Assistant Farm Hand

University-of-Melbourne; Dookie; On-site; AUD 66,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Salary packaging

Health and wellbeing programs

Professional development opportunities

Discounted services (e.g., Bupa health

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus is seeking an Assistant Farm Hand to support day-to-day livestock operations and broadacre cropping. This hands-on role offers practical experience in livestock husbandry, crop management, and farm operations while contributing to educational and research initiatives.

You will join a collaborative team at the Dookie Campus to develop practical agricultural skills and advance campus livestock enterprises in a supportive learning environment.

Qualifications

• Practical hands-on interest in agriculture and willingness to learn.
• Experience in basic livestock husbandry tasks (feeding, weighing, handling).
• Knowledge of farm machinery operation and maintenance.
• Commitment to safe work practices and occupational health and safety guidelines.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.
• Physically fit for manual labour tasks.
• Willingness to learn and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Effective team player with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Livestock Operations: assist with day-to-day operations including feeding, sheep handling, weighing, yarding, shearing, and robotic dairy tasks.
• Farm Maintenance: assist with routine maintenance and repairs and safe use of farm machinery.
• Record Management: help manage farm records accurately.
• Animal Husbandry: participate in key animal husbandry tasks following best practices.

Skills

Livestock handling

Cropping knowledge

Farm machinery operation

Safety & OH&S

Team player

Manual labour

Job description

Position Title

Assistant Farm Hand

Job Information

Role type: Full time; Fixed Term for 12 months Faculty: Faculty of Science Department/ School: School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences Salary: UOM 2: $66,493 - $69,182 p.a. plus 17% super

Location: Dookie Campus, University of Melbourne

Gain hands-on experience in livestock and cropping while building essential agricultural skills.

Investing in you - benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

Your next career opportunity Join the University of Melbourne's Dookie Campus as an Assistant Farm Hand, where you'll play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the campus's livestock enterprises and assisting with broadacre cropping activities. This hands‑on position offers an excellent opportunity to develop practical skills in livestock husbandry, crop management, and farm operations while contributing to the university's agricultural education and research initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Livestock Operations: Assist the Farm Hand and Farm Manager with basic day-to-day operations of the livestock enterprises, including feeding animals, managing sheep flocks (weighing, yarding, and shearing), and assisting with the robotic dairy operations and assist with spraying weeds, fence maintenance.
• Farm Maintenance: Assist the Farm Hand with routine maintenance and repairs, ensuring responsible use of farm machinery and equipment.
• Record Management: Assist the Farm Manager with accurate management of farm records.
• Animal Husbandry: Participate in key animal husbandry tasks, adhering to best practices in livestock management.

Desired Qualifications

• Are a practical and hands‑on individual with a keen interest in agriculture, possessing a willingness to learn and contribute to farm operations while working collaboratively in a team environment.
• Have experience in basic livestock husbandry tasks, such as feeding, weighing, and handling animals.
• Possess knowledge of farm machinery and equipment operation and maintenance.
• Demonstrate a commitment to safe work practices and adherence to occupational health and safety guidelines.
• Exhibit strong attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions accurately.
• Be physically fit and able to perform manual labour tasks as required.
• Possess a willingness to learn and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Be an effective team player with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well‑being
• Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work‑life balance and well‑being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
• Health and well‑being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

About the School

The School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES) has a vision of flourishing environments and communities. It brings together diverse discipline strengths to lead the development of new interdisciplinary thinking and high‑impact solutions for global challenges relating to climate change, food security, healthy food systems, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, invasive species, and environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural practices.

Faculty Overview

The faculty of science is home to seven schools: Agriculture, Food & Ecosystem Sciences; Biosciences; Chemistry; Geography, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences; Mathematics & Statistics; Physics; and Melbourne Veterinary School.

Science at Melbourne is a global leader across discovery and applied scientific research and education. Science begins with curiosity, and we are dedicated to understanding the universe from the level of sub‑atomic particles to the solar system.

Diversity & Inclusion

The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child‑safe organisation.

The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.

We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at [e-mail].

Eligibility

• You must have current valid work rights for Australia.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.

Contact

For queries related to this specific position, contact Nathan Anderson at [e-mail].

For questions related to our recruitment process email Oliver Bukasa at [e-mail].

For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on [phone] or at [e-mail] (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').

Application Deadline

Applications close: 24 September 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.