With many country areas still critically short of harvest workers, the agricultural sector is desperately hoping more grey nomads can be persuaded to work on the land.
Incentives such a relocation rebate of up to $6,000 are still on offer to people willing to work in regional areas for more than six months.
The agriculture sector is short tens of thousands of workers and workforce company Programmed says it has been a massive struggle to fill “gaping hole” left by backpackers.
“We need an army of 3,000 workers for the harvest season across 30 locations in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland,” executive general manager David Hele told the ABC. “Normally we have a group of 150,000 or so backpackers to tap into to fill these types of roles … unfortunately that’s all dried up.”
Mr Hele said older travellers could play a key role in filling jobs for this year’s grain harvest.
“There’s almost 40,000 grey nomads out on the roads at any one time and they’re travelling around creating their own adventures and rural experiences, and we’d love to tap into that group,” he told the ABC. “We’re trying to appeal to people of all walks of life, the grey nomads … or people that are stuck in the metro cities that are looking for a bit of a lifestyle change and a change of scenery.”
Mr Hele said workers could earn up to $2,000 a week working from 30 to 60 hours a week.
“Travel around, enjoy a different adventure and earn some really good money at the same time,” he said. “We know how hard they work and they have a very small window to make the most of really their entire year, and that window is this harvest.”
Can you advise the type of roles that available for a 60 plus person. Have no experience in farm work but willing to learn.
Just finished as a volunteer at a caravan park
Denis, you might be able to drive a tractor towing a chaser bin.
The tractors of today are easier to drive than those I drove on our farm in the 1970’s. The chaser bin collects grain from the header on the run. The header augers the grain into the chaser bin as you drive alongside. Once he has emptied the bin on the header you take the grain to either another bigger field bin or a truck. Once you have emptied the chaser bin you head off to where the header driver wants you to. The machines I have driven have CB radios so it’s not guess work. If they want you bad enough they will train you.
Keen to know more.
What is on offer and where please
Try this website: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest/search
What jobs are available in New South Wales in the harvest Trail and for how long
Try this website: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest/search
Yeah don’t enjoy these articles when details aren’t provided, dangle the carrot but that’s about all. I’m 60 as well and wife and I are due to hit the road in Feb but gladly leave earlier.
I wouldn’t bother hitting the road. We sold the house, bought the van and 4 months later were in the 2020 lockdown in NSW. The way border closures pop up, now and the way states are talking “No vaccine passport, no travel” in our own damned country, it’s a waste of money even having a van.
It isn’t the jab, but the bloody unsult! Tell us to get injected? They can get stuffed!
Greg this is the problem of this day and age
People think they are above being told or asked what to do and thats why it has got out of hand.
Your better off selling your van and go and sit in a room and wait hey
If you really are interested then just do an internet search for harvest jobs. Chances are very good you will be directed to the grey nomads classifieds.
Easy
Can drive any type of plant from bobcat to D11 also trucks bit rusty on R/R a header or tractor with a bin shouldn’t be much of a challenge
Any in WA going 61 yrs working 2/2 willing to lend a hand on breaks
How do I find out more?
I have farm experience and nothing but time up my sleeves
Try this website: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest/search
Good point Greg.
This is supposed to be ONE country not many egotisticals trying to make a name for themselves at our expense.
I have had a lot of farming experience but dont know GPS steering any jobs in WA for mw
I am on the wrong side of 80 so cannot drive heavy transport any more but can operate on private property as mentioned above.
Biggest problem is getting out of Sydney with the present COVID lockdown and not permitted to go more that 5 kms from home. Fully vaccinated.
Couple of days ago it took me less than half an hour to get a position on a farm in central NSW, and most of that time was because of a 25 minute delay in getting a reply.
In my younger days was a plant breeders assistant/laboratory tech mainly wheat and barley breeding Have worked on farms but moved away from agriculture into other better paying fields after additional study I am now a fit 70 year old in SA have travelled around Aust twice What sort of work is available ? Does it pay enough to stop getting the pension?
I am 77 and retired x ambulance paramedic for 28 years in Victoria and was wondering is there any openings in the harvest trail etc for a person like me I live in a self contained 5th wheeler RV with my dog , my wife is in a nursing home in Benalla Victoria. I have a heavy rigid license and can work a PC. Hope you can help me Doug Geeson
I have not done harvest time jobs, but have cartaken a number of properties while the owners have been away.
The main drawback for offering my services for harvesting jobs is the perception that they go for quite a long time. A 2 to 5 week stint is acceptable, but more than that may not be.
I do not expect to be paid, although filling up with diesel when I leave is always welcome.
I was keen to chip in. Emailed one of the ads for cherry picking in GNT but they never emailed me back so they can’t be that desperate
would love to help out on a farm. But am 72, feel i am fit and healthy for my age, retired butcher, 5 hr day would probably pull me up,dont need big money ,would battle with confidence, reared on a dairy farm have an affinity to rural.have own camper.
I’d love nothing more than being able to help support my travel & the farmers by working now & then but at almost seventy with severe arthritis I’m extremely limited. Most harvest jobs require you to be physically fit & able to stand long hours, bending & lifting heavy things. Only thing I can do now is drive – pretty much anything.
The biggest problem is the way many of these schemes are implemented . You register with an agency, who then sets you up with a farmer. The agency pays you the award rate (around $24 per hour), and charges the farmer about $65 per hour.
Far better for all concerned if you work out where you can get to ( given the Covid situation) and find the local newspaper and/or rural website/Facebook page for that area. Post an ad detailing what you can do (and importantly what you can’t do). There are lots of jobs that don’t need experience, just a common sense approach and a willingness to learn. There are even jobs for the Missus, moving vehicles and workers between paddocks/ properties etc.
Just be prepared for some long days and some dust and dirt. I have people calling me nearly every harvest to see if I’m available. If you are a good worker, you can easily find work in the bush. I have only ever been unemployed when I’ve actually wanted to be!
Give it a go!
All too keen to help out, however how on earth can you commit to a job when we don’t know the future with Covid lockdowns etc.?
No way I’d commit under the current lockdown climate, and not be able to fulfill your obligation. Only stuffing the employer around. Kevin
Wife and I are retired – 66 and 64 and live in Ipswich QLD. She is a nurse and I’m an ex RAAF motor mechanic. Both capable of driving a tractor or bus to help out. Would prefer the 30 – 40 hour week rather than 60 though! What is available that is not too far away in QLD?
While I applaud those interested in Grey Nomad jobs for those on a pension there is a decision to make. Every dollar you earn must be reported to Centerlink and you will loose part of if not all your payment. If only one partner works what they earn will make a difference to your partner’s payment.
I thought it would be easy to register and help out with the Grain Harvest. I have applied to three sites so far and only one have I heard back from. The reply I am getting is for me to provide References of the company I have worked for. That is a waste of time as I haven’t been in the work force for over 13y. I thought they were urgently looking for workers. A phone call would be more appropriate surely. Am I missing something as even this Grey Nomad release doesn’t give you any real links. Does anyone have a better idea?
I have an MC licence and Driver Authorisation, but most of my experience is HC, would love to help out at harvest somewhere in Qld as that’s my licence, have own accommodation, only need water as fully self contained
Truck driver with 32years behind the wheel and tractor work
Recently retired. Hold HC license, have sheep, cattle breeding and farming experience. Retired Plumber Drainer & Gasfitter and Carpenter & Joiner. Looking at beginning retirement travels and would like work to supplement our lifestyle. Could head any direction that employment suits. Can anyone advise?
Any harvest work for age pensioner with
Qld MC licence, .