Farm hand
Southern Cross Farms

Would you like to commence an exciting career in Production Horticulture as a Farm Hand Assistant? If so, Southern Cross Farms have a great opportunity for a student who is career focused on Production Horticulture.

This is an ideal placement for a student enrolled in a VETDSS Horticulture or Rural Operations subject to gain on the job experience and skills with industry qualified Production Horticulturalists.

Sounds like a pretty good employer to have on your resume doesn't it? Make Southern Cross Farms your next phone call to find out more.

Skills You Might Learn

The student may have the opportunity to attain a broad range of skills while on work placement. These may include valuable employability skills such as:
• Communication.
• Teamwork.
• Punctuality.
• Presentation.
• Problem solving.
• Planning.
• Initiative.
• Follow instructions.
• Work under supervision.
• Learning Technology

The student may also attain vital industry specific skills which will relate to their secondary school studies they include:
• Hands-on practical experience.
• Observing and learning from industry qualified and experienced professionals.
• Working in real-life scenarios at a production horticulture farm work site.
• Working with tools and equipment necessary to the occupation.
• Liaising and working with supervisors, colleagues, industry customers/clients and suppliers.

Typical Tasks & Duties

The student will undertake duties in Production Horticulture as a Farm Hand Assistant as part of a professional and hardworking team in the Farm Operational Services area. You will perform farm work covering the day to day property operations on a horticulture crop farm such as irrigation system operation, planning and farm safety and caring for, planting and harvesting crops. Duties will include but are not limited to;
- Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices.
- Participate in work health and safety processes.
- Assist with pressurised irrigation operations.
- Inspect and clean machinery for plant, animal and soil material.
- Maintain properties and structures.
- Undertake operational maintenance of machinery.
- Observe and report on the weather.
- Observe enterprise quality assurance procedures.
- Collect and record production data.
- Maintain drainage systems.
- Support horticultural crop harvesting.
- Plant horticultural crops.

Student Requirements

Students should demonstrate a good work ethic, willingness to learn with an ability to follow instructions and to problem solve are encouraged to consider a future SWL placement to develop skills learned from their VETDSS subject.

Whilst the student is attending the work placement they are expected to:
• Dress appropriately.
• Maintain interest and participate in tasks and work duties.
• Be well mannered and behave in a respectful and responsible manner.
• Be punctual.
• Follow management instructions.
• Act in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.
• Work within the team.
• Listen and take advice from fellow workers.
• Respect other people’s belongings.
• Keep a note pad and pen handy to take notes for their own reference.
• Demonstrate the skills they have developed through their course.
• Take their Log Book to the work placement every day.

COVID-19 Requirements: COVID-19 policy and procedures will be required to be followed, this may include when coming onsite to commence a shift and during the work shift to manage risk of COVID-19.

As a result of COVID-19;
Arrangements are in place to support participation in the workplace safely. The student will therefore need to comply with any additional or altered workplace rules and requirements governing safety as part of the Structured Workplace Learning Arrangement.

If the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination directions apply to the placement, the employer or operator of the workplace must ask for the student to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status, including evidence that they are exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine if the student is claiming an exemption. If the student does not provide satisfactory evidence as set out above, the student may be prevented from undertaking a placement by the employer.

The student will not attend the workplace if the student is unwell or has been advised that they are required to quarantine

Dress Requirements

The student will be required to present in the following work attire;
• Work boots.
• Work pants.
• Hi Visual work shirt (long sleeve).
• Wide brim hat.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriate to the tasks and duties carried out by the student, will be supplied by the Employer.

Special Transport Requirements

Public Transport is limited, the student is to check public transport availability and or speak to parents/carer to organise transport prior to contacting employer

RELATED COURSES INCLUDE

• AHC20116 - Certificate II in Agriculture