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Farm Employment

There is a tremendous opportunity to gain farm employment on Tasmanian farms at all levels. A recent survey suggested that 30 per cent of farmers required additional labour.

With the Tasmanian dairy industry continuing to grow and family units getting smaller, farm owners are becoming increasingly dependent on hired labour. The average Tasmanian dairy farm is now large enough to support 3 employees, which is generally more than can be sourced from the farm family.

The award wage rates for Tasmania are listed in the table below as a guide only. These are minimum wages and employees are able to negotiate their own wage packages with employers. Employees can not be made worse off by negotiating than the minimum wages and conditions laid out in the relevant award.

Award Rates & Conditions

Classification Base rate relativity Base rate ($) Safety net adjustment ($) Weekly wage rate ($)
Farm hand level 1 78 325.50 159.00 484.50
Farm hand level 2 84 350.50 159.00 509.50
Farm hand level 3 90 375.50 159.00 534.50
Mechanical plant operator level 1 90 375.50 159.00 534.50
Mechanical plant operator level 2 95 396.30 159.00 555.30
Farm hand level 4 100 417.20 161.00 578.20

This page was last updated on Thursday 1 November 2007.

This Tasmanian dairy industry project is supported from the Australian Government under its Regional Partnerships Programme.

ANZ Regional and Rural Banking proudly supports this website and the Tasmanian dairy industry.

Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services ANZ Regional and Rural Banking

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