Recruitment agency in Swan Hill for employers

Swan Hill Rural City Council's Economic Development Strategy 2024 - 2030 (Mayor's message dated June 2024) lists feedback from its survey, workshops and business visits. Two items read: "Key industries are being severely affected by ongoing labour shortages" and "Housing shortages, especially in rental accommodation, are impacting importing labour to the region".

The strategy's workforce section says engagement highlighted the critical impact of skills shortages on the productivity and sustainability of horticulture and manufacturing, and that access to childcare limits who can work. These are statements from the Council's 2024 consultation, not a count of current vacancies. Housing matters when you hire from outside Swan Hill, so tell us early if you can offer or help find accommodation.

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We recruit farm hands, machinery operators, supervisors and managers who become your own employees, as well as health, aged care, hospitality and trades staff. Swan Hill employers send a brief through the enquiry form and we search for candidates in Australia and overseas. CrossNation Education Services Pty Ltd is registered in Mildura, Victoria (VIC 3500). That is a registered location only. We do not run an office in Swan Hill and we do not have a street address there. We recruit from our offices in Melbourne, Coventry, Mohali and Dubai.

The Swan Hill local government area had 21,403 residents at the 2021 Census and a median age of 39, compared with 38 in Victoria. Median weekly household income was $1,379, compared with $1,759 in Victoria.

Grape Growing employed 346 people (3.5% of employed residents, compared with 0.1% in Victoria) and Other Grain Growing employed 239 people (2.4%, compared with 0.1%). Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) employed 541 people (5.5%). Labourers were the largest occupation group at 19.2% of employed residents. These are ABS 2021 Census figures. They describe the area, not CrossNation's own placements.

If the Pastoral Award 2020 applies to the employer, a farm and livestock hand must be paid at least $978.10 a week ($25.74 an hour) at FLH1, $1,006.80 a week ($26.49 an hour) at FLH3 and $1,202.50 a week ($31.64 an hour) at FLH8 from 1 July 2026 (clause 32.1). Agriculture Victoria says most seasonal horticulture workers are hired under the Horticulture Award 2020, where Level 2 is $1,004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour).

Level 1 under the Horticulture Award and FLH1 under the Pastoral Award are both $25.74 an hour; the National Minimum Wage is $26.44; where an award applies, the award rate applies instead. Which award covers a role depends on the work and the employer, so check Fair Work. Superannuation is paid on top at 12%.

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.

1. You send the role, location, start date and whether you want candidates based in Australia, overseas, or both.
2. We search for candidates who match the brief and record their qualification, registration or licence status and work rights so you can check it.
3. You interview the shortlist and choose who to offer.
4. 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.