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COVID-19 CORONOVIRUS 
​
POST-COVID LABOUR SUPPLY SURVEY UPDATE

We have had a good start to the survey with key findings that nearly 100% of rural employers surveyed favour early return of working holiday makers made possible by Govt. policy and quarantine arrangements.
We will continue to relay the findings. 
The survey will be more powerful with more respondents. 
PLEASE TAKE 2 MINS to complete the survey. We really value and appreciate your support. 


The following text explains the background...
It is uncertain when our borders will open to international travellers again. Some estimates are for later this year, some for mid 2021.
It is understood that this is likely to seriously impact rural and outback agricultural labour supply. This includes livestock, cropping, general farm work, maintenance, repair and mechanical roles, equine industries (incl equestrian), fruit and vegetable harvest and support workers such as cooks and au-pairs.
Joanna from VisitOz is a member of BYTAP, (Backpacker Youth and Tourism Advisory Panel) which is a committee advising government on backpacker issues.
Therefore we are involved in the conversation assessing the need for policy to encourage the early return of OVERSEAS WORKERS (working holiday visa holders etc) for agricultural work. A similar exercise is in place for overseas students who study here.
We have been asked to survey our members and report trends and insight. May we ask you to complete the short survey ( approx. 2 mins) which will help to build up a body of evidence to express the views and needs of rural and outback employers post COVID.

Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey. Here is the link, or use the button below. 
https://survey.app.do/post-covid-support-staff-labour
You are welcome to forward the survey to others who work in these areas. Thank you very much for your participation.
Joanna Burnet and all the VisitOz team. 
0741 686155
0499 686155
 jobs@visitoz.org
POST COVID LABOUR SUPPLY
TELL US YOUR VACANCY

COVID 19 - Survey.    Many thanks to all those who completed our survey. 
If you have not completed it yet, please do so as these figures have gone to the Joint Standing Committee but more submissions are needed now for the Senate Enquiry - many thanks.
Please use the button below the summary profiles to link to the survey. 
 
We have just a couple of young people here this week.
 
In the first instance please speak to Tanya, the jobs manager  0741 686 155 or 0499 686 155
(To speak to the participants at the farm please call 0741 686041 / 106)
 


Molly is 33 and comes from China.  She has been in Australia for several years including studying MPhil in Law at the University of Queensland.  As an Australian graduate she has the 485 visa which entitles her to work when and where she wishes until 7 May 2022.  She is therefore available as a very long term employee.
Apart from working a law firms she is a semi professional tennis player and a teacher of Iyengar yoga.   She is small and slight, and it looks as if a puff of wind would blow her away, but she is made of sterner stuff.  She is looking for an outdoor and active lifestyle and is looking forward to learning a lot about the agricultural work and the bush lifestyle.
She has had a driving licence in the past but has let it lapse.  Not happy on a motorbike or a horse but loves animals and was able to do simple tasks when driving a tractor.  She is happy to take on lots of different tasks in her job and is willing to go anywhere and do almost anything.
Because of her fitness / yoga / sport regime she only eats fruit and vegetables and tofu.  She is happiest to make her own meals.
Her English is excellent.   She is available to start work from 10th August, which is also her 34th birthday.    Please call Tanya on 0741 686 155 in the first instance.
 



Chris is 31, Canadian and comes from Alberta, Canada.  He has had an active varied and ‘tradie’ career which includes 1 year of carpentry, 7 years of landscaping, concreting, construction and fruit and vegetable harvesting.   He can drive a car and motorbike and truck and says “probably” to tractor driving.  (He has driven bobcats and potato harvesters.)  He has not arrived with us yet – arrives on Thursday or Friday – so we will find this out very soon.   He is a beginner horse rider and said “sorta” to mechanical and welding skills. 
He is not a fussy eater and is a non-smoker.  He is tidy looking and a very outdoors person.
He is flying to Brisbane from Hobart on Thursday and will be ready for work by Wednesday 12th August.   He did a lot of landscaping and structural work and pruning in New Zealand.
He has a full driving licence and a perfect driving record.  He has a Working at Heights, Confined Space and White Card tickets.   English is his first language.
Please call Tanya i the first instance on 0499 686 155.
 



Notes for Employers.
The BYTAP proposals have been given to the Joint Committee on Migration yesterday and have been well received.   I have not yet given my own submission verbally and I am not sure if I will be called to give evidence.  

Thank you to everyone who wrote letters which were attached to the submissions.    It Is not certain if the proposals will be accepted but we do have a list of young people with agricultural skills hoping to come in late August, September, and October on our pilot programmes. 
Thank you also to those who said, In the Survey, that they would be willing to contribute towards the isolation costs that the participants would have on arrival.  Shortly we will be sending a more detailed list of those who would like to be in the early groups – just a ‘teaser’ so far.

If you have time please write to your Federal Member of Parliament and the Senate – and to your local State member to say that you would like to join this BYTAP arrangement to obtain pastoral workers from Australian Working Adventures and Visitoz when this starts.
We have also asked for a resumption of the 408 visas, or an Agricultural Visa similar to the J1 in the USA (organised by Specialised workplace providers like us) and a list of some of these people is appended – there are more than 180 wanting to come.

Thank you to everyone for your help so far – we are hoping this will work and soon.

I am sorry that we have so few to offer you each week at present.  There are only 1/3 of the usual number of backpackers in the country at the moment and the majority of them do not wish to undertake and training to get them anything better than fruit picking – and because they are fruit picking they have very little money to spend.  We get a lot of applicants, who do not read the details, and expect 5+ days food, accommodation, work experience, and job choices to be free of charge!
 
Joanna & Will
0741 686 185

  • Employers Info
    • What we do
    • Expectations
    • Membership
    • Subscribe
    • Join
    • Our team
    • TAX & PAY
    • 2nd Visa
  • Tell us your vacancy
  • New Workers
    • New Workers detail
  • Worker reports