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Job library › Queensland › Ballandean (about 20 km south-west of Stanthorpe)

Farms and orchards・Strawberry runner (nursery plant) production facility (via labour hire)

Agri Labour – Strawberry Runners (Ballandean)

A strawberry runner (nursery plant) processing facility at Ballandean, south of Stanthorpe, hiring seasonal casuals through the labour hire agency Agri Labour
Ballandean (about 20 km south-west of Stanthorpe), Queensland 4380

Strawberry runnersRaspberry runners
Specified work✓ Eligible
PayHourly rate
TransportTo be confirmed
AccommodationTo be confirmed
Overall score7.6・Worth considering

Specified work eligibility

Use the postcode of the work location — not the company's head office, and not where you live.

✓

This location counts as specified work

Postcode 4380 is on the Department of Home Affairs "Regional Australia" list, and the work type is "Plant and animal cultivation".

Work address

Ballandean QLD 4380 (exact farm address not disclosed)

Postcode 4380・Stanthorpe (Granite Belt) · Map location is approximate

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Work category

Plant and animal cultivation

Harvesting and packing fruit and vegetables, pruning trees and vines, livestock work, and primary meat processing such as slaughtering, cutting and packing. Secondary processing such as winemaking or processed meats does not count.

Within one employer, not every role counts as specified work (for example office admin or cleaning depends on Home Affairs' current temporary concession). Check the label on each role below, and keep every payslip.How specified work days are counted

Note: on 17 September 2026 the government announced second and third visas will move to a ballot. Completing specified work makes you eligible to enter, but it no longer guarantees a visa (start date not yet announced).Details

Jobs

1 casual / seasonal roles. Duties, requirements and required licences are listed separately.

Strawberry runner processor (in the packing shed)Strawberry Runners (production shed)

Seasonal (temporary) Counts as specified work

Processing strawberry runners in the production facility: grading, trimming, cleaning and packing; quality checks; operating equipment under supervision; maintaining hygiene; recording output; helping with palletising and moving goods.

Pay method

Hourly rate
AU$32.18–33.05/hour, plus penalty rates (per the ad).

Hours

About 38 hours a week; possible overtime in peak season

Requirements

Physically fit and able to do repetitive work, Reliable and punctual, Attention to detail and a focus on quality, Able to work in a fast-paced environment, Understand workplace safety, hygiene and biosecurity rules, Experience in horticulture, nurseries, packing or produce handling is preferred but not required

Licences

Not required

Starts 1 January 2027, for about 3 months. Source: https://www.agrilabour.com.au/candidates/current-positions/strawberry-runners-ballandean-qld-bbbh29681/ (reposted on CareerOne: https://jobs.hia.com.au/jobview/detail/5666901c-bf24-11f1-bc76-0231708ce3cd)

Work duties

Processing strawberry runners inside the packing shed (grading, trimming, cleaning, packing, quality checks, palletising).

Work environment

Repetitive indoor work in a production facility; hygiene and biosecurity rules must be followed; there may be overtime in peak season.

Pay and superannuation

What the employer publishes and the legal minimum are shown separately.

Pay
Hourly rate AU$32.18–33.05, plus penalty rates (per the ad).
Applicable Award
Horticulture Award (MA000028)
Legal minimum hourly rate
Level 1 (new starter, up to 3 months): $32.18/hour
Level 2: $33.05/hour
Level 3: $33.55/hour
Casual (including the 25% casual loading), effective from 1 July 2026.Fair Work pay guide
Piece-rate guarantee
Piece rates have a floor: each day you must get at least the hourly rate × hours worked that day (casual Level 1 $32.18 an hour). The piece rate must let an average worker earn at least 15% more than the hourly rate (about $37.01). Before you start, the employer must give you a written piece-rate record signed by both of you.
How you are paid
To be confirmed
By law wages must be paid in money (cash, cheque or bank transfer) at least monthly; whichever method is used, the employer must give you a payslip within 1 working day of paying you.
How often you are paid
To be confirmed
Under the Award: Paid weekly or fortnightly
Superannuation
Yes. Your employer must also pay 12% of your wages into your super account — this applies to working holiday makers too, however much you earn. From 1 July 2026 it must be paid within 7 working days of each pay day. You can claim it back after leaving Australia (taxed at 65% for working holiday makers).
Tax
If the employer is registered as a Working Holiday employer, 15% is withheld on the first $45,000 of income. Being taxed 30% suggests the employer may not be registered; without a tax file number (TFN), 45% is withheld.

Statutory figures last checked: 2026-10-05. Your actual pay is what your employer's contract and payslips show.

Hours

Usual hours
About 38 hours a week
Shifts
To be confirmed
Weather-dependent?
To be confirmed
Additional notes
The ad says there may be overtime in peak season. Agri Labour's Granite Belt recruitment page says that in peak season you may work 6–7 days a week and outdoor work is very hot (that is a general recruitment description, not this ad).

When they need workers

123456789101112

This job starts on 1 January 2027 and runs for about 3 months. The ad says the strawberry runner season is January to March. Agri Labour's Granite Belt recruitment page says the local harvest season runs from November to April.

Hiring now: around 3 October 2026, Agri Labour posted "Strawberry Runners - Ballandean QLD", a seasonal casual role starting 1 January 2027 for about 3 months, about 38 hours a week. The ad does not state a closing date. The same agency has another casual strawberry runner ad at Ballandean (about 15 hours a week; page last updated 4 September 2026).

Hiring now

Strawberry Runners (seasonal casual, about 3 months from 1 January 2027, about 38 hours a week, AU$32.18–33.05/hour; no closing date stated)

Hiring status is checked automatically every day; last checked: 2026-10-07.See the job ad

How to apply

My application status Saved only in this device's browser

Apply through a labour hire agency

Apply via online formPhone 1300 247 823

Before you apply

Apply online by clicking "Apply Now" on the ad page, attaching your resume and details of relevant experience. Agri Labour's Granite Belt recruitment page says that after you submit an application you will receive an email questionnaire, and you will only be considered for an interview once you have completed it.

Only apply through the channels listed on this page or published on the employer's official website. Legitimate employers never ask you to pay for a job; for look-alike job sites or people who message you privately, check the official website first.Avoiding illegal work

You will need

  • Physically fit and able to do repetitive work
  • Reliable and punctual
  • Follow safety, hygiene and biosecurity rules

Restrictions

  • About 3 months (from 1 January 2027)
  • The advertisement does not say whether the Working Holiday visa is accepted

Licences required

No licence is needed for general roles.

Official website
agrilabour.com.au
Careers page
Go to the careers page
Labour hire
Agri-Labour Australia Pty Ltd

Transport

To be confirmed. The ad does not mention transport; Ballandean is a small place and no public transport was found.

Getting there without a car

Not found

Public transport

Stanthorpe has had no scheduled passenger train service since 1972 (Wikipedia); bus services were not verified

Nearest airport

Stanthorpe Airport is at Applethorpe, but there are no scheduled flights (Wikipedia); Brisbane is about 217 km north-east of Stanthorpe

Nearest town: Stanthorpe (about 20 km)

Accommodation and local amenities

Ballandean is a small place (population 316 in 2021); Stanthorpe, about 20 km away (population 5,286 in 2021), has a hospital.

Accommodation

To be confirmed

The ad does not mention accommodation.

Grocery shopping

Not verified (the Woolworths store locator page could not be read)

Medical

Stanthorpe Hospital (8 McGregor Terrace, Stanthorpe), with an emergency department (healthdirect).

Other

To be confirmed

Weather

Stanthorpe sits at 784 m above sea level, with an average January maximum of 27.9°C and an average July minimum of 1.6°C; frost is common in winter and it occasionally snows. Annual rainfall is about 713 mm (Wikipedia).

Climate data to be added.

Next 7 days

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Overall score

Calculated from public information with a fixed formula — not a paid ranking. Ratings from past workers are shown separately in the reviews section.

7.6out of 10
Worth considering
Specified work eligibility
10.0Postcode 4380 is on the official "Regional Australia" list
Legal and transparent
7.0ABN active, Through a licensed labour hire agency
Pay transparency
9.0Some hourly-paid roles with steadier income
Transport
5.0To be confirmed
Accommodation
5.0To be confirmed
Amenities
7.0Basic shopping in nearby small towns
Weather
6.0Climate data to be added

Pros

  • Hourly rate AU$32.18–33.05, plus penalty rates
  • About 38 hours a week for about 3 months; if you work the full period you may be able to reach 88 days (based on the days you actually work)
  • Indoor work in a production facility
  • Holds a Queensland labour hire licence (LHL-03363-B8C9T)
  • Postcode 4380 is eligible

Watch out for

  • Through a labour hire agency; the actual farm has not been disclosed
  • Work doesn't start until January 2027
  • The ad does not mention accommodation or transport
  • The advertisement does not say whether the Working Holiday visa is accepted
  • Winters are cold with frost (but this job is in summer)

Weights: specified work eligibility 25%, legal and transparent 20%, pay transparency 15%, transport 10%, accommodation 10%, amenities 10%, weather 10%.How it is calculated

Online reviews and past workers' experiences

Compiled from Indeed, Glassdoor, backpacker blogs and the news. Everything is a paraphrased summary — follow the links to read the originals.

4.6/5

Indeed・19 reviews
Agri Labour Australia Pty Ltd (nationwide)

See the original reviews

Common praise

  • Several employees say pay arrives on time
  • Values safety and team support
  • A backpacker said the company does not take advantage of backpackers

Common complaints

  • A citrus packer said the accommodation was crowded (4 people to a small hotel room)
  • Long hours; the work is repetitive and physically demanding
Indeed reviews cover Agri Labour across Australia, not this Ballandean job specifically; the Glassdoor page could not be read (404). No backpacker accounts or official records were found.

Review summary last checked: 2026-10-07. Online reviews are personal experiences and may be out of date or not reflect the whole picture; ratings change over time, so the original sites prevail.

Reviews from past workers

Worked here? Your experience can help the next person avoid mistakes.

Loading reviews…

Reviews on other sites: Indeed (Agri Labour Australia Pty Ltd)

Sources

Last checked: 2026-10-06. If you see outdated or incorrect information, let us know.

Not yet confirmed: The actual farm where you would work has not been disclosed.; The ad does not say whether Working Holiday visa holders are accepted; please check before applying.; The agency's licence expires on 16 January 2027, which falls within the work period (January–March 2027); please check whether it has been renewed.; The coordinates mark the location of Ballandean (Wikipedia), not the farm address.; Supermarkets in Stanthorpe were not verified; there is also no information on accommodation or transport.