A stock and station agent provides advice to customers and acts on their behalf in relation to the sale and purchase of:

• livestock
• crops
• agricultural products
• rural real estate.

Stock refers to livestock and agricultural goods. Station refers to real estate.

Some agents deal only with livestock and agricultural goods.

Industry award coverage

An industry award will cover a stock and station agent if:

• their employer operates in the industry defined in the award
• there’s a classification which matches the employee’s duties and qualifications.

Examples of awards that may cover a stock and station agent include the:

• Real Estate Award
• Retail Award.

To work out whether another industry award covers a stock and station agent, you may wish to contact us about the specific situation.

Real Estate Award

The Real Estate Award may cover a stock and station agent who lists and sells rural property in addition to facilitating the purchase and sale of livestock.

If they only sell or arrange for the sale of livestock, they won’t be covered by the Real Estate Award. This is because there’s no classification for them.

Example: Real Estate Award coverage

Lincoln is a real estate agent. He works for a stock and station agency, Southern Stock and Station.

The agency sells real estate, handles livestock and crop transactions, and sells agricultural equipment and products through a retail shopfront. It also acts as an insurance agent and organises and runs clearing sales.

Lincoln’s role includes:

• appraising real estate
• marketing real estate that’s been listed for sale
• undertaking negotiations for the sale of property on behalf of vendors
• preparing sale contracts
• liaising with vendors, purchasers, solicitors and conveyancers in relation to property sales
• assisting Southern Stock and Station’s auctioneer when a property or livestock is being sold by auction, including by arranging the marketing and documentation needed for livestock sales.

Lincoln is covered by the Real Estate Award.

Retail Award

The Retail Award may cover a stock agent who is primarily employed in retail sale, such as the sale of agricultural goods.

Example: Retail Award coverage

We’ve Got Grain is a large agricultural supply store.

They sell seed and grains for feed and cropping, animal care products, fencing products and basic farm machinery.

They employ Wylie as a stock agent. Wylie uses his contacts in the farming community and his industry and market knowledge to help his employer negotiate the purchase of seed and grain from farmers within the region. The bulk grain is divided into smaller bags for retail sale.

Wylie oversees the retail sale of seed and grain. He spends most of his time on the retail floor of We’ve Got Grain, making sales and managing 2 other sales staff.

Wylie is covered by the Retail Award. Based on his experience and duties, Wylie is a level 4 retail employee.

No industry award coverage

Where there’s no industry award covering stock and station agents, the employee might be:

• covered by the Miscellaneous Award, or
• award free.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award can cover a stock and station agent if they’re not a senior managerial or professional employee.

They’ll be classified based on their duties and qualifications.

Example: Miscellaneous Award coverage

Syd is a livestock agent. She works with Lincoln at Southern Stock and Station.

Syd’s role is limited to:

• advising farmers on market conditions for their livestock and crops
• procuring livestock and crop sales 
• acting as an intermediary between farmers and the saleyard or end buyer.

Syd has a Certificate IV in Agriculture and has worked in the role for 2 years.

Syd isn’t covered by the Real Estate Award or Retail Award because there’s no classification for her work. She’s covered by the Miscellaneous Award.

Award free

Stock and station agents who aren’t covered by an industry award or the Miscellaneous Award are award free. For example, stock agents who are required to hold a bachelor’s degree.

They're entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.