG
• Limited Fruit Growers Victoria Limited
• Northern Territory Farmers Association Incorporated

Mr O’Brien said the new opportunities being funded under the trial could range from pre-employment projects, mentoring, training, development of videos, engagement with school leavers, and social media campaigns.

“Additionally we are also providing relocation assistance to people who move to regional areas to take up harvesting and agricultural work,” Mr O’Brien said.

Since 1 November 2020, relocation assistance has been available to people who relocate to take up short-term agricultural work, including Australians who are not receiving income support and those with the right to work in Australia.

People relocating to take up short-term agricultural work may be eligible to receive up to $6,000 if they are an Australian worker.

More details on the Harvest Trail can be found at https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest

For more information about Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job visit: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest/workers/relocation-assistance