As indicated there will be a number of changes to employment law in 2025 and we will continue to provide our regular updates through our newsletters, not only in relation to the award and legislative changes, but also in relation to better staff management.

We take this opportunity to remind members of the various services we provide to assist you in running your farm and ensuring good employment practices.

Contracts of employment. We can draft contracts of employment that take into account the specifics of the role your employee fulfils. These may include flat rates of pay, an annualised salary, use of a motor vehicle, laptop or phone.

Occupancy Agreements. Having an employee live on farm requires careful consideration, and we can prepare occupancy agreements that are not only fair to the employee but take into account the needs of the employer in ensuring proper care is taken of an important farm asset.

Individual Flexibility Agreements (IFAs). These allow the employee and employer to vary certain provisions of the awards, and thus provide flexibility and benefits for both.

Strive Magazine. This has proved very popular and contains stories and articles of interest. In 2025 we will be publishing two editions, bigger than before with more information for our members.

Telephone advice. We receive hundreds of telephone calls each year from our members with a full range of questions around the awards, the various pieces of legislation, and general human resource management advice. A quick phone call may answer our query a lot quicker than doing your own research, that’s if you can actually find the paperwork you are looking for on the internet, e.g., where do you find a copy of the Long Service Leave Act, 1976?

On farm visits. We can arrange to be on your farm to deal with your particular issue if required. This may be for reviewing your contracts and policies, training your staff, or a disciplinary meeting with an employee.

Our Workplace Relations Director, Andrew Cameron, has more than 38 years’ experience advising people and business in law, industrial relations and human resource management. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Industrial Relations), Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Certificate IV Assessment and Workplace Training, Diploma in Human Resource Management and is a Qualified Small Groups Trainer.