Orchard Assistant – Darlington Point, NSW

Agri Labour Australia; Darlington Point; On-site; AUD 42,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

Agri Labour Australia is recruiting for 10 orchard assistant positions at almond farms in Darlington Point and surrounding areas. Work commences January 2027 on a casual/contract basis, outdoors in varied weather.

Duties include machinery operation and maintenance, irrigation tasks, pruning, spraying, weed control, and harvest care. You must be physically fit, able to lift, follow directions, work as part of a team, and adapt to a multicultural work environment.

Qualifications

• Comfortable working in an outdoor farming environment.
• Good communication skills and able to follow instructions.
• No asthma or dust allergies.
• Physically fit for labour-intensive duties.
• Able to follow directions and work unsupervised with initiative.
• A team player and able to work with a multicultural team.

Responsibilities

• Operate, set up and maintain orchard machinery.
• Perform irrigation tasks and general farm hand duties.
• Maintain machinery including setting, loading, and operation.
• Perform basic engineering tasks and fault handling.
• Carry out non-trades maintenance using tools.
• Adjust production equipment as required.
• Ensure correct land preparation for orchard work.
• Remove weeds and spray as needed.
• Prune trees to improve light access and spray efficacy.
• Remove branches to reduce tree damage.
• Mix chemicals with correct dosage and monitor spray patterns.
• Check tree coverage and troubleshoot spray issues.
• Identify distressed trees and report pest or disease signs.
• Ensure no damage to tree bark during harvesting/shaking.

Skills

Machinery operation

Irrigation tasks

Farm hand duties

Outdoor work

Team player

Communication skills

Safety awareness

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