SEDA news and events
Health and Safety Month is packed with face-to-face and online opportunities to connect, learn and share. Throughout October WorkSafe will hold 18 in-person events and 14 webinars. Join us to hear from guest speakers and industry experts on topics including:
- Improving psychological health and safety
- Supporting HSRs
- Preparing young people for safe work
- Construction safety
- Health and safety in the transport industry
- Supporting injured workers return to safe work
- Best practice manual handling
- Plus many more
All events are free, so don't miss this chance to connect, learn and share.
Visit our website or find an event near you.
Wednesday, 30 August
2023 Grants set to fight against the Queensland Fruit Fly
The Andrews Labor Government is bolstering fruit growers’ capacity to combat against the Queensland fruit fly (QFF) – delivering grants to ensure Victoria is well protected from the pest. Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney announced the successful recipients from the second round of Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy grants which will help roll out QFF management programs across regional Victoria.
Second Varroa emergency zone extends into Victoria
29 August 2023
Varroa mite has been detected near Balranald in the NSW Riverina district which will impact beekeepers with hives in Victoria within the 25 kilometres surveillance emergency zone (SEZ) put in place by New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI).
This is the second emergency zone extending into Victoria, after the detection at Euston last week. Biosecurity (Varroa mite) Emergency Orders have been issued for both locations.
Victorian beekeepers within the surveillance emergency zones will not be allowed to move their hives into, within or out of the zones at this time.
Visit the Ag Vic website to read more of this Media Release.
Employees of small business employers can now access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period.
Employees of non-small business employers could access the leave from 1 February 2023.
Changes to the PALM Scheme
The Australian Government has announced a number of changes to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, as well as new protections for migrant workers.
Labour hire providers and hosts who employ migrant workers should be aware of the changes, to ensure they continue to meet their obligations.
Visit the Labour Hire Authority website for further information regarding these changes.
MRL Calculator webinar series - Tool to assist horticultural industries comply with maximum residue limits (MRL) in export markets
The MRL calculator enables to you to calculate whether, by extending the withholding period of chemicals, the residue levels will decline enough to meet the overseas MRL. The tool was developed by a consortium of PIBs including ATGA, CGA and SAL, with the support of Agriculture Victoria. The webinars are planned for:
- 10 August 2023, 3pm – “Using the MRL Calculator Tool” to determine whether extended withholding periods will meet export market requirements for specific chemicals (1 hr duration)
- 24 August 2023, 3pm - “MRL calculator Masterclass” which will follow up on the previous webinar with a Q&A on the finer points of using the “MRL calculator” (1hr duration)
Before attending these webinars, or to find out a little more of what this is all about, you should watch a 25-minute recording “Intro to EHI Modelling” on the background of the development of MRL Calculator and the potential for expansion of export markets. The video can be found on the Summerfruit website: https://summerfruit.com.au/form-before-accessing/. To register interest in attending the webinars please email
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