Fruit Picking Jobs in Cobram, Australia

Good news for backpackers - Work for 3 months in rural Australia and you may qualify for a second year working holiday visa.

There are no jobs available at the moment. We will be taking applications from December of this year for our next harvest which begins around 20th January 2009.

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We don't have any jobs available at the moment. These are the terms and conditions you would be required to agree to before applying for a job when we start advertising in December of this year.
A fruit picking job with R J Cornish & Co Pty Ltd means	The opportunity to work outdoors, get fit, meet interesting people and make some reasonable money at the same time by: Assisting with the fruit harvest as reasonably directed by a ganger or supervisor. Picking fruit as directed which could include specifications of the size and colour of fruit to be picked. Picking fruit into a proper picking bag and carrying the bag of fruit which can weigh up to 20 kg, to a bin and gently releasing the fruit so as not to cause undue bruising damage. Working from a ladder to reach fruit on trees beyond reach of ground level. Moving a 3 metre ladder that weighs approximately 17 kg around trees, and from tree to tree. Using safe working practices and following guidelines provided by the employer in Occupational Health and Safety, including Food Safety Instructions. The work is heavy physical labour and may be unsuitable for some people. New pickers will participate in an induction program which covers picking skills as well as health and safety prior to starting work.
Occupational Health & Safety	We take the safety of our workers seriously and in return expect our workers to use safe working practices and to adhere to our policies which are both printed and given to all workers and re-enforced by our supervisors.
Suitable clothing must be worn.	A long sleeved shirt, long trousers and a soft brimmed hat, help to avoid sunburn. Boots or firm shoes will protect your feet. Hats are compulsory and thongs or bare feet are not permitted.
Drugs & Alcohol	The use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol is not permitted at this workplace. Dismissal may result should supervisors suspect their use or misuse. Alcohol is to be confined to the camp area and is not permitted near any work site. You will not be allowed to work if you are affected by drugs or alcohol as you would be regarded as a danger to yourself and others. It is a condition of employment that you agree to undertake a random breath test for alcohol if requested.
Disclosure of any pre-existing injuries or illness	If you apply for a position you are required to disclose: any pre-existing injuries or illnesses that you know about, and/or any condition that you could reasonably foresee that could be affected by your proposed employment as a fruit picker. If you fail to disclose the above information, or if you make a false or misleading disclosure, then you will not be entitled to any Workcover compensation for any recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of the pre-existing injury or illness.
Photo ID is required	If you are offered a job you must provide a suitable Photo ID (such as a Drivers Licence or passport) which will be photocopied onto your employment papers. If you do not supply a Photo ID you cannot work with us.
Pay Rates	Most fruit pickers are employed on piece work pay rates. Rates of pay for the 2008 harvest were set as follows:
	Wooden Bin	Colour & Size Picking	Strip Picking
	Peaches & Pears	$35.90	$32.19
	Apples	$32.19	$29.07

	Plastic Bin (holds approx 90% of capacity of a wooden bin)	Colour & Size Picking	Strip Picking
	Peaches & Pears	$32.31	$28.97
	Apples	$28.97	$26.16
Payment of wages	Pay week ends on Wednesday evening. Wages are processed on Thursday and are paid by direct bank transfer each Thursday evening and funds are normally available on Friday. We do not pay wages by cheque or cash. If you leave our employment before the end of the pay week (Wednesday afternoon) your wages will be paid by bank transfer at the same time as other employees and will be normally in your bank account on Friday.
Work hours and length of employment	Daily hours worked are 7.00 am – 3.55 pm, up to six days per week, often including Sunday. The season usually starts in late January and ends late March. The early weeks are spent picking both pears and peaches, and the remaining weeks are mainly picking peaches. Not all labour is required at the start, but a gradual build up is required over a 10 week period.
Not everyone will be offered a job	Positions will be offered on the basis of suitability of applicants for work of this nature and our labour requirements. Due to the large number of applications not all applicants will be offered a position.
Union Membership	This Company supports and recommends membership of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) for seasonal employees. Membership is not compulsory. You will be asked to indicate at signing on if you wish to become a seasonal member of the AWU on the basis of a weekly deduction of $5.00 taken from your wages.