Milestone Retirement
Allan and Gail Monshing will be embarking on a well-deserved retirement journey on 30 June 2023. Allan has just completed his 50th harvest, and Gail has completed over 30 years of service with HPA.
A retirement celebration event will be held on 28 June to honour and express our gratitude to these two amazing individuals who have contributed immensely to our organisation.
As we bid farewell to Allan and Gail, we extend our warmest wishes and heartfelt congratulations on their momentous milestone. We wish them all the best for their next chapter in life.
New team members and internal promotions
We warmly welcome the following new employees to the HPA team in recent months:
- Matthew Morrison – Digital Infrastructure Specialist
- Jess Monshing – Office Manager VIC
Congratulations to Kristy Lusted for her promotion to Office Manager BPE, and Sarah Weimer on her promotion to Farm Office Assistant (VIC).
Post harvest wrap up
A successful harvest hinges on having the right people. We’re so thankful for the team who helped us produce this year’s harvest, especially those who took on specialised and supervisor roles.
We employed a total of 393 casual staff from 24 different countries of origin across both farms:
- BPE: 117 casuals and 12 labour hire casuals totalling 129 casuals.
- RHG and BRV: 139 casuals and 125 labour hire totalling 264 casuals.
The influx of overseas backpackers seeking seasonal work was very promising since the challenges previously experienced during peak-COVID times.
Annual performance reviews
It’s that time of year again! The following timelines have been set to complete annual performance reviews for permanent employees:
- Head Office: June – July
- RHG and BRV: June – Aug
- BPE: August – September
This year, Annual Reviews will be recorded in the Performance section of Employment Hero. The format is similar to the paper-based form. Your manager will schedule a suitable time with you to have the review meeting.
You will be sent an email from Employment Hero with a link to access your performance review to make comments (if you wish) before the meeting. Please contact your manager or HR if you have any questions.
Health and wellbeing
Recently we invited Mitch McPherson from SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY to join our farms in Tasmania and Victoria to share his journey and the importance of mental health and suicide prevention by reducing stigma and encouraging people to speak up. It was very impactful reminder to proactively look after and support others who may need it. Starting a conversation helps remove the barriers to talking about mental health. We encourage everyone to prioritise their own mental and physical health and speak up if they need support or notice others who may need it.
Diversity and Inclusion
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, aimed at fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all our staff. We strongly believe that diversity not only enhances our company culture but also drives innovation, creativity, and better decision-making.
Our new strategy is built upon the foundation of respect, understanding, and valuing the unique perspectives and experiences of every individual within our organisation. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we aim to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, empowered, and able to contribute their best. Please stay tuned for upcoming initiatives, training, and opportunities to get involved.
Increase to Superannuation to 11%
There have been recent changes to the minimum superannuation contribution that employers must make on behalf of employees. Changes to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) mean the superannuation guarantee rate has increased from 10.5% to 11% effective from 1 July 2023.
