We want you!
Job opportunities are going begging right now in a business that has continued to grow and operate throughout Covid-19.
Cameron Renshaw is the General Manager of Calflink, which is rearing upwards of 5000 calves a year through its Elmore facility, 36 minutes from Bendigo in northern Victoria.
Cameron needs people who want to work outdoors, caring for animals, and he's putting the opportunity out there for city and/or regional job seekers.
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"We are trying to capture people who are thinking a bit outside the box during Covid-19," Cameron said.
"Because it is neither here nor there whether you have a dairy or a beef background, or no background in the industry at all.
"We can teach the skill-set for our business.
"To some extent, people would actually benefit if they don't have pre-conceived backgrounds from either industry.
"But, importantly we're in livestock, and agriculture is essential - so it's business as usual up here."
Making a difference
Ultimately, Calflink carries the long-term aspiration to shift the industry as close as possible to being bobby-calf free, while also creating a clear corridor through to Australia's red meat industry.
"We've tried to go out in industry and find calf rearers.
But because this is such a different business - which has not been done before - we're now focused on getting people in on the ground floor, and developing them how we need them to be trained."
Cameron says there is significant opportunity for progression as this new entity pushes deeper into the dairy and beef industries.
One of their staff members, Louise Barnard, joined the team with a Masters in Animal Welfare within her Agricultural Science degree in 2019.
She is making rapid progress.
Equally, animal lovers with no tertiary education, who have an open mind and a caring heart are just as welcome.
"We've got a young, motivated core team and we want to add to it," Cameron said.
"It's an active job and age is no barrier. The common thread is that our team loves animals, they love working in the outdoors and they are problem solvers.
"There is something in them that they are excited to be part of a new and exciting business that the country hasn't seen before - particularly on the scale that we're working at.
"They actively know that this business is driving real change across two industries, and they are proud to be part of that story."
Affordable living and guaranteed work
Cameron also noted the more affordable cost of living in rural Victoria, the easy commute, along with the sense of community, the chance to work when many others can't, and the lower level of potential exposure to Covid-19 outside metropolitan city limits.
He remains open to both shorter and longer-term applicants.
"The affordability from a lifestyle point of view is without question," Cameron said.
"We've had quite a few international young people over the years that do their regional six months here and you can tell they dread going back to the city.
"There is something to be said for the rural life, the communities, the networks and the friends you make in a rural setting."
He said the challenge of finding staff is not only driven by Calflink's growth, the lack of young internationals able to travel now (putting pressure on the agriculture sector in general), and the level of animal care Calflink demands.
Calflink is rapidly becoming a dominant player in F1 production systems within the southern Australian dairy industry.
"There is absolutely a career path with us, and as Calflink grows and develops, other opportunities will open up across the board.
"This is the perfect time to join us."
For more information, contact Tess at Moore HR, 0409 912 706 or email tess@moorehr.com.au
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