The summer job that has it all?

Whether you’re a student yearning to add some extra dollars to your bank account, an adventurous soul craving the freedom to embark on exciting travels, or someone diligently saving for that long-awaited Euro holiday, the allure of high-paid seasonal jobs during the summer is tempting. Although Boorloo (Perth) is the perfect place to lounge by the beach all day, we couldn’t deny the sunny season’s lucrative side too.

So, in our quest to delve into the realm of summertime work, we reached out to CBH Group about their harvest casual job to gain firsthand insight into summertime work. Who usually does this kind of work? What do they get paid? And what’s it like?

“Working as a CBH harvest casual is a great opportunity to explore, live and work in regional WA for a short period,” CBH head of operations Dave Patton said.

“While it can be long hours over the summer harvest months, it can also offer financial freedom through the rest of the year.”

CBH are encouraging people from all backgrounds, walks of life and experience levels to apply. Whether you’re a student looking for a summer job to pay for your next Europe trip or car, a traveller looking for casual work while you travel around the state, or a retiree looking to make some additional cash, there’s a role suited to all different levels.

“We have found that it is particularly popular for university-age applications, who work a block over summer which then frees them up to focus on their study once uni resumes in February,” Mr Patton said.

About the job

The CBH harvest casual job presents a range of roles for individuals eager to contribute to the grain harvest and storage and handling process. The main positions available are the receival point operator (RPO) and sampler.

The two main tasks of an RPO are the safe unloading of grain by directing trucks onto the correct grid and releasing grain into storage around site.

A ‘sampler’ is a key role at CBH over harvest too; sampling grain correctly is an essential part of the grains receivable process and the first step in ensuring quality throughout the CBH supply chain.

Without harvest casuals, receiving the grain at CBH wouldn’t be possible.

“With over 100 receival sites across the Wheatbelt, it’s a great way to get out and see regional WA,” Mr Patton said.

It’s also a great first introduction to the agriculture sector.

“There are many harvest casuals that continue to stay and work at or return to CBH years later in different positions. Our very own chief operations officer, Mick Daw, started as a harvest casual and has continued to work at CBH over the past 35 years, so it really is a fantastic way to get involved in the agriculture sector,” Mr Patton said.

What makes it a lucrative job?

Obviously, what makes seasonal work a truly enticing prospect for workers is earning money efficiently.

Last year, Western Australia witnessed an exceptional harvest, with almost every receival site setting a record for grain receivals, resulting in extended working hours and a longer harvest period, translating into more money for casuals. This means that as a harvest casual with CBH, you have the chance to capitalise on the fruitful harvest and secure significant earnings.

“The past two years have been a record harvest for WA growers and CBH, and at this stage, this year is looking to be above average,” Mr Patton said.

“This means we will need roughly 2,000 harvest casuals to help us keep our sites moving, getting growers and transporters in and out of site safely, quickly and back to harvesting.”

If you’d like to learn more about the harvest casual job, you can visit the CBH Group website.