31. Classifications

[Varied by PR781364]

31.1 Farm and livestock hand level 1 (FLH1)

An employee at this level includes:

[31.1(a) varied by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(a) Station hand with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry;

[31.1(b) varied by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(b) Station cook with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry;

[31.1(c) varied by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(c) Station cook’s offsider with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry; and

[31.1(d) substituted by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(d) Cattle farm worker grade A who:

 works under direct supervision either individually or in a team environment;

 understands and undertakes basic quality control/assurance procedures including the ability to recognise basic quality deviations/faults;

 understands and utilises basic statistical process control procedures; and

 has less than 6 months’ experience in the industry (after which the employee will progress to Cattle farm worker grade B).

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this grade may perform are the following:

 routine mustering;

 routine fence repairs;

 aerial stock sighting;

 repetitive packing and/or unpacking; and

 kitchen/cooking assistance not involving food preparation.

(e) Feedlot employee level 1 with less than 3 months’ experience in the industry.

[31.1(f) varied by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(f) Dairy operator grade 1A with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry who:

 uses their knowledge and skills to perform set procedures such as milking and attending to livestock, haymaking, fencing.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 operate milking plant and equipment in a safe manner;

 identify and report equipment not operating normally;

 work co-operatively as part of a team;

 read and record instrument information i.e. milk vat temperatures and cow numbers; and

 understand the principles of safe working.

31.2 Farm and livestock hand level 2 (FLH2)

An employee at this level includes:

[New 31.2(a) inserted by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(a) Station hand with 6 to 12 months’ experience in the industry.

[New 31.2(b) inserted by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(b) Station cook with more than 6 months’ experience in the industry.

[31.2(c) inserted by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(c) Station cook’s offsider with more than 6 months’ experience in the industry.

[31.2(a) renumbered as 31.2(d) by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(d) Cattle farm worker grade B who:

 performs work above and beyond the skills of a cattle farm worker grade A and to the level of their training;

 is responsible for the quality of their own work subject to routine supervision;

 works under routine supervision either individually or in a team environment; and

 exercises discretion within their level of skills and training.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 receive, check, despatch and record goods received and sent;

 assist a tradesperson;

 basic non-trades daily maintenance of equipment used by the employee;

 sort and cut out stock;

 sort and brand yarded stock;

 fence repairs;

 kitchen/cooking assistance not involving unsupervised food preparation;

 boundary riding;

 forklift, overhead crane, winch or tractor operation; and

 household domestic work other than childcare or child education.

[31.2(b) renumbered as 31.2(e) by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(e) Feedlot employee grade 1 with more than 3 months’ experience in the industry who:

 works under direct supervision with regular checking of their work.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 perform cattle handling procedures;

 perform cattle health and welfare procedures;

 assist with euthanasing livestock;

 assist with performance of cattle post-mortem procedures;

 transport, handle and store chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 prepare and apply chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 operate moving plant and equipment competently and efficiently;

 perform grain processing procedures;

 perform feed manufacture and delivery procedures;

 perform hygiene and housekeeping procedures associated with the primary work area;

 perform feedlot and environment maintenance procedures;

 possess understanding of industry quality assurance programs and all site operating procedures; and

 carry out workplace work health and safety procedures.

[31.2(f) inserted by PR781364 ppc 01Apr25]

(f) Dairy operator grade 1A with 6 to 12 months’ experience in the industry.

31.3 Farm and livestock hand level 3 (FLH3)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Station hand who:

 has at least 12 months’ experience in the industry as a station hand; but

 does not conform to the definition of senior station hand (FLH5) in clause 31.5.

(b) Dairy operator grade 1B with 12 months’ experience in the industry who:

 uses their knowledge and skills to perform set procedures such as milking and attending to livestock, haymaking, fencing.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 operate milking plant and equipment, in a safe manner;

 identify and report equipment not operating normally;

 work co-operatively as part of a team;

 read and record instrument information i.e. milk vat temperatures and cow numbers; and

 understands the principles of safe working.

31.4 Farm and livestock hand level 4 (FLH4)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Feedlot employee level 2 who:

 has 2 years’ experience in the feedlot industry; and

 works under routine supervision with intermittent checking of their work.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 utilise ability to make independent work decisions at this level;

 perform cattle handling procedures;

 perform cattle health and welfare procedures;

 euthanase livestock;

 perform cattle post-mortem procedures;

 select livestock for specific markets;

 transport, handle and store chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 prepare and apply chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 operate moving plant and equipment competently and efficiently;

 perform grain processing procedures;

 perform feed manufacture and delivery procedures;

 perform hygiene and housekeeping procedures associated with the primary work area;

 perform feedlot and environment maintenance procedures;

 possess understanding of industry quality assurance programs and all site operating procedures; and

 carry out workplace work health and safety procedures.

31.5 Farm and livestock hand level 5 (FLH5)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Dairy operator grade 2 who:

 has 2 years’ experience in the industry;

 uses their knowledge and skills to multiple operations involving basic levels of problem solving and decision making; and

 has an appreciation of the overall processes involved in a dairy farm.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 operate milking plant and equipment, undertake multiple functions, produce a quality outcome e.g. farm machinery;

 maintain machinery, undertake adjustments and size changes;

 solve problems and make decisions within given guidelines;

 know general scientific terminology and assist with processes such as machine repair, artificial insemination, fertiliser mix design etc.;

 operate standard measuring equipment;

 operate computerised systems using menu options;

 contribute to the team in a specific role, providing input and assisting other team members; and

 work at times without supervision.

(b) Senior station hand is an employee who:

 has at least 2 years’ experience in the industry; and

 is capable of performing efficiently without supervision any of the tasks reasonably required of them.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 drive, maintain and operate farm vehicles and machinery;

 animal husbandry;

 stock handling;

 irrigation work; and

 use of chemicals.

31.6 Farm and livestock hand level 6 (FLH6)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Feedlot employee level 3 who:

 has Certificate III qualifications;

 has worked in the feedlot industry for at least 2 years; and

 works with limited supervision with checking of their work related to overall progress.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 utilise ability to make independent work decisions;

 utilise Certificate III qualifications daily in the employee’s primary work area;

 perform cattle handling procedures;

 perform cattle health and welfare procedures;

 euthanase livestock;

 perform cattle post-mortem procedures;

 select livestock for specific markets;

 transport, handle and store chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 prepare and apply chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 operate moving plant and equipment competently and efficiently;

 perform grain processing procedures;

 perform feed manufacture and delivery procedures;

 perform hygiene and housekeeping procedures associated with the primary work area;

 perform feedlot and environment maintenance procedures;

 possess understanding of industry quality assurance programs and all site operating procedures; and

 carry out workplace work health and safety procedures.

31.7 Farm and livestock hand level 7 (FLH7)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Senior dairy operator grade 1 who:

 uses their knowledge and skills to coordinate the operation of a farm process or area of expertise e.g. milking and animal attendance, pasture and farm maintenance, breeding programs and artificial insemination area.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 overview of all farm operations;

 show strong planning and organising abilities, develop work plans to achieve objectives;

 operate computer equipment and software packages requiring set-up and basic function operation;

 maintain equipment requiring modification, part replacement and overhauls;

 gather information, generate a range of options and implement a course of action to solve problems;

 demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the dairy industry monitoring the industry through literature;

 use measuring equipment requiring calibration and measurement conversion;

 use established scientific processes in at least one area of specification;

 co-operate with other team members, establish priorities and work goals; and

 work with others to develop their competencies.

(b) Feedlot employee level 4 who:

 has Certificate III qualifications;

 has worked in the feedlot industry for at least 2 years; and

 works with limited supervision with checking of their work related to overall progress.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 utilise ability to make independent work decisions;

 utilise Certificate III qualifications daily in the employee’s primary work area;

 perform cattle handling procedures (where livestock operation is the primary work area);

 perform cattle health and welfare procedures (where livestock operation is the primary work area);

 euthanase livestock (where livestock operation is the primary work area);

 perform cattle post-mortem procedures (where livestock operation is the primary work area);

 select livestock for specific markets;

 transport, handle and store chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 prepare and apply chemicals applicable to primary work area;

 operate moving plant and equipment competently and efficiently;

 perform grain processing procedures (where feeding and milling operations is the primary work area);

 perform feed manufacture and delivery procedures (where feeding and milling operations is the primary work area);

 perform hygiene and housekeeping procedures associated with the primary work area;

 perform feedlot and environment maintenance procedures (where feedlot and environment maintenance operations is the primary work area);

 possess understanding of industry quality assurance programs and all site operating procedures;

 carry out workplace work health and safety procedures.

31.8 Farm and livestock hand level 8 (FLH8)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Senior dairy operator grade 2 who:

 under the direction of the owner or manager uses their expertise and skills in order to supervise and maintain the operation of a dairy farm.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

 set and monitor work goals;

 anticipate potential problems/issues and determine the best course of action;

 approach the resolution of conflict using objectivity and reason, differentiating between the two;

 supervise other grades;

 where appropriate, seek to develop team performance and cohesion, taking into account competencies and the needs of team members;

 keep abreast of dairy industry trends and changes;

 where necessary, exercise foresight in relation to farm needs and make recommendations to farm management; and

 operate scientific processes necessary to achieve farm objectives.

32. Minimum rates

[Varied by PR724570, PR729290, PR729479, PR740716, PR740884, PR762145, PR762308, PR773920, PR774088, PR786573, PR786739, PR799316, PR799473]

32.1 Adult rates

[32.1 varied by PR729290, PR740716, PR762145, PR773920, PR786573, PR799316 ppc 01Jul26]

The following rates apply to adult farm and livestock hands classified under clause 31—Classifications of this award:

Wage group | Minimum weekly rate (full-time employee) | Minimum hourly rate

| $ | $

FLH1 | 978.10 | 25.74

FLH2 | 1004.90 | 26.44

FLH3 | 1006.80 | 26.49

FLH4 | 1029.10 | 27.08

FLH5 | 1046.90 | 27.55

FLH6 | 1062.90 | 27.97

FLH7 | 1119.10 | 29.45

FLH8 | 1202.50 | 31.64

32.2 Junior rates

Age of employee | % of relevant adult rate

Under 16 years | 50

16 years | 60

17 years | 70

18 years | 80

19 years | 90

20 years | 100

32.3 With keep rate

[32.3 varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088, PR786739, PR799473 ppc 01Jul26]

If keep is provided then the employer may deduct an amount of $165.86 per week from the employee’s total weekly wages.

NOTE: See Clause B.2 for a summary of hourly rates of pay including overtime and penalty rates.