On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant Program
This program will close on 28 August 2020, or when government funding for this program is fully allocated, whichever comes first.
The Victorian Government through Agriculture Victoria of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Agriculture Victoria) has established the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grant Program to assist eligible farm businesses to invest in on-farm drought preparedness and to seek business advice. The program is a key component of the increased drought assistance being provided to Victorian farmers. Visit the Rural Finance website for more information... Agriculture Workforce Plan Support

• Worker Relocation and Transport - Support the attraction of workers to fill vacant job roles through providing financial support to businesses to offset the costs of worker accommodation, travel to work costs and relocation costs.
• Worker Induction and Re-Training - Provides grants between $1,000 and $100,000 (up to 100 per cent of total eligible project costs) to support eligible employers to induct workers into new job roles and deliver re-training that has been necessitated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Business Adaptation - Provides grants between $10,000 and $300,000 (up to 50 per cent of total eligible project costs) to support eligible businesses to meet the costs of complying with COVID-19 health, safety and social distancing requirements or adapt to required business changes imposed from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To register your interest and to discuss the program further please register here https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-covid-19/agriculture-

 
Recruitment Support - There is a job matching platform called Sideckicker where you can register your interest for workers for the up coming season:  Find employees on the platform

Face Masks In the Workplace

As you are aware, from 11.59 pm on Sunday 2 August, all Victorians are now required to wear a face mask covering when leaving their home, unless they have a lawful reason for not doing so.  Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure that workers wear a face covering at all times when working in their business.
 
Premier Daniel Andrews has clarified when masks need to be worn for those who live on farms. The premier called for a common-sense approach, and gave a number of situational examples of when a mask is required.
Essentially:

• If you’re working alone on your farm and not coming into contact with other people, a mask IS NOT needed.
• If you’re working on your farm with people who live in the same house as you, a mask IS NOT needed.
• If you’re working on your farm alongside people who do not live in the same house as you, a mask IS REQUIRED.

“If it’s a family farm and you and members of your household, then common sense tells you that you don’t need to wear a mask,” Mr Andrews said. “But once you go past the front gate and go into town … you would (need to wear a mask). “If you’ve got staff or if you’ve got people coming to your property to make deliveries or to collect livestock for instance … or if you have staff coming onto your property … logic just says put your mask on because that person is not part of your household. Even though the farm is your home, that’s then a workplace.”
 
More information about using and managing face coverings in workplaces in areas under Stage 3 Restrictions, to reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the Worksafe website- https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/managing-coronavirus-covid-19-risks-face-coverings-workplaces

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation and Worker Support Payments
The Department of Health and Human Services is providing a one-off $1,500 payment designed to financially support Victorian workers who, as of 20 June, have been instructed by the department to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of a confirmed case. The COVID-19 worker support payment recognises that the requirement to self-isolate or quarantine at home can cause a financial burden for some individuals and families who are without incomes during this period.  Providing financial support can help alleviate this burden, making it easier for people to comply with the direction to stay at home. Visit the Department of Health and Human Services website for more information...

Government going door to door
From July 29, employers are required to notify WorkSafe immediately if they become aware that a worker has received a confirmed coronavirus diagnosis. This also applies to people who are self-employed to contractors. These Regulations will be in place for 12 months to hopefully reduce the spread of coronavirus in the workplace. For more information visit the DHHS website. 

COVID Safe Workplan
All businesses in stage 4 are to have a Covid safe workplan in place with the new restrictions, it is a suggestion for stage 3 but still encouraged, please see here : https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/covid-safe-business/creating-a-covid-safe-workplace. A Directions Notice will be put out shortly by the Deputy chief health officer which will provide specifics of what we need to follow

Resources

• Agriculture Victoria Coronavirus Resources eg. Agricultural business FAQs for coronavirus, Agriculture Workforce Plan, Seasonal and contract workers during coronavirus, Services for farmers during the pandemic, A checklist for workers on symptoms and testing
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions Victoria - Details on restrictions in Victoria to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
• General information and frequently asked questions about the use of face coverings throughout Victoria and new restrictions -https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/updated-restrictions-announced-30-july-covid-19
• The Victorian Government is providing one-off payments to financially support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19-  Visit DHHS for further information.
• To help communicate important health information in languages other than English, visit the translated resources page on the DHHS website.  These resources can be downloaded, distributed digitally, displayed at worksites and, where appropriate, displayed in accommodation and on transportation provided by employers.
• This link provides a good overview for growers in Stage 4 restrictions in terms of what restrictions/obligations are in place for them as a business. Visit the Victorian Chamber of Commerce website for more information...

Visit the Australian Rural Women's Network website for more information...

 

The Department of Health and Human Services is providing a one-off $1,500 payment designed to financially support Victorian workers who, as of 20 June, have been instructed by the department to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of a confirmed case.

The COVID-19 worker support payment recognises that the requirement to self-isolate or quarantine at home can cause a financial burden for some individuals and families who are without incomes during this period. 

Providing financial support can help alleviate this burden, making it easier for people to comply with the direction to stay at home. 

Visit the Department of Health and Human Services website for more information...

New and extended IFAM supported flights

As part of phase 2, the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) is pleased to announce the following new and extended flights. Also, all flights are now open 72 hours prior to departure for all freight forwarders to access.

Full details of all available IFAM-supported flights can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound. 


IFAM eligibility update
In line with the Government’s announcement on 3 April 2020 of an additional $241.9 million, IFAM will continue to support airfreight capacity in and out of Australia.  
Eligibility for products supported by IFAM has shifted to being determined by a set of overarching principles rather than only specific commodities. These principles determine eligibility based on Australian-made or produced products that are: 

• High value,
• Time-sensitive,
• Reliant on airfreight, for example, due to perishability or are: 
  • products that could not be sent by an alternative to airfreight without losing their essential product characteristics or value
  • goods that have a limited shelf life or are required to meet a sudden or immediate need.

OR

• Otherwise deemed to be in the national interest.

Many of the agriculture and seafood products supported by IFAM to date will remain eligible; however, IFAM will not be limited to agriculture and seafood goods, and products meeting the above principles may be considered for IFAM support.  
Additional products now eligible under the principles framework may include medicines which have a short shelf life, are high-value and are reliant on airfreight to meet a sudden or immediate need – for example, blood products, or raw material ingredients for pharmaceuticals. 

A dearth of seasonal workers will means farmers are increasingly concerned their crops will go to waste, according to the Australia Fresh Produce Alliance's Michael Rogers. The number of backpackers, who traditional pick-fruit for farmers, has plummeted as state and federal government close borders in order to control the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Mr Rogers said Australia is now heavily reliant on working holiday-makers to pick fruit.

Read more of this Sky News article and watch the short video...