Rural Aid helps fill the ag worker shortage

Posted on 22 October 202131 October 2023

Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, is helping fill the agricultural worker shortage created by border closures and travel restrictions.

Rural Aid’s Farm Army website provides a platform where volunteers and workers apply for jobs that are listed by farmers needing a hand.
Since 2015, thousands of volunteers and workers have found meaningful work on Aussie farms through the Farm Army site.

The site has undergone an upgrade, making it easier than ever to find workers.

South East Queensland pumpkin grower Pauline* has had several volunteers help on her property after a tough few years dealing with flood, drought, mouse plague, personal injury and covid-19. “We couldn’t find any help. We would normally employ people but with the mouse plague here, the mice were eating our pumpkins faster than we could get them picked. We tried to find local workers but we couldn’t get backpackers and nobody could take us up on the paid work. We found it really difficult,” she said. “With the Farm Army, we have had someone who was able to come and help us pick. It was life-saver. Just to have another person on deck for my husband to work with….. it just made such a difference to us.” “With the covid stuff and time restraints, we haven’t had a chance to go out at all and have been probably quite isolated. But to have people on the farm, especially people who have a sense of farming, it just makes so much difference emotionally.” Pauline is still looking for help on the farm, leading into pumpkin planting season. “Everything that gives you a bit of hope, helps you to keep going,” she said. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the Farm Army is a valuable resource in the current climate. “We know finding workers for harvest is difficult at the moment, which is why we are excited to relaunch the Farm Army website now,” Mr Warlters said. “The platform is great for filling other jobs too. Keep an eye out for truck driving work, farmhand jobs and caretaking and housesitting roles too. “More than ten thousand volunteers, job seekers and grey nomads are already part of the Farm Army and receive regular job updates,” Mr Warlters said. Retirees and Farm Army members Sandra and Peter Kearns have attended a number of jobs on properties across Australia through the Farm Army platform. “We were looking for something other than just being on the road and travelling on the road, we were looking for something meaningful, something rewarding,” said Peter. “We’ve helped muster sheep, crutch sheep and we looked after farmer’s kids. We helped with schooling, baking and cooking,” Sandra said. The Farm Army is open to primary producers who are registered with Rural Aid. For more information, check out the Farm Army website www.farmarmy.com.au *Pauline has asked Rural Aid to withhold her last name. Rural Aid has no involvement in the job description or selection beyond providing a platform for a job to be advertised.

Rural Aid returns to magical Monto

Posted on 30 September 202131 October 2023

Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid, has returned to Monto in the North Burnett for another week of community building works. This time last year, Rural Aid staff and volunteers set up camp in Monto for the week-long “Our Towns” event. Monto was one of 10 towns across Australia chosen for Rural Aid’s Our Towns project. In September 2020, 42 volunteers worked tirelessly on projects identified in the Community Development Plan which was created by Rural Aid and Monto’s local leaders.

This week, Rural Aid has again mustered its amazing volunteers for another week of works in Monto, thanks to support from Ergon Energy. Thirty-one volunteers lent their skills to projects at the showgrounds, the Girl Guide hut and the Historical Society.

They also revisited Monto’s incredible laneway mural to install strings of festive lights.
Monto locals Carly Baker-Burnham and Melinda Jones have been instrumental in facilitating Rural Aid’s two visits.
Carly Baker-Burnham said she feels lucky that Rural Aid have been able to return.

“A few of the volunteers have come back and it’s so lovely to see faces that were here last year. They’ve created really warm connections with the community. It’s a beautiful integration,” she said.
“We’re very lucky. It’s great to have Rural Aid back.”
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the charity has a deep connection to the bustling town.

“Monto is one of those magical small towns where all the locals are bursting with pride at their piece of paradise,” Mr Warlters said.
“It’s so rewarding for Rural Aid to revisit this passionate and determined community. It’s fantastic to see how far they’ve progressed on their projects in one year. It’s a privilege to be welcomed back with such open arms. 14 of the 31 volunteers were returnees from last year which is a fantastic effort on the volunteers’ behalf.”

The Rural Aid volunteers were in Monto from the 21st of September through to the 28th. They stayed at the Monto Showgrounds.

Warwick farmers repair bushfire-damaged fencing with Rural Aid’s help

Posted on 17 September 202131 October 2023

Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid, recently deployed a team of volunteers to the Warwick region to help with ongoing natural disaster recovery. Twenty-one volunteers have just finished working on three farms in the Upper Freestone and Swanfels area. Two farmers had fences damaged in the terrifying bushfires that swept through the region two years ago. One farming family had fences damaged in recent floods. Upper Freestone farmer Chris Mauch had kilometres of his fencing destroyed by fire.

“It’s unbelievable to cut a long story short. I put a brand new fence up there before the fires and it turned to ashes,” Mr Mauch said.
He said he was grateful to have a team of Rural Aid volunteers help him fence for a week.

“I’ve been on the land 50 years, all my life, and it’s hard enough to be on the land. It’s just great to get a hand to repair all those fences that are in desperate need. I’m indebted to Rural Aid.”

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the volunteers were originally slated to be in Victoria for Rural Aid’s ‘Our Towns’ event, but Covid-19 forced a change of plans.

“One of Rural Aid’s strengths is being resilient, and we’ve been able to reroute our Queensland volunteers closer to home with a visit to Warwick,” Mr Warlters said.

“It’s fantastic to see the farmers and volunteers form friendships while toiling away at tough fencing work in rugged terrain.”

“Having fences down for two years has been a burden for these farmers, so it’s great to lend them a hand to tick this job off their list. These big jobs would normally take these farmers months of effort, but together, they were able to get it done within a week.”

The volunteers stayed at the Warwick Showgrounds, thanks to a donation from the Southern Downs Council.

Mayor Vic Pennisi praised the volunteer’s efforts.
“Our region continues to recover from bushfire and floods, and Rural Aid has been a pillar of support to our rural communities throughout the journey,” Mr Pennisi said.

“At a time where negativity dominates the airwaves, Rural Aid offers a lifeline to our farmers doing it tough and these heroic gestures of kindness breathe hope into our communities.”
The Rural Aid team was in Warwick between the 5th and 12th of September.

​Rural Aid and John Deere combine forces to cultivate success on a Lockyer Valley farm

Posted on 6 September 202131 October 2023

A Lockyer Valley farming family has been given a much-needed boost thanks to 24 generous John Deere staff members and Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid.

The Piggott family run an Awassi sheep cheesery at Grantham and pride themselves on their chemical free, boutique products.
Di Piggott usually relies on family members to help her wrangle the invasive lantana weed on her 160 acre property, but border closures prevented their month-long working bee this year.

“The little lambs eat the lantana but it’s toxic to them and they get really sick. So it’s really important we get it out,” Di Piggot said.

Rural Aid and agricultural machinery company John Deere teamed up for a ‘corporate volunteering’ day on the Piggott farm. 24 staff from John Deere’s Australian and New Zealand head office generously volunteered their time to lend a hand on August 20.

The volunteers made light work of the lantana, pulling out roughly 300 plants in the one day.

“I’ve had a really enjoyable day with the Rural Aid team and with my colleagues, helping out some locals on their farm,” Josh Rodgers from John Deere Australia and New Zealand said.

“It’s really rewarding and I would recommend it to anybody.”

Di Piggott said the John Deere staff put in an “absolutely brilliant” effort.
“It was just great when Rural Aid said that we had been put forward on the volunteer program,” Di said.

“We thoroughly enjoyed it and the volunteers were just the most wonderful people. We’re very appreciative,” Di said.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said it was a fantastic outcome for all.
“Rural Aid is committed to helping Australian farmers in whatever way we can,” Mr Warlters said.

“Rural Aid has facilitated a number of corporate volunteering days by coordinating generous companies and our registered farmers. The shared skills, time and friendships are a highlight of every event.”

For more information or interviews, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity. Rural Aid provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through financial, wellbeing and fodder assistance. Rural Aid’s community programs help create more sustainable and resilient rural communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers.