Start a hands-on career in commercial beekeeping

No previous beekeeping experience is required.

Collins Honey is looking for reliable, hardworking people who want to learn commercial beekeeping from an experienced team. This is an active outdoor role involving travel to apiary sites across Victoria and southern New South Wales.

You will receive practical, on-the-job training in hive management, bee health, honey production, pollination and queen rearing. It is a varied role where the work changes with the bees, the seasons and the landscape.

About the role

Working alongside experienced commercial beekeepers, you will assist with:

- Inspecting and maintaining beehives

- Monitoring colony health and bee wellbeing

- Identifying and managing Varroa mite and other pests and diseases

- Harvesting, extracting, processing and packaging honey

- Queen rearing, hive splitting and bee genetics

- Preparing and moving hives for pollination

- Loading, transporting and unloading hives and equipment

- Maintaining accurate hive and treatment records

- Following HACCP, biosecurity and workplace safety procedures

- Cleaning and maintaining equipment, vehicles and work areas

Commercial beekeeping is seasonal and physically demanding. The role includes working outdoors in hot, cold and dusty conditions, lifting and moving hive boxes, early starts and travelling to regional or remote apiary sites.

There will be times when you need to camp or stay away from home.

Typical working hours are Monday - Friday. Additional, weekend or night work may be required during busy honey and pollination periods.

About you

You do not need previous beekeeping experience. We are looking for someone who:

- Enjoys practical, physical work in the outdoors

- Is dependable, punctual and works well in a team

- Has a positive attitude and a genuine willingness to learn

- Is comfortable working closely with bees and being exposed to bee stings





- Can safely perform the physical requirements of the role, with reasonable adjustments where applicable

- Is willing and able to camp and work away from home when required

- Holds a current Australian driver’s licence

- Has reliable transport to our Bendigo base

- Has Australian working rights

Please tell us during the recruitment process if you have a known allergy to bee stings or require a workplace adjustment. This will help us assess and manage workplace safety appropriately.

An HR truck licence or forklift licence would be highly regarded, but is not essential. A willingness to obtain an HR licence would also be an advantage.

Experience in farming, labouring, horticulture, transport, mechanical work or another practical outdoor role would be useful, but is not required.

What we offer

- $32–$40 per hour plus superannuation, based on skills and experience

- Practical training across commercial beekeeping and honey production

- Protective clothing and required PPE

- Opportunities to develop skills in hive health, Varroa management, queen rearing and pollination

- Support to obtain relevant licences or training

- Varied work throughout regional Victoria and southern New South Wales

- A supportive, down-to-earth family business

- The chance to build a long-term career in Australian beekeeping

About Collins Honey

Collins Honey has been producing pure, fresh Australian honey since 1955. Based in Bendigo, we are a family-owned and operated business with a proud history, a strong connection to the land and an unwavering commitment to quality.

How to apply

Apply through SEEK with:

- Your current resume

- A short cover letter telling us why you would like to work in commercial beekeeping

- Details of your driver’s licence and any truck, forklift or machinery licences

Previous beekeeping experience is not necessary we are more interested in your reliability, attitude and willingness to learn.

Suitable applicants may be contacted before the closing date.

📌 Trainee Beekeeper / Apiary Worker (Bendigo)
🏢 Collins Honey
📍 Bendigo