Jake and Nick Rasch are sixth-generation fruit growers who are putting their own spin on new technologies and orchard training systems on their more than 500-acre operation on West Michigan’s famed Fruit Ridge.

Tour visitors from the International Fruit Tree Association’s (IFTA) annual conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in February were shown a block of Bellaire peaches planted in 2020 on Bailey rootstock at Rasch Family Orchards.

The in-row, V-system peach blocks have produced more uniform-sized fruit, and the number of peach pickings has been reduced from eight or nine down to five or six.

Read more of this Fruit Growers News article here..

Changes to labour hire accommodation regulations
Some providers will need to meet new requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2020. 
or Victorian labour hire providers, this means that from 15 February 2023, all labour hire accommodation:

• must be registered by the proprietor with the local council
• must meet cleanliness, hygiene, maintenance and other standards under the Public Health and Wellbeing (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2020.

While providers may not always be the operators of accommodation they provide or procure for their workers, they are responsible for ensuring they do not place workers in premises that do not comply with applicable minimum standards. These include these new obligations, and the requirements outlined in section 3 of the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018. More information about the changes to labour hire accommodation is available on the Department of Health website.
Visit the Labour Hire Authority website for more information

Red flags: Beware of illegal phoenix activity
LHA has been cracking down on phoenixing - learn more about this highly illegal practice and the warning signs to look out for. Visit the Labour Hire Authority website for more information.

Designed to encourage and empower participants to have an active voice and role in the agriculture sector, both programs support rural women to work collaboratively, explore issues impacting their industries and communities and develop real solutions. Applications for both programs are open until 5.00pm on Monday 27 February 2023.

Visit the Rural Women's Network website for more information on the 2023 Rural Women's Leadership Program, and also the 2023 Rural Women's Mentoring Program

New pay secrecy and job ad laws
New workplace laws about pay secrecy and what can be included in job advertisements (ads) now apply. These changes are part of the Australian Government’s new Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislation that passed in December 2022. The new laws include:

• giving employees the right to share (or not share) information about their pay
• banning pay secrecy terms in employment contracts and other workplace instruments 
• prohibiting job ads with pay rates lower than the legal minimum entitlements that apply to the job.

These changes apply now, with some transitional arrangements.

Reminder - paid family and domestic violence leave from 1 February 2023
From 1 February 2023, employees of non-small business employers (employers with 15 or more employees) can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave every 12 months. Employees of small business employers can access this leave from 1 August 2023.

Find out more at New paid family and domestic violence leave.

Secure Jobs, Better Pay update
As you are likely aware, the Fair Work Act was recently amended to change a number of existing rules and introduced a range of new workplace laws. Many of these changes started on 7 December 2022, with other changes starting later. We have developed a Secure Jobs, Better Pay timeline to help show key start dates for the changes. To find out more about these changes and when they start please refer to the below:

• Secure Jobs, Better Pay: changes to Australian workplace laws
• Pay secrecy, job ads and flexible work
• Gender equality measures and small claims process
• Enterprise agreements and enterprise bargaining
• Abolition of the ABCC and the ROC.

Visit the Fairwork Ombudsman Website for more details.

We know that growers are a resilient group of people. The last 2 years have been a lot for everyone with Covid, Floods, Hail storms and cost of production pressures. If you need help please reach out to one of the following services:

 

• Rural Aid- Counselling (Mental health)- 1300 327 634
  https://www.ruralaid.org.au/services-provided/
• Rural Aid Counselling Intake Line – 1300 175 594. www.ruralaid.org.au
• National Centre for Farmer Health- Online Psychology Service. NCFH Online Psychology Service. Access a Psychologist Online- https://farmerhealth.org.au/access-a-psychologist-online
• RFCS- (Rural Financial Counselling Service)- 1300 771 741
  The local rural financial counselling services. https://www.rfcsvicne.org.au/. Watch the information video to find out what is covered by this service- https://www.rfcsvicne.org.au/images/rfcs-whiteboard1.m

As we head into harvest, check you have efficient and safe transport for workers between orchards.

We all remember the tragic death of the Woorinen South worker, who suffered fatal head injuries after falling from a trailer.   

This picking season, we're asking all growers to prepare safe work systems, so everyone can return home safely to their families and communities.

Visit the Worksafe Victoria website for more information