warehouse worker

operations lead

packer

COSTA GROUP

Basic info: You will need your own accommodation and transportation to mobilize yourself in Costa. It is the largest, I repeat, the largest berry farm and grower in all of Australia. The Green Shed Corindi NSW sister farms are located in TAS, WA & QLD. You will however, be able to find a ride to and from work during induction.

Pros:

Documented Identity: All employees will be provided an individual ID card with your name and payroll number, drivers be given a Vehicle Parking Slip which must be presented if asked by Costa Security Personnel.

Facility: High standards work environment. Toilets with tissue rolls and paper towels, handsoap and free drinking water

Security: Medically insured by the company (from bee sting, snake bite or harassment by wildlife), accidents or incidents are only covered within Costa farm locations

Financial Stability: Paid as per Australian Labor Law minimum wage per hour or per piece agreement rate. Wages paid on time every Wednesday, Tax Deduction or Threshold for Residents and Superannuation scheme available 

Multiracial Workforce: More than 30 nationalities as employees in harvest operations or managerial positions

Work Flexibility: Minimum working days is 5 days and requested Day Offs are counted as Unpaid Leave. Compulsory action, Absenteeism must be acknowledged by the management for approval

Cons:

Office Politics/Bureaucratic Agricultural Management: 

Stage 1 (Trial Period): Recruitment + Induction + Employment 
Stage 2 (Confirmed): Conversion or transitional period.
Stage 3 (Permanent): Naturalization process.

Skilled or experienced or senior employees are on Stage 2. This is when their hardwork and loyalty invested in the company are being rewarded by claiming their rights as higher promotion or recommendation

Worker's Rights: 9/10. Zero exploitation, wage theft or underpayment. On time, fixed payment into bank account weekly without fail. Rarely would be facing mistreatment, emotional abuse etc. Costa employers are protected by Fair Work and Horticultural Awards Rate. 

Hourly positions or harvest operations during high/peak season (Spring-Summer)
May Result In:
Overworked condition (shorter rest periods between hours)
Mild fatigueness
Mild stress

Blue berry picking was great. Crew was friendly and supervisor helpful. Given good introduction to picking. Staff and supervisor looked after employees very well and showed concern for employees welfare when working in hot weather. Staff and supervisors in raspberry picking was very different. Weren't shown at first what to do. Where expected to start picking straight away. When approached supervisor wldnt listen and runner of the crew was incompetent. Not much concern was shown for employees welfare when working in hot conditions, supervisor and crew runner constantly on employees backs. Interested in getting fruit picked and not much else.

As a Farm Worker in a tomato packing house, I developed strong skills in quality control, packing, and production operations within a fast-paced environment. My responsibilities included sorting and packing tomatoes, ensuring products met quality standards, maintaining cleanliness and safety procedures, and working efficiently to meet production targets. This role strengthened my attention to detail, teamwork, time management, and ability to perform repetitive tasks accurately while maintaining a high standard of work. Through this experience, I gained a strong work ethic, reliability, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team to ensure quality products were prepared for distribution.

Working in this blueberry packing shed was a mixed experience. There were many friendly staff on working holidays and the work is not difficult, so most days were easygoing and stress free. The supervisors, however, were constantly giving conflicting instructions and sometimes berating the employees about their performance right at their work stations for all to see and hear. One supervisor would tell the workers to increase the speed so we can meet our quota sooner and then minutes later the other supervisor would tell us to reduce the speed to improve the quality (when dealing with a high volume of damaged fruit that has to be sorted out).

My experience at Costa Berries consisted of arriving in the early morning hours, being directed to a field to pick in, and next to zero human contact for the next 6 - 8 - 10 hours depending on the amount of people that decided to show up that day. The majority of people I worked with were quite obviously and shamelessly chosen for cheap labor and nobody was given the time of day beyond being told where to pick berries, and almost nobody I know of has stayed with them beyond one season, let alone 'job advancement' - In short being there felt like being a number on a production line.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Variation of duties, new skills taught, friendly coworkers and great management

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Early morning starts and potentially long working days during busy season

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Stringent and uniform structure with a wide variety of people and cultures. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Toolbox meeting, designated work areas assigned and then go go go until break time, go again until the work is completed for the day

Due to seasonality, there is always change, jobs allotted by management on a daily basis. Casual means there may not be work on a day they think it will rain. 
Learned about blueberries and raspberries and WH&S. 
hardest part was putting up with the unfairness and lack of knowledge and understanding in management. 
Most enjoyable was being with the other workers including back packers and Overseas Production workers and supporting each other through this hard time.

I worked for costa for 4 months over their busy summer period, I worked in Devonport, Lebrina, East Devonport and near Elizabeth town, the work was extremely easy for the pay i was getting. 

1: drive truck to farm.
2: pick up fruit, minimal paper work.
3: deliver to Distribution centre.
4: repeat 

best job i had for a long time, the boss was a great guy and looked after workers with flexible hours and was able to cater for most if they needed a personal day or off sick.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part was the people that you meet

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
That I'm not working there, as they don't want quality but quantity 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Good working environment, the Islanders and Tongas are really lovely people 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I really enjoyed working there, as I was making lottsa friends. I go to work early where I would stand for a long period packing the fruit, then home early  sometimes

I was picking rasberrys at costa berries at corindi, delta team. You only get paid what you are picking, but you have to do lot more. like packing and cleaning and you don't get any money for that. You are basicly picking maybe 3 hours per day so it doesn't matter how fast you are because you don't have time to earn any money. It was my second day when some assistance supervisor told me that "if you don't get better you don't have to come here next week"  there was only one nice helping supervisor, others was so mean

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Warehouse worker 2 salaries reported	$33.84 per hour
Operations lead 2 salaries reported	$72,847 per year
Packer 1 salary reported	$30.80 per hour

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