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Hear from guest speakers and industry experts on topics ranging from:
- The importance of HSR's to business.
- How organisational culture impacts workplace mental health.
- What are your rights as a young worker?
- Construction sessions.
- Plus many more!
The events will be delivered as a series of webinars and face to face sessions throughout regional Victoria, so it’s never been easier to participate. Most events are free to attend.
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Need help drafting an employment contract? Use the Business.gov.au – Employment Contract Tool to build employment contracts that are tailored to your business needs and comply with workplace laws. The tool includes easy-to-understand information on the legal requirements you need to include in a contract. There’s more info about employment contracts on our website.
Coronavirus tools and resources
Visit our coronavirus subsite for resources to help you manage the ongoing impacts of coronavirus in your workplace. Stay informed about:
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Who does the Code apply to?
The Horticulture Code applies to any person or business that grows and sells unprocessed horticulture produce to a trader. If you sell horticulture produce, you need to have a valid Horticulture Produce Agreement (HPA) in place with each trader that buys your produce or sells it on your behalf. The code doesn’t apply to growers who sell their horticulture produce to a business that sells directly to consumers, such as a supermarket or greengrocer, or to an exporter.
What is the Code?
The Horticulture Code is a mandatory industry code covering the sale of unprocessed horticultural produce, such as fruit, vegetables, edible fungi and nuts. The aim of the Code is to ensure transparency and clarity of trading arrangements in the horticultural industry and provide a fair and equitable dispute resolution procedure.
What is the guidance material?
To assist growers and traders of horticultural produce better understand their rights and responsibilities, the ACCC has updated its Code guidance: www.accc.gov.au/horticulturecode. This refresh of the ACCC’s guidance has improved readability and the level of detail to make it more relevant and practical.
What do the updates say?
Traders who are merchants and whose HPA states that the price will be determined by a method or formula are required to report the price they paid growers and the price paid by the third-party buyer. This means a grower who sells to a merchant can see what buyers pay for their fruit or vegetables. The ACCC believes this information is important to provide greater price transparency for growers and enhance competition.
The updated guidance also describes the Code’s requirement for traders to make terms of trade, the standard terms and conditions under which a trader is prepared to do business with growers, publicly available.
The ACCC expects traders to do more than just make terms of trade available upon request, or available at their business premises. The terms of trade provide growers with transparency on the trading conditions proposed, which allows growers to compare traders’ terms quickly and easily.
The ACCC intends to conduct ongoing compliance checks in the horticulture industry and will strongly consider enforcement action where it identifies non-compliance. These checks are important in assessing the effectiveness of, and level of compliance with, the Code.
Why has the ACCC updated its guidance?
Following recent compliance checks, the ACCC identified some issues that required clarification. We took the opportunity to update our guidance to assist growers and traders understand their rights and responsibilities.
The update is timely given the ACCC’s guidance was last revised in 2017 with the introduction of the current version of the code. The years since have provided the opportunity for multiple rounds of compliance checks, as well as the opportunity for helpful industry feedback.
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We are searching for the best farmers from across Australia, those leading the way, who constantly strive to improve their business and are finding success in their efforts.
So, if you know someone who deserves to be recognised as an outstanding farmer, let us know by nominating them. Visit the Weekly Times website to nominate.
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The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is looking for enthusiastic farmers across Australia to participate as employers and hosts for young Australians participating in the AgCAREERSTART program. AgCAREERSTART is a future focused industry program that engages with the next
generation of agricultural workers. It is a great opportunity for the industry to attract a new cohort of young Australians to experience farm life and all it has to offer as a career pathway. Over 10 – 12 months, you will provide an on-farm job for a school leaver, or young Australian under 25. In your role as host, you will encourage your employee to become immersed in the local community and gain an appreciation of the opportunities within the agriculture sector. Download the information brochure here.
AgCareer Start is a 10-12 month Gap Year program to kick start young Australians' careers in Agriculture.
This unique gap-year program provides you with a paid job, training and development, not to mention the opportunity to build your networks within the agriculture industry. Download the information brochure here. Applications for 2023 open on July 12 and close October 18, 2022.
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Covid 19 Updates
Sensible changes to pandemic orders and public health recommendations and requests came into place at 11:59pm 12 July 2022. These include;
- The period when someone is considered a recently confirmed case (and therefore exempt from testing and isolation/quarantine requirements) has been revised to four weeks, down from 12 weeks.
- Positive cases are still required to isolate for seven days from the day they took their test but an additional reason to leave home has been added – to provide transport for a household member to obtain essential food, only if transport is essential or if other arrangements cannot be made. The infected person will need to remain in the car and wear a face covering at all times.
- Mask wearing in indoor and crowded settings is strongly recommended to protect yourself and the most vulnerable Victorians through winter – but there are no changes to current face mask requirements with these new pandemic orders.
Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for further information on these and other updates.
Join VCA: complete the Membership application form
and return it to: VCA Secretary, PO Box 612, Mooroopna, 3629
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