The scheme is overseen by the Australian government, with help from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Department of Immigration.
Emerald-based citrus and table grape producer, Craig Pressler, of 2PH Farms, says he has employed up to 80 Pacific workers from Tonga at any one time.
He says while individual growers must assess the benefits for themselves, he has found the scheme to very helpful in supplying the “critical mass” required in the peak season.
Most of the workers stay with his company for seven months before heading home. The company’s first group of 24 recently returned to Tonga, and prior to leaving, 2PH held an appreciation ceremony on-farm and presented the workers with a Certificate in Competency for Orchard Skills.
This year the workers helped 2PH recover from the floods and undertook a range of roles, including harvesting and pruning of fruit trees, fruit packing and vine planting.
“Prior to citrus canker, we had a lot of our own itinerant staff, but we lost a lot with canker,” Pressler said.
“We’re building up our numbers again — the Pacific Island workers are the critical mass we need. We’re right in the middle of a resource boom area so we can’t find people very easily.
“The Pacific workers have a very good attitude — they’re here because they want to be here.
“They have a good work ethic, they’re happy, consistent and motivated, and come with some set goals and a focus.”
The company farms about 600 hectares of citrus and about 250ha of grapes, and during the floods earlier this year, about 90 per cent of the company’s citrus went under water.
