Australia’s economy has long depended on farming, and potato farming is a big part of this successful industry. Potato Picking Jobs in Australia are a great way to see rural Australia while making a good living. They are also a fantastic way to get seasonal work, go on an adventure, or pay for your travels. This full guide goes over everything you need to know about working as a potato picker in Australia.
Responsibilities of Potato Picking Jobs in Australia
The main job of picking potatoes is to harvest them, which is mostly done with machines on commercial farms. Workers stand next to conveyor belts that are connected to machines that dig up potatoes and move them past workers on moving belts. As the potatoes pass by, the worker must quickly sort them and throw away any that are damaged, diseased, green, or too small according to farm standards. Workers have to throw away rocks, dirt clods, and other trash that comes with the harvest at the same time as the machines, which usually move at 3–5 kilometers per hour. As hundreds of potatoes pass by every minute, this constant sorting requires constant focus and quick decision-making.
Workers put sorted potatoes into bags or bins, keep an eye on the flow of potatoes for jams or blockages that could damage equipment or produce, and let machine operators know right away when something goes wrong. Some smaller businesses or organic farms still use manual harvesting methods, where workers pick potatoes from rows by hand. This involves repeatedly bending and stooping to retrieve potatoes from the ground, filling buckets or bags to specific weights or volumes, and transporting the filled containers to designated collection points. To ensure that all areas are covered and no potatoes are damaged or missed, workers must use systematic methods when working with machines or by hand.
The Potato Industry in Australia
Australia grows about 1.3 million tons of potatoes every year. The main growing areas are in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Queensland. The industry supports thousands of jobs, especially during harvest seasons, and it depends a lot on workers from both the US and other countries to meet its needs. The potato harvest usually starts in late spring and ends in the fall, but the exact dates depend on where you live and the weather. Tasmania’s harvest season runs from January to May, while the peak seasons for states on the mainland like Victoria and South Australia are from December to April. This longer harvest time means that there are chances all year long in many areas.
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What do you do when you pick potatoes?
Picking potatoes, or harvesting potatoes, is more than just pulling them out of the ground. Modern potato farming uses both machines and people to harvest the crops, which creates a variety of jobs for workers. Most big farms use potato harvesters that dig up whole rows of potatoes and move them onto conveyor belts. This is called mechanical harvesting. People stand next to these machines and sort potatoes as they go by, taking out undesirable ones, stones, and other junk. To do this job, you need to be alert, have quick hands, and be able to keep up with the machines.
Sorting and packing by hand: After the first harvest, potatoes need to be sorted again by size, quality, and type. Workers grade the potatoes, taking out the ones that aren’t nutritious enough to sell, and get them ready for packing. Some operations still require hand-picking, especially for seed potatoes or on smaller organic farms.
Physical Demands: Don’t get me wrong—picking potatoes is hard work. You should be ready to spend 8 to 10 hours on your feet, often outside where the weather can be nice or bad. The job requires doing the same things over and over, bending, lifting, and staying focused for long periods of time. Most people adjust to the job within the first week or two, but physical fitness and stamina are essential.
Pay and Conditions
- How much you get paid for picking potatoes depends a lot on how you get paid, how fast you work, and who your boss is.
- Piece Rate vs. Hourly Rate: Many employers pay by piece rate, which means you get paid based on how many items you pick or sort. Piece rates can pay experienced workers a lot more than the minimum wage, sometimes as much as $25 to $35 an hour or more. But at first, beginners might make less money until they get better at their speed and technique.
- Hourly rates usually meet Australia’s minimum wage requirements. As of 2024, the minimum wage is about $23.23 per hour for casual workers, but agricultural award rates may be a little different. A loading of 25% is often added to casual jobs to make up for the lack of benefits.
- Hours of Work: You should expect to start early, usually between 5:00 and 7:00 AM, to take advantage of the cooler morning weather. Shifts usually last 8 to 10 hours, with breaks in between. Some farms let workers work extra hours during busy times so they can make more money.
- Accommodation: Many farms offer or help with housing, especially in remote areas. This could include housing for workers on site, caravan parks, or suggestions for cheap places to stay nearby. Before you start, make sure you know how your employer will handle housing costs. Plan to spend about $100 to $150 a week on basic farm housing.
How to Apply Potato Picking Jobs in Australia
- It’s a beneficial idea to keep your CV or resume and cover letter up-to-date with the latest trends in the job market because your employer will probably look at how these documents are formatted and presented.
- Click on the link to go to the official website for job searches. To send in your application
- Double-check that you have received a confirmation email for the job application you submitted.