Horticulture recruitment in Mildura for Sunraysia growers
CrossNation provides horticulture recruitment for employers in Mildura and the Sunraysia region, and is registered in Mildura, Victoria (VIC 3500). We recruit farm hands, machinery operators, supervisors and farm managers who become your own employees, from candidates based in Australia and from overseas. We do not supply seasonal picking crews. Our fee is 12% for roles under $50k, 15% for $50k–$90k, 18% above $90k, 20% executive, charged on first-year remuneration (salary plus super), plus GST, with a 90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement.
Updated . See our terms
12% for roles under $50k, 15% for $50k–$90k, 18% above $90k, 20% executive.
Fees are charged on first-year remuneration (salary plus super), plus GST. Charged only when a placement succeeds. No placement, no fee.
Christmas offer: sign our agreement by 11:59pm AEDT, Friday 27 November 2026 and pay 12% on every role. See offer terms.
90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement
See our terms.
What makes horticulture hiring in Mildura different?
Mildura Rural City Council's economic profile says: "In 2021, the Mildura LGA recorded the highest agricultural output of any Local Government Area in Australia". The same page describes the climate as particularly suited for viticulture and dried fruit production. Those are the Council's own statements and the page is undated.
The Census shows the same shape. Grape Growing employed 776 residents (3.1% of employed residents, compared with 0.1% in Victoria), and Labourers were 14.5% of employed residents, the second row in the ABS list of top occupation groups. The Census DataPack counts 3,001 employed residents in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, out of 25,101 employed residents. These are ABS 2021 Census figures. They describe the area, not CrossNation's own placements.
What does CrossNation recruit for Mildura growers, and what does it not?
CrossNation recruits farm hands, machinery operators, horticulture supervisors and team leaders, and farm, orchard and herd managers who become your own employees. A crew for a short harvest is a different need: CrossNation does not supply seasonal picking crews or run your payroll.
What do the Census numbers say about farming in Mildura?
The median age in the Mildura local government area was 40, compared with 38 in Victoria, and median weekly household income was $1,341, compared with $1,759 in Victoria. The figures describe the Mildura local government area only. These are ABS 2021 Census figures. They describe the area, not CrossNation's own placements.
Industries employing the most people (top responses)
| 2021 Census | Mildura | Victoria | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) | 952 (3.8%) | 146,890 (4.6%) | 545,158 (4.5%) |
| Supermarket and Grocery Stores | 813 (3.2%) | 75,275 (2.4%) | 299,810 (2.5%) |
| Grape Growing | 776 (3.1%) | 1,772 (0.1%) | 6,009 (0.0%) |
| Aged Care Residential Services | 683 (2.7%) | 62,520 (2.0%) | 258,274 (2.1%) |
| Other Social Assistance Services | 650 (2.6%) | 68,023 (2.2%) | 278,221 (2.3%) |
Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Mildura (retrieved 27 October 2026). Counts with the share of residents or employed residents in brackets, exactly as the ABS prints them.
Occupation groups (top responses)
| 2021 Census | Mildura | Victoria | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals | 4,105 (16.4%) | 790,960 (25.0%) | 2,886,921 (24.0%) |
| Labourers | 3,642 (14.5%) | 277,292 (8.8%) | 1,086,120 (9.0%) |
| Managers | 3,596 (14.3%) | 442,109 (14.0%) | 1,645,769 (13.7%) |
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 3,362 (13.4%) | 399,460 (12.6%) | 1,554,313 (12.9%) |
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 3,035 (12.1%) | 347,570 (11.0%) | 1,382,205 (11.5%) |
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 2,607 (10.4%) | 392,444 (12.4%) | 1,525,311 (12.7%) |
| Sales Workers | 2,371 (9.4%) | 263,317 (8.3%) | 986,433 (8.2%) |
| Machinery Operators and Drivers | 1,754 (7.0%) | 187,939 (5.9%) | 755,863 (6.3%) |
Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Mildura (retrieved 27 October 2026). Counts with the share of residents or employed residents in brackets, exactly as the ABS prints them.
Agriculture in the Census DataPack
The ABS adjusts small counts in its DataPack tables, so the figures may not add up to the total. They are printed as the ABS prints them, with no percentage worked out from them.
| Industry division | Employed residents aged 15 and over |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 3,001 |
| All employed residents | 25,101 |
Source: ABS 2021 Census DataPack, table G54, Mildura local government area (retrieved 27 October 2026).
When is harvest in Sunraysia?
Agriculture Victoria's harvest table lists these rows for Sunraysia: citrus (May – September), cherries (November – January), vegetables (October – March), table grapes (January – May), dried fruit (January – April), melons (December – April). Agriculture Victoria says Victoria's regions need workers at different times and that harvest workers often work on a number of farms during the season. The page names Sunraysia as a region and does not define it by local government area, so these rows are not a Mildura-only calendar.
| Industry | Region | Harvest season |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus | Sunraysia, Swan Hill | May – September |
| Cherries | North East Victoria, Goulburn Valley, Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, Sunraysia | November – January |
| Vegetables | Sunraysia, Werribee, East and West Gippsland | October – March |
| Table grapes | Sunraysia, Swan Hill | January – May |
| Dried fruit | Sunraysia | January – April |
| Melons | Sunraysia | December – April |
Source: Agriculture Victoria: How to get a harvest job (page last updated 13 July 2026). Rows are copied as the page prints them.
Open CrossNation farm and horticulture jobs in Mildura
What does the Horticulture Award pay?
Agriculture Victoria says most seasonal horticulture workers are hired under the Horticulture Award 2020 [MA000028]. From 1 July 2026 the adult minimum for full-time employees is $978.10 a week ($25.74 an hour) at Level 1, $1,004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour) at Level 2 and $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) at Level 5 (clause 15.1(a)).
Level 1 is $25.74 an hour under the Horticulture Award; the National Minimum Wage is $26.44; where an award applies, the award rate applies instead. Fair Work says: "The minimum award wages in some awards may now be less than the National Minimum Wage."
A casual employee is paid a loading of 25% of the hourly rate for the classification (clause 11.2(a)), instead of annual leave and other entitlements. Where piece rates are used, clause 15.2(d) says the employer must fix the rate so a pieceworker working at the average productivity of a competent pieceworker earns at least 15% more per hour than the hourly rate. Superannuation is paid on top at 12%.
Horticulture Award: adult minimum rates by level (clause 15.1(a))
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 |
| Level 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 |
| Level 3 | $1,020.10 | $26.84 |
| Level 4 | $1,056.90 | $27.81 |
| Level 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
About $50,861 a year for Level 1 (the weekly award rate x 52, before tax and super; our calculation, not an award figure).
Horticulture Award 2020 [MA000028], clause 15.1(a), in effect from 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman.
Check the award before you offer
These are award minimums, not market averages. Check Fair Work for the latest rates.
Award figures were read from the Fair Work site on 27 October 2026.
How does hiring in Mildura work with CrossNation?
- You send the role, location, start date and whether you want candidates based in Australia, overseas, or both.
- We search for candidates who match the brief and record their qualification, registration or licence status and work rights so you can check it.
- You interview the shortlist and choose who to offer.
- We coordinate the offer with you and the candidate. Our fee is 12% for roles under $50k, 15% for $50k–$90k, 18% above $90k, 20% executive, charged on first-year remuneration (salary plus super), plus GST, with a 90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement.
How to choose an agriculture and horticulture recruitment agency in Australia
These checks work for any agency. Each one is something you can ask for or verify before you send a brief.
Fee basis in writing
Ask for the percentage, what it is charged on and the event that makes the fee payable, in writing, before you send a brief.
CrossNation: CrossNation's fee is 12% for roles under $50k, 15% for $50k–$90k, 18% above $90k, 20% executive, charged on first-year remuneration (salary plus super), plus GST, and only when a placement succeeds.
Guarantee terms in writing
Ask for the guarantee period and how it applies in the agreement you sign, not only on the agency's website.
CrossNation: CrossNation placements carry a 90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement. See our terms.
How candidates are screened
Ask what the agency checks before it shortlists a candidate, and what record it keeps, such as qualifications, registration or licence status and work rights, so you can verify each one yourself.
CrossNation: CrossNation records each candidate's qualifications, registration or licence status and work rights so employers can verify them.
Migration agent involvement
If you are considering an overseas hire, ask who gives visa advice. Only a registered migration agent can give migration advice, and the register of migration agents is public (https://www.mara.gov.au/). This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
CrossNation: CrossNation is a recruitment agency, not a registered migration agent. The employer holds or obtains its own approval.
References
Ask for referee details for a candidate you are shortlisting, call the referees yourself, and ask the agency how it checks references and what it passes on to you.
Award and pay basis
Ask which award or agreement covers the role, which classification level it uses and whether piece rates apply, so the pay offered meets the award before you make an offer.
Questions from employers in Mildura
What does the Horticulture Award pay a farm worker in Mildura?
For Mildura employers covered by the Horticulture Award, the adult minimum from 1 July 2026 is $978.10 a week ($25.74 an hour) at Level 1, $1,004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour) at Level 2 and $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) at Level 5 for full-time employees (clause 15.1(a)). Level 1 is $25.74 an hour under the Horticulture Award; the National Minimum Wage is $26.44; where an award applies, the award rate applies instead.
When is harvest in Sunraysia?
Agriculture Victoria's harvest table (page last updated 13 July 2026) lists citrus (May – September), cherries (November – January), vegetables (October – March), table grapes (January – May), dried fruit (January – April), melons (December – April) for Sunraysia. The page names Sunraysia as a region and does not define it by local government area.
How many people work in agriculture in the Mildura local government area?
The Census DataPack counts 3,001 employed residents in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, out of 25,101 employed residents, and Grape Growing employed 776 residents (3.1% of employed residents, compared with 0.1% in Victoria). These are ABS 2021 Census figures. They describe the area, not CrossNation's own placements.
What does the Council say about agriculture in Mildura?
Mildura Rural City Council's economic profile says: "In 2021, the Mildura LGA recorded the highest agricultural output of any Local Government Area in Australia". It also describes the climate as particularly suited for viticulture and dried fruit production. These are the Council's own statements and the page is undated.
What loading does a casual horticulture worker receive?
Under clause 11.2(a) of the Horticulture Award, a casual employee is paid the ordinary hourly rate plus a loading of 25% of the hourly rate for their classification, and the loading is paid instead of annual leave and other entitlements of full-time or part-time employment. Piece rate rules in clause 15.2 can apply.
Does CrossNation supply seasonal pickers for Mildura harvests?
No. CrossNation recruits farm hands, machinery operators, supervisors and managers who become your employees. It does not supply seasonal crews or run your payroll.
What does agriculture and horticulture recruitment cost with CrossNation?
CrossNation's fee for agriculture and horticulture recruitment is 12% for roles under $50k, 15% for $50k–$90k, 18% above $90k, 20% executive, charged on first-year remuneration (salary plus super), plus GST, and only when a placement succeeds. If no placement is made, there is no fee. Placements carry a 90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement. Wages, superannuation and other employment costs stay with the employer.
How long does it take to recruit farm and horticulture workers through CrossNation?
It depends on the candidate and on bodies CrossNation does not control, such as registration boards, licensing regulators and the Department of Home Affairs, so CrossNation does not give a timeline. For agriculture and horticulture, those steps can include machinery licences and, for overseas candidates, visa steps. Many employers ask for both onshore and overseas candidates so an urgent vacancy is not held up.
What are an employer's responsibilities when sponsoring overseas farm and horticulture workers?
The Department of Home Affairs says a standard business sponsor has obligations to meet while it sponsors someone. They include telling the department in writing when certain events occur, such as the sponsored person ceasing employment or a change in their duties, making sure the person works only in the occupation nominated, giving terms and conditions of employment that are not less favourable than those of an equivalent Australian worker, keeping records, and cooperating with inspectors. The sponsor must also pay the costs of the recruitment process itself, including recruitment agent fees, and must not charge them to the sponsored worker. A sponsor that does not meet its obligations can face sanctions. The employer is the sponsor. CrossNation is a recruitment agency, does not sponsor and cannot promise a visa or an approval. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What happens if a farm worker placed through CrossNation leaves?
Placements carry a 90-day replacement guarantee (replacement, not refund), subject to our agreement. How it applies is set out in the agreement between CrossNation and the employer, so ask for the guarantee terms in writing before you sign. See our terms at https://crossnation.com.au/terms. The guarantee is not a promise of any offer, visa or migration outcome.
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Sources (accessed 27 October 2026)
- ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Mildura
- ABS 2021 Census DataPack, table G54 (Industry of Employment by Age by Sex (employed persons aged 15 years and over)), Victoria LGAs
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Horticulture Award 2020 [MA000028]
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages
- Agriculture Victoria: How to get a harvest job (page last updated 13 July 2026)
- Mildura Rural City Council: Mildura's Economic Profile
- Australian Taxation Office: Super guarantee