The Sweetest Job NT was a pilot project that aimed to demonstrate demand by local people for employment in seasonal harvest jobs. The project was developed to support the Top End Mango Industry to fulfil their harvest workforce requirements. The Mango Industry has traditionally been reliant on backpackers for their harvest labour and identified sourcing labour as a key issue after the backpacker tax was implemented in 2017.
The project involved a promotional campaign and recruitment program attracting a local workforce and placing appropriate candidates with local growers. The project demonstrated that there was local demand for harvest jobs within the mango industry, employing 24 locals on seven farms through the program. The Sweetest Job NT Project was led by Regional Development Australia NT and proudly supported by NT Farmers, the Northern Territory Department of Trade, Business and Innovation and Litchfield Council.
For more information, the final report can be viewed here – The Sweetest Job NT Final Campaign Report.
