Packing shed jobs in Australia: grading, packing and cool store work

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What happens in a packing shed?

Fruit arrives from the orchards in bins, then passes through washing, brushing and optical graders. Seasonal staff remove defective pieces, fill cartons and punnets, label boxes, strap pallets and feed the cool rooms that keep produce fresh until dispatch.

Most of the work is done standing on a line, often in noise and cold, on shifts of eight to twelve hours. Skilled roles include forklift driving, quality control, machine maintenance and preparing orders for supermarkets and export customers.

Where the main sheds are

Sheds cluster in fruit regions: Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley for apples and pears, the Riverina and Mildura for citrus and grapes, Bundaberg for vegetables and sweet potatoes, Stanthorpe and Batlow for apples, and the Huon Valley in Tasmania.

Vegetable sheds in Queensland's Lockyer Valley and Bowen, and in Gippsland, run longer seasons than fruit sheds, with lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes and capsicums packed for several months. Large sheds may employ several hundred casual staff at peak.

Season by product

Cherries keep lines busy from October to February, northern mangoes from September to November, apples and pears from February to May and longer thanks to controlled-atmosphere storage, and citrus from May to September in the Riverina and Sunraysia.

On-farm shed or factory?

A shed on the grower's property is usually covered by the Horticulture Award. An independent packing centre or processing plant may fall under a different award, with other rates and penalties, so the award name should always appear on the payslip.

Which visas allow packing work?

Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents work freely. Other candidates need work rights, most often through the Working Holiday visa subclass 417 or the Work and Holiday visa subclass 462, depending on nationality and bilateral arrangements.

Packing fruit and vegetables counts as plant cultivation for specified work: 88 days in regional Australia unlock a second 417 year, and 179 days a third. UK passport holders have been exempt from this requirement since 1 July 2024.

Pacific workers through PALM

PALM allows approved agriculture employers and certain food processing businesses, based anywhere in Australia, to recruit workers from nine Pacific countries and Timor-Leste, for up to nine months in the short-term stream or up to four years in the long-term stream.

Tax for PALM workers

Short-term PALM workers are generally treated as foreign residents for tax and have a flat 15 per cent withheld by an approved employer. They need a Tax File Number and may claim their superannuation through a departing payment when leaving Australia.

Pay and hours in packing

Packing work is almost always paid by the hour. From 1 July 2026 the Horticulture Award sets 25.74 Australian dollars an hour at level 1, or 32.18 dollars for casuals. Overtime and night work attract penalty rates under the relevant award.

Skilled roles such as forklift driver, line leader or quality controller sit at higher classification levels. Employers must record hours, issue a payslip within one working day of each payment and contribute to the worker's superannuation fund.

Forklift licences and safety

Driving a forklift in Australia requires a high risk work licence in the LF class, issued after accredited training and assessment. Safety boots, warm clothing for cool stores and hearing protection are often required from the very first shift.

Costs and documents to plan for

Sheds in farm towns do not always provide accommodation, so workers rely on working hostels, share houses or caravan parks and must plan daily transport when the site lies outside town.

Steps to find a packing job

Sheds often hire only days before harvest starts, and night shifts are usually the first to need extra hands. Turning up in person with a short CV still works well in smaller farm towns.

1. Check work rights on VEVO once the visa is granted.
2. Get a Tax File Number and open a bank account.
3. Target growing regions using the product calendar.
4. Search Harvest Trail and call 1800 062 332 for local providers.
5. Leave a CV with sheds and cooperatives in the area.
6. Ask for the award name, hourly rate and rostered hours in writing.
7. Obtain an LF licence if aiming for forklift work.

Traps to avoid

Problems rarely come from the work itself, but from vague employment terms and unscrupulous intermediaries operating between sheds and international seasonal workers.

• Accepting contractor status with an ABN for what is really employment.
• Working without payslips or superannuation contributions.
• Paying a middleman for a place in a shed.
• Ignoring which award applies, since it sets the hourly rate.
• Driving a forklift without a valid LF licence.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address the most common questions from international candidates planning to work in an Australian packing shed for a season or to complete their specified work days.

Does packing count towards 88 days?

Yes, if the shed is in an eligible regional postcode and the work involves fruit or vegetables. An urban distribution centre does not qualify. Keep payslips and an employer letter detailing dates, hours and duties.

Is fluent English necessary?

Basic English is enough for most grading and packing roles, provided safety instructions are understood. Quality control, line leader and forklift positions call for a stronger level of spoken and written English.

Do sheds run night shifts?

Yes, at peak harvest many sheds run day and night shifts, sometimes seven days a week. Night and weekend hours attract penalty rates set by the applicable award, which should show on each payslip.

How long do contracts last?

Casual engagements last from a few weeks to several months. Apple and citrus sheds, which store the crop, offer the longest stretches, sometimes from February to September for reliable workers.