NGIV to bolster Victoria’s seasonal horticulture workforce
Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) secures Victorian government funding to bolster the seasonal workforce, today and into the future, through the promotion of horticultural employment and career opportunities to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
The NGIV were successful in their application for funding through Agriculture Victoria’s Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Program (SWISP). Set up to fund peak industry bodies and organisations to strengthen and boost Victoria’s seasonal horticulture workforce.
The Program will help to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on seasonal labour during the harvest period, by supporting seasonal worker recruitment and retention activities in priority harvest regions; initially the Yarra Ranges Shire and the City of Casey.
Furthermore, the Program will help to overcome the barriers associated with the engagement of CALD communities. We have identified two communities to work with; the Chin Haka community and Khmer-Cambodian community. This program will expose under-represented groups to the horticultural industry providing them with meaningful work opportunities, whilst solving the shortage of seasonal workers.
“NGIV are perfectly positioned to educate a new seasonal workforce on the horticultural industry and the nature of horticultural work, whilst coordinating their placement into the businesses that need them most and can best support them.
We’re really excited to work with new communities and introduce them to the rewarding nature of horticultural work.” said NGIV CEO, Craig Taberner.
NGIV have identified a number of stages to successfully deliver the Program; from establishing links with the identified communities and promoting our Program to them, to delivering an introductory course and placing workers into suitable businesses.
“We enjoy a close working relationship with Agriculture Victoria and are thrilled to have just received this gr
ant from them. Ultimately, it’s successful delivery will benefit our members through establishment of a framework and process that helps industry connect with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities today and into the future,” said Craig.
It’s hoped that up to 40 members of the Chin Haka and Khmer-Cambodian communities will be placed in horticultural employment in 2021 through the successful delivery of the Program.
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