WHV | Is Picking Blueberries in Coffs Harbour Really a Scam? 🫐🌞

Just spent a week picking blueberries in Coffs Harbour—one of Australia’s so-called "big four scams" for WHV workers. Let’s break down whether it’s really a trap or not! Private Farms vs. White-Owned Companies 1. Pay Structure 💰 Private Farms ("Outfield"): Piece-rate pay (daily rate × quantity picked). The price per kg is announced after work ends, based on total harvest and workers. Fast pickers earn big, but slow ones may barely hit minimum wage17. White-Owned Companies: Also piece-rate, but with a guaranteed hourly minimum (e.g., AUD 26.72/hr). Prices are emailed before work starts. Slow pickers get safety pay but risk being fired if consistently slow15. 2. Work Hours & Conditions ⏳ Private Farms: Start late (~9 AM if berries are dry), finish by 4 PM. No breaks—many skip lunch to maximize earnings. No free water—bring your own!16. White Companies: Fixed hours (e.g., 7 AM–5 PM). Mandatory breaks, unlimited water, and even ice cream at lunch!15. 3. My Experience At a white company: Stable hours, but pressure to speed up. Tried outfield for a day: 9:30 AM–2 PM, picked 24kg → AUD 83. After groceries (AUD 60) and ride splits (AUD 20), I had $3 left 😂. Some earn AUD 300/week, others AUD 500/day—it’s all about speed16. Is Coffs Harbour a Scam? 🤔 For Fast Pickers: A goldmine! Top earners pull AUD 500/day in outfields or white companies15. For Slow Pickers: Brutal. Outfields mean sunburn + low pay; white companies may fire you. Some outfields trap workers with bonded housing (2-week notice to leave)17. Visa Risks: Outfield fake payslips can ruin second-year visa plans. White companies are safer for visa compliance15. Final Verdict Coffs Harbour’s blueberry farms aren’t inherently scams—but they’re high-risk, high-reward. Know your speed, avoid shady contractors, and choose white companies if you’re slow. #WHV #AustraliaWorkingHoliday #CoffsHarbour