How much do you get paid on a cattle station?
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How much do you get paid on a cattle station?

If you are looking to find what you should be getting paid on a cattle station,

according to Australian Government Fairwork Ombudsman, then you need to review the Classifications for cattle and livestock employees under the Pastoral Award.


You can find a list of indicative duties for each level under clause 27 of the Award. The employee’s level is determined by their duties, experience and level of responsibility.


And did you know as of July 1 2021 there was an increase in most awards, check your pay now, or if you are an employer what the award is...


Find your pay here via The P.A.C.T. (Pay And Conditions Tool): https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward (Released 24 August 2021)



Facebook Comments about pay | 21 Feb 2020 | Perry Palmer

Farm and livestock hand level 1

An employee at this level includes a Station hand with less than 12 months’ experience in the industry, a Station cook, a Station cook’s offsider and a 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.


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

• kitchen/cooking assistance not involving food preparation.


Feedlot employee level 1 with less than three months’ experience in the industry.


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward


Farm and livestock hand level 2

An employee at this level includes a 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

• 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

• household domestic work other than childcare or child education.


Feedlot employee grade 1 with more than three 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 QA Programs and all site operating procedure

• carry out workplace OH&S procedures.


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward


Farm and livestock hand level 3

An employee at this level includes:

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).


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward


Farm and livestock hand level 4

An employee at this level includes a Feedlot employee level 2 who: • has two years experience in the feedlot industry • 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 QA programs and all site operating procedure • carry out workplace OH&S procedures.


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward


Farm and livestock hand level 5

Senior station hand is an employee who: • has at least two years’ experience in the industry • 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 • use of chemicals.


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward


Farm and livestock hand level 6

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 two years • 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 QA programs and all site operating procedure • carry out workplace OH&S procedures.


Your pay depends on a number of variables such as age, location, experience, keep etc, calculate your award: https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward





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