Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
What's New
About the Pilot
On 24 November 2008 the Australian Government, represented by the Honourable Duncan Kerr SC MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Governments of the Republic of Kiribati, the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Vanuatu.
The Memoranda of Understanding establish the arrangements between Australia and the respective governments which will underpin the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. It is anticipated that Papua New Guinea will participate in the Pilot later this year.
The Australian Government is conducting the Pilot to examine whether a seasonal worker program could contribute to economic development in home countries through Pacific seasonal workers’ employment experience, remittances and training.
The Pilot will also examine the benefits to the Australian economy and to employers within the horticulture industry who can demonstrate that they cannot source local labour. The Pilot will run for three years.
For information on harvest seasons, demand and type of work please visit the Harvest Guide.
Australian residents interested in undertaking harvest work should see the Harvest Labour Services webpage or talk to their local Job Services Australia provider for more information.
Australia welcomes first Pacific seasonal workers
There are now 56 Pacific seasonal workers in Australia.
Pacific seasonal workers from Tonga, who were previously employed by Tree Minders Pty in Robinvale (Vic), are now employed by All Recruiting Services Pty Ltd. Some of these Pacific seasonal workers are have now relocated to Mundubbera (Qld) and are working on the citrus harvest. A smaller group of Pacific seasonal workers remain in Victoria. They are based in Mildura and are pruning table grapes.
Pacific seasonal workers currently in Australia from Vanuatu are employed by Griffith Skills Training Centre t/as Summit Personnel and are working in Griffith (NSW) and Swan Hill (Vic).
All Pacific seasonal workers have attended an on-arrival briefing which includes an orientation of their new location, assistance in completing employment related forms, on-farm inductions, and information sessions from the Australian Workers' Union and the Workplace Ombudsman.
Eligible Growers
Australian horticulture growers with demonstrated unmet demand for labour, can apply to access the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. Growers will need to download a grower application form and advise of the estimated number of Pacific seasonal workers that they require, the duration of work available, and the specific skills and abilities required by these workers. For more information see information for growers.
Local advice - advisory bodies
To date, local advisory bodies have been established in the Griffith and Swan Hill-Robinvale regions.
Each advisory body comprises representatives from local horticulture growers, local government, unions and representatives from community organisations.
The advisory bodies contribute to the pastoral care and community acceptance of Pacific seasonal workers. For more information, see the factsheet on the local advisory body below:
Employment arrangements
Labour hire companies approved by the Australian Government to employ and place workers for Phase 1 of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme include Summit Personnel, All Recruiting Services and Tree Minders. It is anticipated that a further expression of interest process for the remaining visas will take place later in 2009 once arrangements with Papua New Guinea have been finalised. Labour hire companies and interested others should register their interest at seasonalworker@deewr.gov.au to be advised of developments. For more information see the page on labour hire companies and check the website for updates regularly.
Who will benefit from the Pilot?
A successful Pilot stands to benefit growers, Pacific seasonal workers, families in sending communities, regional communities in Australia where workers are placed, and Australia. For specific information on how these groups may benefit under the Pilot, please see the factsheet Frequently Asked Questions below:
Evaluation
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Pilot will be conducted with reports to Government after 18 months and 30 months of operation.
Evaluation of the Pilot will assess whether the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme has contributed to:
- the Pacific region’s economic development; and
- assisting Australian employers
An Australian Government committee oversees the Pilot. A stakeholder consultative panel has also been established.
Further information
This website will be updated regularly, however any queries on the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme can be emailed to seasonalworker@deewr.gov.au.
Factsheets