It is expected thousands more Australians and visa holders will be able to receive financial support to relocate for short-term agricultural work following the announcement.
Started in November 2020, AgMove provides reimbursement for relocation expenses to eligible participants who move to take up short-term agricultural work and so far more than 7,000 AgMove Agreements have been negotiated by employment services providers.
Since 2021, after the eligibility criteria for the initiative was made more flexible, more than Agmove 5,500 contracts have been negotiated with people who committed to move to regional and rural Australia for short-term agricultural work.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said there are hundreds of varied jobs available on Australian farms, and the AgMove program makes it easier to access those jobs.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud, said with harvest season approaching it’s the busiest period in regions all across the country.
“From plant horticulture, dairy and livestock roles to driving machinery and picking fruit and vegetables, there is diverse and exciting work available on our farms,” Mr Littleproud said.
“We acknowledge the many challenges our farmers have faced due to the pandemic and recent natural disasters, one of which has been a critical shortage of harvest workers. Extension of AgMove will help us to meet this challenge head on.”
Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services, Luke Howarth, encouraged school leavers, including those aged 17 who have graduated from year 12 to consider a short-term agricultural work experience.
