Work opportunities and regional Australian experiences for overseas travellers were explored at the Grow Abroad Conference, held in Brisbane this week.

Grow Abroad is an international alliance whose members offer agricultural employment experiences for overseas travellers. The conference, held for the first time in Australia, attracted delegates from across the world, with attendees from Brazil, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, India, Europe, Canada, the USA, and New Zealand.

Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray was invited to provide an overview of the Australian cotton industry and the job opportunities available to overseas travellers on cotton farms and in cotton ginning.

Mr Murray said the industry's need for seasonal workers over the summer months gave travellers the opportunity to experience rural Australia, earn good money, and work in the cutting-edge cotton industry.

“As an industry, we have traditionally drawn on Working Holiday Maker visa holders to meet our casual labour demand. Growers may find extra benefits in aligning themselves with some of these target programs, as the participants are actively seeking an agricultural experience,” Mr Murray said.

“Having had the opportunity to engage at the Grow Abroad conference, I am looking forward to having more detailed conversations with some of the providers and seeing if we can open up a new and exciting source of labour for our industry.”