Current News

On 14th September, the Federal Government announced a streamlining of the application process for the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) the combined program is now to be known as Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) the changes mean that programs easier to access for growers, protect worker welfare, and better meet the harvest labour needs of regional Australia.
 
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) website (palmscheme.gov.au) has been established for employers to apply to join the PLS and SWP through a single application.
 
For your information please refer to the  Media Release.
 
Additionally, the department also facilitates the Harvest Trail Services program, which is a specialised job placement service delivered across 16 harvest areas. The program connects workers with employers in these harvest areas. Farms can post jobs on the Harvest Trail Jobs Board. They can also contact their local Harvest Trail Service Provider for assistance with the recruitment process.

Restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, Mitchell Shire, City of Greater Shepparton, Moorabool Shire and City of Latrobe
(Latrobe City local government area (LGA) will emerge from lockdown on Tuesday at 11:59pm)

Changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria.
You cannot leave your home other than for one of the six following reasons:

• shopping for necessary goods and services (once per day, one person per household)
• caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test
• authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education
• exercise (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent outdoors socialising in limited groups)
• outdoor social interaction in limited groups (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent on exercise)
• to get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)

Restrictions in regional Victoria (except Mitchell Shire, City of Greater Shepparton, Moorabool Shire and City of Latrobe) 
(Latrobe City local government area (LGA) will emerge from lockdown on Tuesday at 11:59pm)

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• Residents of regional Victoria must not travel to metropolitan Melbourne (or Mitchell Shire, City of Greater Shepparton, Moorabool Shire and City of Latrobe), other than for permitted reasons. These include:
  • for authorised work or permitted education
  • to visit an intimate partner
  • for care and compassionate reasons, including permitted child minding
  • to access necessary goods and services provided they are from the facility that is closest to where you live
  • other limited reasons such as moving house

Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions
The Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 33) come into force at 11:59:00pm on 29 September 2021 and end at 11:59:00pm on 21 October 2021. They replace the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 32). Click here to view the Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions (No 33.)

Victorian Government Vaccination brochure
Please see the attached information brochure from the Victorian Government with FAQs on Vaccinations which may be useful. Download here...

Victoria’s Roadmap- Delivering the National Plan
The Roadmap has been developed based on expert modelling from the Burnet Institute and is set against COVID-19 thresholds including hospitalisation rates, and the vaccination targets already set out in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response. Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on the Victorian Roadmap.

The Yarra Valley Seasonal Employment Hub is ready for employers to upload jobs and job seekers to find a job in the Yarra Valley.

If you are in the horticultural industry and want to advertise any roles, become a member and advertise for free 

The website is based in the Yarra Valley and will only advertise positions available locally. Both growers and job seekers have the support of the Seasonal Workforce Coordinator to assist you throughout the season.

You can contact Kylie on 0491 141 008 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Visit the Yarra Valley Seasonal Employment Hub website for more information.

Restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

Changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria. You cannot leave your home other than for one of the six following reasons:

• shopping for necessary goods and services
• caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test
• authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education
• exercise (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent outdoors socialising in limited groups)
• outdoor social interaction in limited groups (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent on exercise)
• to get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)

Restrictions in regional Victoria (except Mitchell Shire)

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• Residents of regional Victoria must not travel to metropolitan Melbourne (or Mitchell Shire), other than for permitted reasons. These include:
  • for authorised work or permitted education
  • to visit an intimate partner
  • for care and compassionate reasons, including permitted child minding
  • to access necessary goods and services provided they are from the facility that is closest to where you live
  • other limited reasons such as moving house

Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions
The Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 32) come into force at 11:59:00pm on 23 September 2021 and end at 11:59:00pm on 21 October 2021. They replace the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 31). Click here to view the Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions (No 32.)

By 27 September 2021, employers (other than small business employers) need to assess whether any existing casual employees (employed before 27 March 2021), are eligible to be offered to convert to permanent employment.
 
Employers need to:

• make a written offer to convert their casual employees to permanent employment (this must be done within 21 days after making the assessment), or
• write to employees explaining why they won’t be made an offer (this needs to be done within 21 days of making the assessment but by no later than 27 September 2021).

To accept an offer to convert, employees need to respond in writing within 21 days after getting the offer. If they don’t respond, employers can assume that they’ve declined the offer.
 
Read more about casual employees becoming permanent.
 
Watch our video about the changes to casual employment laws, including how small business employers are affected and the Casual Employment Information Statement.

Visit the FWO website for further information.

Current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire:

Changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria. You cannot leave your home other than for one of the six following reasons:

• shopping for necessary goods and services
• caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test
• authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education
• exercise (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent outdoors socialising in limited groups)
• outdoor social interaction in limited groups (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent on exercise)
• to get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)

A stay-at-home curfew is in place for Metropolitan Melbourne. Between 9:00pm and 5:00am, you cannot leave your home (or the home of your intimate partner or bubble buddy) other than for limited reason. If you travel to metropolitan Melbourne from regional Victoria for a permitted reason, you will be required to adhere to the curfew whilst you are in metropolitan Melbourne.
 

Restrictions in regional Victoria (except City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire)

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• Residents of regional Victoria must not travel to metropolitan Melbourne (or City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire), other than for permitted reasons. These include:
  • for authorised work or permitted education
  • to visit an intimate partner
  • for care and compassionate reasons, including permitted child minding
  • to access necessary goods and services provided they are from the facility that is closest to where you live;
  • other limited reasons such as moving house
    • While in these areas, you must comply with restrictions in place.
• There are no restrictions on travelling to other parts of regional Victoria. 
• Face masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors for people aged 12 and over and are highly recommended for primary school aged children.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Businesses in regional Victoria must conduct a I.D check to ensure that patrons attending do not reside in metropolitan Melbourne (or City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire).

Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions
The Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 31) come into force at 11:59pm on 9 September 2021 and end at 11:59pm on 23 September 2021. They replace the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 30). Click here to view the Victorian Border Crossing Permit directions (No 31.)