Dairy Farm Assistant (Waimate) 3463VL

$26.00 - $30.00 hourly

Job Description

We have two positions available for Dairy Farm Assistants on dairy farms in the Waimate area. One position is based on a 1300-cow robotic milking farm, and the second is based on a conventional rotary milking shed farm. Experience is preferred but not required.

You'll have a range of duties to keep you busy, interested and developing including:

- Milking cows using rotary or robotic milking systems

- shifting cows and feeding 

- fencing, weed control

- calving, calf rearing

- shed cleaning and setup

- identifying and alerting managers to sick cows

- Setting fences

- and other general farm duties.

Robotic Farm Duties:

- Assisting with cow flow through the robotic milking area

- Cleaning robotic milking equipment (brushes, pipes, wash systems)

- Carrying out routine cleaning and basic maintenance tasks as directed

- Reporting any faults or issues with robotic equipment to farm management

- Fetching late cows when required

- Cleaning calf sheds, yards, and farm facilities

Weekly hours are a minimum of 30, with an average of 50 and a maximum of 55. Since farm work is dependent on a number of unknown factors like weather and animals, any hours worked beyond the agreed maximum in a fortnightly pay period will be paid at the agreed overtime rate. 

The schedule may vary; Roster will be 9 days on, 3 days off for the rest of the year.

Wage ranges from $26.00 to $30.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Candidates are required to provide good related references. 

To be considered you must:

- provide a CV which is current, correct and complete or alternative evidence of work (this is proof of work and professionalism and the employer will not consider you without this)

- be a solid worker and with good character (where possible, we will do a criminal check)

- be physically fit

- be able to pass a pre-employment drug test  

Summary - if you're committed to getting up early, working hard, treating the animals with care and respect and communicating well with others, you will want this job (or last in it).

Peak Herd Size (cows)

1300

Typical On-farm Staff

10

Position Start Date

01/08/2026

Accommodation available

A shared 3-bedroom house is included. Pets and smoking/vaping are not permitted in the accommodation. Rent will be deducted from wages. Power and Internet costs are payable by the worker.

Hour Type

week

Average Hours Per week

50

Roster

Single rotation - 9 Days on / 3 days Off

Remuneration paid by

Hourly / Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Yearly