Home

Harvest Trail reaches out to local labour

Catherine MasseyBusselton Dunsborough Times
Rural Enterprises directors Emma Willis and Stuart Willis, recruitment administrator Sarah Clayton, and Harvest Trail officer Bernice Russo at After Hours Wine in Jindong. Photo: Catherine Massey
Camera IconRural Enterprises directors Emma Willis and Stuart Willis, recruitment administrator Sarah Clayton, and Harvest Trail officer Bernice Russo at After Hours Wine in Jindong. Photo: Catherine Massey Credit: Picture: Catherine Massey

While South West farms looked high and low for their usual backpackers, Rural Enterprises teamed up with the Harvest Trail Services initiative to provide farmers in horticulture and viticulture with local workers.

The initiative was a free Federal Government program which aimed to locate employees for South West growers who currently experience labour shortages.

Harvest Trail officer Bernice Russo said this was the first year Harvest Trail Services was available in the South West.

“We are now endeavouring to the get the word out to growers that we can help, and also to local jobseekers who are looking for work so we can match them together,” she said.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Vegetables WA chief executive John Shannon said the program would allow growers to access labour better as they come across a shortage.

“Whilst some growers are starting to find shortages, generally the industry hasn’t had too many problems, however, as backpackers continue to leave the country there are likely to become more shortages going forward,” Mr Shannon said.

“There are certainly going to be more opportunities for West Australians who might like to be employed in the sector.”

After Hours Wine director Warwick Mathews said a program like this was outstanding.

“It’s something that is so local but also so wide reaching,” Mr Mathews said. “It means we won’t have to continue drawing on our own contacts to get the work done.”

Rural Enterprises will open a drop-in centre in Vasse Industrial Area for potential workers to register from August 31. Email bernice@ruralenterprises.com. au or call 6166 9124.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails