"Our team is like the United Nations," says Nicky Mann, WHS and Labour Manager at Family Fresh Farms. The farm's workforce includes a mix of short-term and long-term seasonal workers from Vanuatu, alongside permanent residents originally from countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Germany, and Australia. Even the General Manager flies in from the Netherlands.
Seasonal workers from Vanuatu are housed onsite in converted mining dongas and Olympic Village homes. "We provide four meals per day, along with all utilities, WiFi, furniture, and even linen, cutlery, and crockery. A local bus company gives them access to shopping centres and beaches," Nicky explains. This comprehensive support structure ensures that workers can focus on their tasks while feeling at home.
Safety first, always
Family Fresh Farms takes a rigorous and proactive approach to safety through its Safe Work Procedures (SWPs), which Nicky prefers over the term Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) due to the emphasis on worker safety, both mental and physical.
"All our workers go through an eight-hour induction or refresher training every nine months." This includes a comprehensive list of topics ranging from food safety and hygiene to mental health, fatigue management, fair labour practices, and even addiction awareness. "We believe in looking after the whole person, mind and body."
The SWPs themselves are highly practical. "We have 35 procedures covering everything from whipper-snippers to multi-head weighers," Nicky explains. The training is hands-on, requiring workers to demonstrate their skills and pass competency checks before they are signed off to use the equipment. "We state regularly: 'We come to work to achieve our goals and not get injured or die!', because that is a real consequence if safety is not a priority."
Continuous monitoring and leadership involvement
Training doesn't end after induction. Nicky and her team use a training matrix and HR software to track compliance and identify retraining needs. "We hold safety talks every Monday, and during peak seasons, they happen daily. Reckless operation results in immediate retraining," she stresses.
A wide team of supervisors and managers helps police safety protocols. "Everyone from my husband Wade, who is the senior grower, to our son Zinzan, the maintenance and operations manager, helps enforce safety. Even our team leaders from Vanuatu are actively involved. We all take responsibility."
Mental health is equally important. "I check in with our team constantly to see how things are going back home in Vanuatu. Being away from family is tough, and we do whatever we can to support them," she says.
Balancing physical labour and technology
Despite increasing interest in automation, Family Fresh Farms still relies heavily on human hands for key tasks. "Most of our jobs remain physical, but we've made them easier with tools like scissor lifts, trolleys on rails, and ergonomically designed workspaces," Nicky says. New employees are paired with a buddy for seven days to learn correct techniques and avoid injuries.
Each task is tailored to the worker. "If someone's tall, they're likely to become a lowerer. We rotate tasks to prevent strain, and we're extremely data-driven," she adds. The farm runs on a piece-rate system, with a guaranteed minimum hourly wage and strong incentives for high performers. "There's no losing: our top performers thrive, and even an average worker earns above the base rate."
A model of compliance and compassion
The farm operates under Australia's PALM (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility) scheme, which allows approved employers to hire workers from Pacific nations. "It's a very rigorous program, and we're proud to be part of it," Nicky shares. "We're audited regularly and held to extremely high standards. And that's how it should be. These workers are vulnerable and must be treated like any Australian employee."
Nicky believes strongly in the program's potential to uplift communities. "We don't believe in handouts. We believe in giving people a hand-up. Our team is gaining confidence, skills, and self-respect. They are deeply appreciated by our entire management team."
"We're a high-performing, well-oiled, and extremely disciplined team, but we also have a lot of fun! As they say, a team that plays together, stays together."
For more information:
Family Fresh Farms
Nicky Mann, WHS and Labour Manager
[email protected]
familyfreshfarms.com.au