Cotton Jobs Australia was introduced last year by CA, assisted by a Queensland Government and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries grant, according to a press release by CA.
“The initiative provides another targeted avenue for farmers to advertise jobs and for workers to find them. We know there are other job websites, but our approach directly links the employer to the worker interested in cotton. While we are targeting the cotton season and pitching to seasonal and casual workers, there are also permanent jobs on the site and more will be advertised over the coming week,” said CA CEO Adam Kay.
Kay said most growers are paying above-Award rates and offering interesting roles with great conditions. “We encourage our Cotton Australia levy paying growers to post their job advertisements today. We are expecting a large cotton crop this season and we call on job seekers to visit the website regularly to discover and apply for a job that promises to be rewarding and a lot of fun.”
“I put a casual position up on the site and had a good response. From the applicants we were able to select someone who was a great help at a time when we needed it most,” said cotton grower Tristram Hertslet from Talwood. Hertslet used the site last year and attracted quality applicants.
“Cotton Jobs Australia now features testimonials from university students and others who used their Xmas break to discover the financial and lifestyle benefits of time on a cotton farm, along with casual and permanent jobs on offer, and an interactive map to assist jobseekers. We regularly engage with our political leaders on behalf of farmers, and we know that federal agriculture minister Murray Watt has a focus to attract, train, retain, and protect farm workers,” said CA’s workforce policy officer Paul Sloman, adding that the jobs site is now even more user-friendly.
“Senator Watt is moving to address the working visa processing backlog and I would like to call on the minister to continue funding related to the Working Holiday Maker visa fee and relocation assistance for visa holders and Australian workers. Those initiatives are helpful but with most of our farmers needing up to an extra three staff each season, more needs to be done. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts that are being made but we would welcome more working holiday makers immediately to help fill the gaps in rural and regional Australia,” Sloman said.
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