If you do not have a health plan in place, or your state does not require one, Avocados Australia encourages you to develop a Health Management Plan for your orchard or packshed regardless.
Click on your state to find the relevant plan template, or further information. Please note, even if your state does not require a specific COVID-19 plan, you may be required to update your existing workplace health and safety plans for COVID-19. Check with your relevant state agency. The following information was current as at 5 February 2021.
COVID plan requirements – state-by-state
New South Wales – NSW DPI – NSW DPI has information specific for NSW for managing primary production workforces.
- For the critical services (agriculture) permit, there is a need for a COVID Safety Plan, click here
- Outside of the border requirements, SafeWork NSW advises horticulture isn’t required to have a plan but it is recommended. And if your farm has a café/brewery/similar, then a plan may be mandatory. Please check carefully. (at 11/6/2020)
- Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.
Northern Territory – The NT plan content suggestions may be generally useful for everyone. Organisations must develop a COVID-19 management plan if they require employees to return to the NT, and be exempt from the supervised quarantine requirement. (Exemptions are not available to travellers from hotspots. Check hotspots here.)
Queensland – health directive, with link to various template – on 24 August 2021, a new health directive was issued, requiring the use of the COVID Safe Checklist and the Check In Qld App for agribusinesses that employ seasonal workers (ie, a seasonal worker business).
The requirements are mandatory from 1am on September 3, 2021. (Until then, you need to continue with registering the attendance of employers etc, and operate under your existing Health Management Plan.)
Note, the change to the use of the Checklist still requires you to have a Strategy for minimising risk, and this can be demonstrated by using the Health Management Plan OR your updated WHS plan.
A seasonal worker business is: an agribusiness that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or a commercial fisheries business that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or a labour hire firm that employs seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers; or an accommodation facility that houses or is available to house seasonal workers or PLS/SWP workers.
- If your existing WHS plan has not been updated with COVID-19 in mind, you may find this guide and this template useful.
- Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.
South Australia – A plan may not be mandatory for agriculture, but please check carefully. Having a plan may be helpful if you need to apply for border passes. Click here for information on how to create a COVID-Safe Plan.
- Click here for South Australia’s COVID industry guidelines. (These were updated in July 2021.)
- Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.
Tasmania workplace guidelines – COVID-19 Safety Plans were due for completion by 15 June 2020, more here.
Victoria – As of 13 September 2020, it was mandatory for all businesses statewide operating onsite to have a COVID Safe Plan (including labour hire providers). (Previously, these plans were encouraged for those in regional Victoria, not mandatory.) The exemption for businesses with fewer than five employees no longer applies. Find out more about creating a plan at Business Victoria. updated 1/10/2020.
- Click here to find the template for both the plan and a workplace attendee register. And click here for more on seasonal workers.
- And, don’t forget, those using seasonal horticulture labour do still have additional obligations even though high risk COVID plans are no longer required in Victoria. Click here.
- To find the latest Workplace Directions and the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions from the Victorian Government, click here. You will find information relevant to seasonal workers in the Industry Obligations direction.
- Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.
Western Australia – Agricultural businesses employing working holiday makers must prepare a COVID-19 Health Management Plan, link.
- Please check the NFF’s Farmhub for links to current border control requirements.
National template
The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has also developed a template for a COVIDSafe plan. This plan includes links to resources, checklists and suggestions. If using this plan, ensure you tailor your plan steps to your specific situation.
Be aware
One continuing issue is the pushback from some community members about the presence of “outside workers” in their towns. As you go about your daily business, Avocados Australia encourages you to talk about how you are protecting your communities and your families: your health management strategies, testing regimes, and how important these workers are to horticulture.