After a two-year hiatus, this is finally a chance to reconnect in-person, share insights, and reshape the future of our industry, together.

Hosted May 29 – 30, the Forum will return to an in-person format, hosted here in Melbourne. The 2022 theme is 'Grow Beyond'.

• Sunday 29 May 2022- Welcome drinks and BBQ - 5.00pm – 8.30pm, Beer DeLuxe, Hop Bar, Federation Square, Melbourne CBD.
• Monday 30 May 2022- APAL Industry Forum - 9.00am – 5.00pm, Zinc at Federation Square, Cnr Princes Walk &, Russell St Ext, Melbourne CBD

Click here for further information and how to register for this event

2022 Cherry export workshop and conference

Cherry Growers Australia is proud to host the 2022 export workshop & Cherry Conference

15 – 17 June 2022, Novotel Melbourne, Victoria

After an eight year hiatus, including lockdowns, CGA is really excited to announce the 2022 export workshop and cherry conference.

Hear from other growers and experts from Australia and overseas:  Topics include regenerative agriculture, traceability, workforce, carbon farming and incentives, exports and more.

Following the conference, we will have an industry dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the historic Hotel Windsor. Enjoy some entertainment while supping on a 3 course meal and catching up with friends.

On the field day, we will head out to Steritech and a freight forwarder to see export processes conducted first hand, including irradiation, fumigation, AO and known consignor inspections well as some tech demos.

Register for any or all activities here

New minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers- coming into effect from Thursday 28th April

New minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers- coming into effect from Thursday 28th April

Minimum wage guarantee
From 28 April 2022, workers paid a piece rate will be guaranteed a minimum wage for each day that they work. This is called a ‘minimum wage guarantee’. Affected pieceworkers have to be paid a minimum amount for the hours that they work each day, effective the first pay period on or after 28 April 2022. This change applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees. See Minimum wage guarantee for pieceworkers.

New record-keeping obligations
Employers have new record-keeping obligations for pieceworkers, including that they record the hours worked by a pieceworker and the piece rates applied. See Record-keeping.

Employers can use our free checklist to help prepare for the new rules for piece rates. Go to New tools and resources.

Visit the FWO website for more information.

Current restrictions in Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced that most COVID-19 restrictions will be removed from 11:59pm, Friday 22 April 2022. Changes will include:

• Vaccination and check in
• Face masks
• Quarantine and isolation
• Workplace contacts

Download the Statewide settings from 11.59pm Friday 22 April 2022 here...

For the latest information regards COVID-19, please follow this link. Agriculture and resources sector guidance | Coronavirus Victoria

• Bislama
• Fijian
• Samoan
• Tongan
• English.  

You can access the resources here..

• Recent changes to pieceworker arrangements
• Navigating the FWO’s Horticulture Showcase
• Understanding the Horticulture Award
• Using the Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate pay rates
•  Accessing the FWO's FREE tools and resources.