News

See the summerfruit growers page/ for updated information on varieties, horticluture permits, Ag chem update and information on Carbendazim.

Together with the University of Western Sydney and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Woolworths is offering 30 young Australians the opportunity to attend the 2010 Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship program. Further information available here.

Summerfruit Australia in conjunction with Fair Work Ombudsman will be conducting Horticulture industry seminars including information on the Horticulture Award 2010. Dates include; Batlow 27th April, Young 28th April and Orange 29th April. Further information on these Horticulture-Industry-Seminars is available here.

 Stakeholders and levy payers are invited to comment on the HAL Strategic Investment Plan 2010 – 2015. Comments can be submitted to John Moore ceo@summerfruit.com.au by April 16th.

Nominations are now being called for Directors positions for Summerfruit Australia Limited.
More Information |

National Low Chill Stonefruit Conference – PROGRAM &_REGISTRATION FORM. Conference will be held 27th to 30th April at Ballina NSW.

Industry super fund, AustSafe Super, has been included as a default fund in the Modernised Awards for the Horticulture industry to take effect from 1 January 2010. See AustSafe Horticulture Super Press Release for further information

Drip Feed Issue 1 January 2010 contains the analysis undertaken by Donna Mogg (Growcom) on behalf of the Award Taskforce of the Horticulture Award, along with the National Employment Standards, both of which commenced on 1 January.  It builds on the brief material put out before Christmas.

The EBPPP, $25m initiative to increase the skill base of existing workers, will commence in 2010 and is being managed by DEEWR through skills councils. Funding of up to 90% of the cost of training is available to participating businesses.
 Key aspects of the EBPPP include available to micro and small/medium businesses as well as large enterprises, training costs up to 90% paid by the government, for Certificate III to Advanced Diploma courses and covers training at the workplace and RPL. Details of the EBPPP are included in the following attachments:
*  EBPPP_Expanded_Fact_Sheet
*  EBPPP_Application_Form

The new Horticulture Award 2010 was finally released by the AIRC on 23 December 2009. Certain elements of the award took effect from 1 January 2010, with increase/decreases to monetary provisions (ie penalty rates, loadings, allowances etc) to begin to take effect from 1 July 2010. The Horticulture Industry Award 2010 Key Elements can be viewed here. The full Horticulture Award 2010 details are now also available.