Victorian horticulture businesses still have time to receive extra support during the summer harvest to attract and retain new workers – but they must hurry, the Summer Seasonal Sign-on Bonus program closes on 31 December. Horticultural businesses can promote the Summer Seasonal Sign-on Bonus as an additional incentive for jobseekers to try their hand at harvest work.
 
To be eligible, workers new to agriculture must complete 10 days of work and apply for the bonus by 31 December. Interested employers can visit the Agriculture Victoria website and download a copy of the guidelines for further information.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way farms operate, and we know this hasn’t been easy. With the season’s harvest moving into full swing under challenging conditions, it’s important to protect your workers, family and regional communities by having safety covered. The links to further information in the attached document can assist producers in keeping across and navigating the latest requirements.

Current restrictions in Victoria

Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for more information on current Victoria restrictions.

From 18/11/2021, many COVID restrictions eased statewide as we entered Phase D, a vaccinated economy. 
For more details see: How we work: Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria

• All agricultural workers must be double vaccinated from 26/11/2021.
• If you have unvaccinated workers, including those who have arrived from interstate, they must get their first vaccination immediately.
• If you have a COVID-19 positive worker on your farm, the guidelines have changed.  You no longer have to close your site for a week.  See details here: Confirmed case in the workplace | Coronavirus Victoria
• To confirm your workplace actions see https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/Workplaces-business-industry-contact-management-guidance-2021-11-18.pdf  This is an easy to follow matrix to help you, the employer, determine who must be tested for COVID-19

Current restrictions in Victoria

Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for more information on current Victoria restrictions.

Translated materials to support businesses and community groups 
Posters, signs and guides - To remind your workers, patrons and visitors of what they need to do to be COVIDSafe, there are updated posters and signage. Some of these have been translated into other languages. Other translated materials include social media posts explaining how to access your COVID-19 digital certificate and audio explainers with step-by-step instructions on how to upload your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app. A digital Steakholder pack can be accessed here which includes valuable links and downloadable documents in languages other than English. 
 
Covid 19 – Facts and Requirements for the Harvest Season after 80% Vaccination Rate.

• Covid Plans need to be kept up to date and be available to the Department of Health and human services or Work Safe Victoria
• Workers need to be made aware of Covid Plans and kept up to date with any changes made to the plan
• All workers on a property must be vaccinated
• It is the responsibility of host businesses to check that contractors have the correct immunization records for their employees. Contractors are responsible for keeping these records.
• Masks are not required when working in an orchard for vaccinated workers
• Work bubbles should be created to reduce the mixing of workers on site to minimise the potential for spread.
• Workers need to get tested as soon as they have any symptoms of Covid 19 and they should not return to work until they have a negative result.

More detailed information on any of these points can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
If you have a positive COVID case in your workplace, you must manage this.  The steps to follow are covered here: Confirmed case in the workplace | Coronavirus Victoria

From 1 November 2021, if you have new employees start and they don't choose a super fund, you may have an extra step to take to comply with choice of fund rules. You may need to request their ‘stapled super fund’ details from the ATO.

A stapled super fund is an existing super account linked, or 'stapled', to an individual employee so it follows them as they change jobs. This aims to reduce account fees, avoiding new super accounts being opened every time an employee starts a new job. If you don't meet your choice of super fund obligations, additional penalties may apply.

Please visit the ATO website for further information.

Australia's first harvested apricot of the season is off to a strong start, according to leading Australian stone fruit grower, Mattina Fresh.

"We were very lucky this year with our Mogadore apricots," National Sales Director, Tom Panna said. "This year was the best year that we have seen - not necessarily for yield, as it was the lightest crop that we have seen - but the size has been really good, eating quality was amazing. So, we may have picked far less than we are used to, but we reaped benefits on quality as a result of that."

Visit the Fresh Plaza website to read the full article.