An evaluation of the Harvest Trail Services (HTS) program which aimed to address harvest employers’ recruitment needs, improve community understanding of the legal requirements for fair and safe harvest work and increase the number of Australians employed in harvest work. HTS connected workers with employers in 16 harvest areas across Australia. 

This evaluation employed a mixed methods approach, drawing on both quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (interviews and roundtable discussions) methods. It was designed to explore:

• the extent to which HTS meets the needs of harvest employers
• the impact and reach of HTS in contributing to the employment of Australian harvest workers, including those on income support
• the extent to which HTS has resulted in improved community understanding of the legal requirements for fair and safe harvest work
• the implementation and ongoing delivery of HTS.

Harvest employers were appreciative of HTS providers locating potential workers, screening them for suitability, and preparing them for work in the role with minimum administrative burden for employers. Employers’ main criticism of HTS was its inability to source enough workers; however, many acknowledged the environment in which HTS providers were operating, particularly noting the shortages of overseas workers and restricted mobility in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The evaluation shows that HTS facilitated harvest employers to find suitable workers and contributed to getting more Australians into harvest work. However, the evaluation also found that the program’s impact was potentially affected by major infrastructure and logistical barriers beyond the scope of the program to address (for example, a shortage of, or unaffordable, accommodation). The evaluation could not separate the impact of HTS from these factors, limiting its ability to measure conclusively the program’s overall impact.