Current News

Workplace visits put safety in the spotlight
WorkSafe, Department of Health and Labour Hire Authority inspectors have visited orchards across the Shepparton region as part of a co-ordinated approach to workplace safety. Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner Steve Dargavel said the Authority’s focus during its visits was on education and ensuring compliance, checking that providers had COVIDSafe plans, as well as looking at their licence status and conditions for labour hire workers. Click here for more information...

Teams take safety message to Goulburn Valley growers
The Labour Hire Authority, WorkSafe, Agriculture Victoria and the Department of Health held an information session for providers and hosts in Shepparton at the Parklake Hotel ahead of the inspections. The session provided employers with practical and constructive advice about how to comply with occupational health and safety regulations, stay COVIDSafe and support vulnerable workers, as well as information about accessing seasonal workers and the support available. Click here for more information...

Work-related fatigue: A guide for employers
Employers are responsible for preventing and managing fatigue in the workplace. There are three broad types of fatigue: physical, mental and emotional. To learn how to prevent fatigue, check out the Work-related fatigue guide for employers from WorkSafe

Changes to electronic record-keeping
Record keeping continues to be an important tool to stay safe and stay open. Information and advice is available for businesses and workplaces required to collect contact details. Most customer-facing venues and facilities are required to use the free Victorian Government QR Service or Victorian Government Application Programming Interface linked digital system for electronic record keeping.

Under the Horticulture Award, an employer and employee can enter into an agreement for the employee to be paid a piecework rate. A piecework rate is:

• a rate of pay paid on the basis of how much an employee has individually picked, packed or pruned
• paid to an employee instead of an hourly pay rate
• a method of payment and not a type of employment.

Pieceworkers are still full-time, part-time or casual employees.

Visit the Horticulture Showcase website for more information

Changes to casual employment – industrial relations reforms

On Friday 26 March 2021, the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) was amended to change workplace rights and obligations for casual employees. The changes were made by the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2021 (Amendment Act). These changes came into effect on Saturday 27 March 2021.

What’s changed-

The Amendment Act introduces a:

• Casual Employment Information Statement
• definition of casual employment
• pathway for casual employees to move to full-time or part-time (permanent) employment.

Visit the Fair Work website for more information on these changes

Please find attached copy of the updated Industry Restart Guidelines- Seasonal Horticulture.

This update covers changes to Record keeping and Facemask requirements.

Victoria has further relaxed its COVIDSafe settings

• Main event - online with international speakers
  • Mandatory export workshop info (online) Wed 15 June (4 hours approx).  $165
  • Production and Management: Thurs 16 June and Thurs 24 June (4 hours each). Recorded sessions will be made available on web for anyone to view at a later date. Free.
  • Export 101: July 21.  For new export growers – attend as well as the mandatory session. Free.

An Agenda is being prepared and more information will be provided.