We have partnered with Greater Shepparton City Council as part of our Harvest Trail Industry Collaboration Trial and have created a full circle of support to attract, train and place workers with growers in the region. To achieve this, FGV has worked closely with Sense Communications to get the message out into the community. Some of the media links are listed below for your information. We have over 300 people interested in fruit picking and they have mostly registered via the pick shepp page. FGV have also been in touch with a large number of agencies and councils in the Melbourne area and are receiving a lot of interest from workers. FGV have been successful in the tendering for the Harvest Trail Industry Collaboration Trial with Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE). This is a 2 year project.
Once workers are registered here we will contact them and book the into fruit picking training which will be run daily at 3pm to assess suitability.
FGV have recently appointed Sidney Aspland as a field supervisor to train new workers on the art of fruit picking. Many of you will know Sidney who has over 46 years’ experience in growing fruit and picking fruit. Sidney has a specific system that he is going to educate workers on which will ensure that when they arrive on the farm, they are ready to pick fruit and know what they’re trying to do.
FGV and Council will look to place suitable workers with growers who are interested in employing directly and have on farm accommodation for those coming from outside of the area. We are also working in collaboration with MADEC as our local Harvest Trail service provider.
We encourage growers to employ Harvest labour directly under this trial.
This is an on the ground initiative and we have spoken to a number of growers already who are interested in participating.
If you are interested and we have not spoken to you, can you please fill out the attached questionnaireand reply back or send to
Media Links:
- https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/victorian-government-launches-6000-assistance-package-for-temporary-fruit-pickers/news-story/41564048570bcf3687a105cf281e25f8
- https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/fruit-farmers-launch-appeal-for-help-picking-their-crop-this-summer/ar-BB1cxN4e
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9121065/Victorian-fruit-farmers-launch-desperate-appeal-help-picking-crop-summer.html
- https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/victorian-government-launches-6000-assistance-package-for-temporary-fruit-pickers/news-story/41564048570bcf3687a105cf281e25f8
- https://philtimes.com.au/great-opportunity-for-victorians-to-work-in-fruit-harvesting-jobs-this-season/
- https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9281883/victorian-government-presents-6000-assistance-package-for-temporary-fruit-pickers/
- https://pressfrom.info/au/news/australia/-328779-fruit-farmers-launch-appeal-for-help-picking-their-crop-this-summer.html
- https://greekherald.com.au/news/fruit-growers-victoria-calling-fruit-harvesting-workers-this-season/
- https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/business/work/victorian-government-launches-6000-assistance-package-for-temporary-fruit-pickers/news-story/41564048570bcf3687a105cf281e25f8
- https://www.riverineherald.com.au/horticulture/2021/01/08/2549094/multi-million-dollar-crop-losses-in-queensland-a-warning-of-things-to-come-for-victorian-growers
