Orchard Worker (Pruning and Thinning)

Crops do not wait, and a citrus farm near Epping needs extra hands this season. This is a good step for someone who wants proper routine and a manager who notices good work.

This post is Epping-based, with most of your time spent at a citrus farm.

• Follow the re-entry times after spraying, as the signs show
• Clean and store picking bags, ladders and secateurs
• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Tie up tomato and pepper plants in tunnels
• Prune and thin fruit trees and vines to the farm's method
• Weed beds by hand or with a hoe
• Move irrigation pipes and check drippers for blockages

• Physically fit for bending, lifting and climbing ladders
• Willing to start at sunrise
• Available for the full harvest season
• Careful with fruit, since bruised fruit is rejected

• Chance of a permanent post after good seasons
• Farm transport from nearby towns
• Piece-rate bonus on top of daily wage
• Seasonal accommodation on some farms

• Farms hire before the season starts, so apply four to six weeks early. Late arrivals often find the teams already full.
• Have your bank details ready. Most farms pay into a bank account and will not start you without it.