The NFF is requesting an acknowledgement of tasks and descriptions of OSCA code 343136 (Senior Broadacre Crop Farm Worker) be responsive to the real-world demands of working on a Grain Farm today. The value of the level of practical experience would, in an ideal world, necessitate a dedicated OSCA code for an experienced Farm Machine Operator. We realise that this is not currently an option. A potential solution is to ensure that the wording of the description and tasks of 343136 offer opportunity for experienced farm machine operators who do not necessarily supervise other staff to be classed under 343136 as their experience, skill, award pay and value to the employer demands.
There are 250,000 workers on broadacre farms in Australia. Our Industry representatives posit that about 1/3 of them would or should meet this level 3 skillset. Where are they being classified elsewhere – potentially as labourers in skill level 4 which is a shocking blindside and does nothing to reflect the true professional skill needed by workers in modern Australian agriculture.
View full NFF submission here.