Current News

The Victorian Government is supporting primary producers in the City of Greater Shepparton and Yarra Ranges Council affected by the 23 March 2023 hailstorm event to get back in business, with loans support to help kickstart their relief and recovery effort.
 
Primary producers whose properties have been directly impacted or who have suffered a significant loss of income as a direct result of the 2023 hailstorm event are eligible to apply for a Hailstorm Primary Producer Concessional Loan of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway. Applications close 14 November 2023 at 4pm.
 
More information available on www.ruralfinance.com.au or Floods and storms | Emergency management | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria

AgriSafe™ Australia – AgriClinics

AgriSafe AgriClinicsTM provide the unique opportunity to consult with trained agricultural health clinicians for a free comprehensive health check.
They will assist you to:

• Understand your current health status and how to improve it.
• Learn how to keep you, your family and your workers safe.
• Identify on-farm risks and hazards.
• Obtain suitable personal protective equipment for your farm tasks.

Appointments are available for free to anyone working in the Victorian agricultural sector.  

Visit the National Centre for Farmer Health website for more info

The course covers the transportation, handling, storage, safe preparation and application of liquid chemical mixes and/or granular products for the control of weeds, pests and diseases across a range of industry sectors.

The key features of the Agriculture Chemical skill set course are:
• Safe use of chemicals and protective equipment
• Types of chemicals, their use and label interpretation
• Legislative requirements and recording procedures
• Spray application and modes of action
• Chemical preparation, storage, transport, disposal and clean up

Download the full information brochure here

Changes to workplace laws come into effect in June under the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act.

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act was passed in December 2022, making several changes to the Fair Work Act. Providers should ensure they are compliant with these new requirements before they come into effect. The changes are being phased in progressively, with the following changes commencing in early June 2023:

• Flexible work

• Extensions to unpaid parental leave

• Pay secrecy

• “Zombie” agreements

• Multi-employer bargaining 

Advisory service now available
Labour hire providers are obliged to meet all award, super and taxation obligations set in the Fair Work Act 2009. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Employer Advisory Service provides free tailored advice about pay and conditions to small business owners. Smaller providers can utilise this service to ensure they are meeting their obligations. Learn more on the FWO website

Visit the Labour Hire Authority website for further information on these upcoming changes

Prepare for upcoming changes to workplace laws

• changes to agreement making
• increased access to multi-employer bargaining through single-interest bargaining, supported bargaining and cooperative bargaining 
• changes to extending unpaid parental leave, including giving the Fair Work Commission the power to deal with disputes 
• more employees able to access flexible working arrangements.

Changes to job advertisement regulations

• provider and host obligations under the labour hire licensing scheme
• LHA’s recent and upcoming compliance and enforcement activities
• recent legal and regulatory changes in labour hire
• new resources to support compliance.