To help horticulture businesses adapt to this new challenge, Agriculture Victoria is hosting a series of workshops run by agriculture workforce recruiting and HR specialists, providing the chance for growers to reflect on the previous season and to prepare their business for the season ahead.
Agriculture Victoria's horticulture services director Sze Flett said the Business Workforce Planning workshops were a practical way for people running businesses to understand how they could improve their workforce and worker recruitment skills, and adapt their business to the new situation.
“We have spoken to hundreds of growers and employers over the past 12 months and one of the biggest challenges they have faced is suddenly having to be HR managers as well as farm managers,” Dr Flett said.
“These workshops will provide the opportunity for growers to learn from the experience of the previous season, identify ways they can improve their human resource management skills, and prepare their businesses for the future.”
The Business Workforce Planning workshops will be run by consulting firm Meridian Agriculture, which has a history of supporting agricultural businesses to recruit, manage and retain workforces.
Meridian Agriculture’s HR consultant Ben Reeve said the workshops would help growers identify ways they could manage their specific workforce issues.
“It’s about helping people to understand human resource management fundamentals,” Mr Reeve said.
“We will help employers identify what drives job satisfaction and what they can do to improve worker satisfaction, which in turn can lead to improved business outcomes.
“Growers will have the opportunity to share their experiences and to learn what worked for other businesses in the effort to find new workers and adapt to the situation.
“Participants will also be encouraged to think about what they can do differently when it comes to managing their workforce for the coming season and for the years ahead.”
The free three-hour workshops will be held throughout Victoria’s key horticulture regions including Cobram (August 2) and Shepparton (August 2).
Following on from these workshops, there will also be the opportunity for individual businesses to develop targeted business action plans through one-on-one sessions.
The workshops are free, but registration is essential. Visit forms.office.com/r/5L6VVBpu6s