Orchard Assistant - Darlington Point, Nsw

Agri Labour Australia Pty; Darlington Point; On-site; AUD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Agri Labour Australia Pty is recruiting orchard assistants for almond farm sites in Darlington Point and surrounds. The roles are contract/casual positions with start from January 2027, outdoors in orchard environments.

You will perform machinery operation, irrigation tasks, and general farm hand duties, with heavy lifting and dynamic climate conditions. The job offers 120 hours every 4 weeks and a 9-month term, with pay under the Horticulture Agreement at 36.52 AUD per hour.

Qualifications

• Comfortable working in an outdoor farming environment.
• Physically fit and able to carry out labour-intensive duties.
• Good communication skills and ability to follow instructions.
• Able to work unsupervised with initiative.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties on an almond farm including machinery operation, irrigation tasks and general farm hand duties.
• Maintain machinery, including setting, loading, operation and basic fault handling.
• Support orchard hygiene, land preparation, weed removal and spraying, pruning and pest/disease identification.
• Assist during harvest with care to avoid damage to trees and bark.

Skills

Outdoor work

Heavy lifting

Team player

Good communication

Physically fit

No asthma or dust allergies

Job description

Job Type: Contract position | Casual position

Job Description

Our client is an industry leading agribusiness with sophisticated orchard operations located in Darlington Point and surrounds. They are currently looking to fill 10 orchard assistant positions across their sites, with work commencing from January 2027 onwards. You are required to work in orchard environment where you will spend most of your days outdoors.

You will need to be comfortable with getting your hands dirty as well as working in all different climates. This includes hot, cold, rainy and sunny weather. You will be a team player who is physically fit and more than able to handle heavy lifting.

You will be paid under the Agri Labour Australia Horticulture Agreement 2016, at an hourly rate of $36.52 per hour. You will be offered at least 120 hours of work for every 4 weeks of your placement. This will be aligned with the Fair Work Commission's annual reviews, including any increases to the National Minimum Wage and minimum award rates of pay. You will be offered 9 months of work, with potential to upskill.

Key duties include: The orchard assistant will be responsible for a number of duties within an almond farm environment including machinery operation, irrigation tasks general farm hand duties.

Importantly, they will also be responsible for machinery maintenance, including.

• Machine setting, loading and operation.
• Basic engineering and fault handling.
• Basic non-trades maintenance involving the use of tools and equipment
• Operating, setting up and adjusting maintenance functions including (but not limited to): removing equipment fastenings including use of destructive cutting equipment.

Running adjustments to production equipment

Orchard Hygiene

• Ensure correct land preparation
• Conduct weed removal and spraying
• Ensure branch removal without damaging trees or buds

Puring to enhance future yield

• Correct tree pruning to improve access to light and chemical sprays
• Reduce tree damage by removing branches

Orchard Sprays to enhance tree health

• Mix correct chemical dosage
• Ensure correct spray pattern and tractor speed
• Assess correct tree coverage and troubleshoot poor tree coverage

Pest and disease Identification control

• Identify and report distressed trees
• Identify and report basic pest and disease sprays

During harvest you must Ensure no damage to tree bark during shaking

Characteristics and Aptitudes

To be considered for the role, it's important you meet the following criteria:

• Comfortable working in an outdoor farming environment
• Good communication skills and able to follow instructions
• No asthma or dust allergies
• Physically fit and comfortable in carrying out labour intensive duties
• Comfortable working in hot, cold, rainy and sunny weather.
• Able to follow directions and work unsupervised whilst showing high levels of initiative
• A team player and happy working with a multicultural team