It is a dairy farm with around 550 cows. It is a family-run business located in Katunga, Victoria, managed by a married couple and their four daughters. They have around four sponsored workers from the UK working full-time, and between four and five backpackers doing the other tasks on the farm.
1 Review on “KIEMMAJA HOLSTEINS-J Hibberson & J.L Hibberson”
⭐ 2 — Fair pay and treatment *:
I’m giving 1 star because, even though they pay the minimum rate of $30.35 per hour, the most basic standards weren’t respected. We didn’t get proper breaks , not even the mandatory 15-minute paid break after 5 hours of work, and certainly not the 30-minute unpaid meal break.
On top of that, there was no clear separation between work hours and personal time. Even after finishing our rostered shift, we were expected to be “on call” all day without prior notice or extra pay.
The contract only mentioned working within the milking roster, but in reality, that’s not what happens. There was no clear indication that we had to be available all day, yet they expected us to be constantly on call. Even if your shift was supposed to start at 2 p.m., they could call you at 7 a.m. and expect you to be ready with no advance notice and no additional compensation, as required by Fair Work in on-call situations.
There were days we couldn’t even cook or shower properly because we had to stay available in case they needed us (since we lived on the farm) no private time at all. And when we raised concerns, we weren’t met with understanding, but were simply told to leave. That’s not fair treatment that’s taking advantage of people who just want to work and be treated decently.
⭐ 1 — Job matched the promise *:
Not at all. From the moment we set foot on the farm, it was pretty disappointing. Yes, they provide accommodation, but what they don’t tell you is that you’ll be sharing it with eight other people. There’s only one shower and one toilet for everyone, and the house is constantly dirty.
The owner said she “doesn’t get involved in house rules,” even though she is the one providing the house to her employees. The people living there had no sense of cleanliness, and nothing was done to improve the conditions. The heating didn’t work in all the rooms, and during winter, the rooms without heating were absolutely freezing. Many things in the house were broken or falling apart, including furniture. The house is located on a dairy farm surrounded by mud and cow poop, yet it’s fully carpeted inside. Even though we didn’t wear shoes indoors, the carpets were always disgusting and stained. No effort was made to properly clean or maintain the place, especially considering this was employer-provided accommodation.
In terms of hours, you are told you will only be working during the milking roster, from 3:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. But in reality, they expect you to be available the entire day. Even after finishing your rostered shift, you can’t enjoy your personal time or even take a shower, because they usually call you back once or twice more with no notice and no extra pay. On-call expectations should be paid differently according to Fair Work.
On top of that, they don’t provide proper breaks, not even the basic 15-minute paid break after five hours of work, which is the legal minimum. Something so simple and essential for any worker wasn’t respected. This was absolutely not what was promised, and it is not a professional way to treat workers.
⭐ 1 — Work-life balance *:
There was no real work-life balance. Even though the job was supposed to be based only on milking shifts, in reality, you’re expected to be available at all times. You live on the farm, but that doesn’t mean you should be on call all day. After finishing a shift, you couldn’t relax, shower, go for a walk, or even cook properly, because you might be called again with no warning.
You constantly felt like you couldn’t disconnect or have any personal time. It was mentally exhausting, and no boundaries were respected between work and rest. Definitely felt like all work, no life.
⭐ 2 — Friendly, easygoing team *:
Most of the team was chill, especially the other backpackers and the sponsored workers, they were good people and easy to get along with. But the owners were the opposite. Their attitude was very tense, and they often made you feel like you were doing everything wrong. They weren’t approachable or easygoing at all, which created a stressful work environment.
⭐ 1 — Quality of accommodation (if applicable):
The accommodation was very disappointing. Yes, they provide a house, but what they don’t tell you is that you’ll be sharing it with eight other people. There’s only one shower and one toilet for everyone, which is simply not enough. The house was constantly dirty, and nothing was done to keep it clean or livable.
The owner said she “doesn’t get involved in house rules,” even though she’s the one providing the house to her employees. The people living there had no basic hygiene habits, and the lack of structure made the situation worse.The heating didn’t work in all the rooms, and in winter the rooms without heating were absolutely freezing. A lot of the furniture was broken or falling apart, and the house overall was in a really messy-dirty condition.
To make things worse, the house is located on a dairy farm, surrounded by mud and cow manure, yet the entire floor is carpeted. Even though no one wore shoes inside, the carpets were constantly filthy and stained. It was clear that no real effort was made to clean or maintain the place, which is unacceptable for employer-provided housing and of course the other workers living there didnt care at all.
⭐ 1 — Likelihood you’d recommend to a mate *:
This review comes from a place of full awareness. I know a dairy farm isn’t a desk job. It’s physically and mentally demanding work, and I fully accept that. The problem isn’t that the job is hard; it’s that the bare minimum expected by workers wasn’t respected.
If you want us to work hard, fair enough. It’s a tough job, and we’re here for that. But as an employer, you should also do your part: provide proper breaks, communicate clearly, and organize the day so workers can plan their time. If you want people to be available beyond their shifts, that needs to be said upfront, not assumed.
You provide accommodation. No one expects a five-star hotel. But the basic conditions must be met: heating, cleanliness, working furniture, and enough bathrooms for the number of people living there. It’s about offering a livable space after long, exhausting days.
What was most disappointing was the complete lack of space to raise concerns or ask questions. When we saw the lack of structure and tried to open a respectful conversation by asking for a meeting, we were immediately fired. That reaction showed there was no interest in listening or reflecting, only control. It made us feel disposable.
On top of that, the owner tries to justify all of this by occasionally inviting you to a dinner or including you in a “family meal.” But let’s be honest, that’s not a substitute for fair treatment. A meal or a nice gesture doesn’t cancel out the fact that your legal rights and basic working conditions aren’t being met. Respect and the bare minimum are not negotiable or interchangeable. So no, I wouldn’t recommend this to a friend. Not because it’s farm work, but because it’s not respectful farm work.
Overall Experience:
If you’re a backpacker looking for a dairy job, here are a few things I strongly recommend:
-Ask clearly what your working hours will be, and if they expect you to be on-call outside of your rostered shifts.
-Confirm whether breaks are given, and how long they are. If they don’t mention breaks, that’s a red flag.
-Request photos or a description of the accommodation, and ask how many people you’ll be sharing with and how many bathrooms there are.
-Don’t assume that just because accommodation is offered, it will meet basic standards.
-Make sure everything is put in writing before you move in or start working — especially if you are relocating.
-If something feels unclear or wrong from day one, speak up early, and if they react negatively, it’s probably not worth staying.
-Trust your gut. Good farms exist, and hard work doesn’t mean you have to accept poor treatment.
-Backpackers deserve better and fair, respectful work conditions should be the norm, not the exception.