Australians are being encouraged to take up seasonal work opportunities in horticulture as part of a federal collaboration trial. The Harvest Trail Service, which has been expanded into 16 regions, will ensure major horticulture areas have access to the workers they need.

AUSVEG Limited is one of five organisations nationwide being funded as part of the $1m Harvest Trail Services Industry Collaboration Trial to find new ways to encourage people to take up opportunities in the horticulture sector, while meeting employer demand.

The project will produce and promote a series of videos to showcase occupations in the agriculture sector and highlight career pathways and growing employment opportunities in 16 areas across Australia.

Two of these areas extend across Barker – “Adelaide Barossa” and “SA South East”. This will help to articulate the opportunities within the sector, highlight the day-to-day experience in the occupation as well as present a training pathway how to get there.

The videos will be promoted online and via social media as well as to AUSVEG’s network through the Horticulture Council and to relevant commercial and government stakeholders, including employment service providers and educational institutions, focusing on secondary education and careers councillors.

Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business minister Michaelia Cash said the trial would test-run different ways to promote harvest work to Australian job seekers. “We know growers are struggling to find the labour they need, which is why Harvest Trail Services is as important as ever,” she said.

“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.”

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin said these funding opportunities range from pre-employment projects, mentoring, training, development of videos, engagement with school leavers and social media campaigns.

“On top of this, we are also providing relocation assistance to people who relocate to harvest and regional areas to take up agricultural work,” he said. Relocation assistance is available to people who relocate to harvest and regional areas to take up short-term agricultural work, including Australians who are not receiving income support and those with the right to work in Australia.

Those relocating to take up short-term agricultural work may be eligible to receive up to $6000 if they are an Australian worker, or $2000 if they are a visa holder with general work rights, not restricted to an employer or a type of work, to work in Australia.

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

For more information about Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job visit employment.gov.au/relocation-assistance-take-job