Employee Services

Working in Australia

Essential Criteria

All applicants must possess a valid and current Drivers Licence. You will need to produce evidence of this PRIOR to being allocated a position.
Applicants must also have a legal working status.
Visit www.immi.gov.au to find the visa you will need to work legally in Australia.
Applications will not be entered into our system if a valid work visa is not able to be obtained by prospective employees.

Climate

Summer conditions are dry and hot. There is generally little or no rain in the summer months and the daytime temperature ranges from 35-45° C.

For detailed weather information see Bureau of Meteorology

Wages and Conditions

Wages vary from $16.00 to $25.00 per hour (Gross before tax) while seeding but you may be on a general weekly rate while things are quiet. Hours are long (usually 12 hour shifts 7 days a week at the height of the season). Accommodation and meals are supplied and in most cases, free of charge.

Seeding

The seeding season in Western Australia runs from April/May to June/July depending on rainfall.

Harvest

The harvest season is between October and December, weather permitting.

Other

Mechanics and welders can usually be found employment in the rural areas and a person with a Spray Certificate is keenly sought after. Domestic work on farms is available at seeding and harvest and to a lesser extent at other times of the year.

Cropping Areas

Farms range in size from 800 to 12,000 hectares (2,000 to 50,000 acres). Crops consist of cereals, legumes and oil seed.

Duties

Most of the work is tractor driving , header (combine) or truck driving though staff are advised that they will have to do some general farm work when machine work is not being done.

Machinery Type / Size and Implement Type / Size

Tractors range from 2WD around 100hp but are mostly 4WD articulated machines up to 480hp. Implements range from conventional seed drills, discs and ploughs up to 20 metre (60-70 feet) wide line cultivator bars and air seeders.

Boom sprays range from 20 to 32 metres.

Workers Compensation

You are fully covered for any injuries that occur while working. We recommend you take out some form of insurance for travel and to cover yourself outside work hours.

Health Insurance

If your country of origin does not have a reciprocal arrangement with Australia for hospital and medical treatment it is essential you arrange some form of health cover for the duration of your stay in Australia.

Items to Bring

Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Sleeping bag, work clothes and enough money to get by for up to two weeks.

Accommodation

Most positions will include accommodation and can be dongas, shearers wuarters, caravans or rooms within the family home.

Visas

If you are coming from any country other than New Zealand you will need to obtain a working holiday visa before leaving home www.immi.gov.au. Rural Enterprises will assist you on arrival with accommodation, bank accounts, applying for an Australian Tax File Number and act as a contact in Australia for mail.

We will also assist you to make travel arrangements to the farming properties.

IMPORTANT NOTE

We ask that you contact our office as soon as you arrive in Perth and arrange to come and see us.