'Find My Crew': Helping Connect Australia’s Ag Workforce

After years of working on farm across the country, South Australian shearer Tom Hutton knows firsthand how difficult it can be for farmers to find skilled workers - and for those workers to find the right jobs too.

Inspired to find a solution, the Mount Compass local embarked on an unexpected journey and created Find My Crew - an online platform connecting farmers, contractors and agricultural workers across Australia.

Speaking on Flow FM’s Country Viewpoint, Tom said the idea for the business was sparked from the everyday challenges he experienced while working in shearing contracting and on-farm roles.

IMAGE: SA shearer Tom Hutton created the online platform Find My Crew to help connect farmers, contractors and agricultural workers across Australia. IMAGE: Ellie Marinakis (Ellie Jade Photography)

“It was always difficult trying to find the right people at the right times,” he said.

“It was the same when we needed someone on the farm (in Mount Compass) as well.”

In true 21st-century fashion, Tom figured the best way to help people across the industry connect was to do so online - or, more realistically, on phone.

“Everyone’s got a phone nowadays and there’s apps for everything,” he said.

“I thought maybe we could build something for the ag industry where people come to find what they’re looking for.”

Find My Crew started, and continues as an online community accessible through both their website and Facebook page - with an app currently in development to take its service to the next level. IMAGE: Facebook.

Two years later, with a growing online following and an app in development, Tom maintains that becoming a business owner was never part of his original plan.

“I thought I’d probably shear sheep for the rest of my life,” he laughed.

“But after my brother passed away a few years ago, I had this concept sitting in my head and thought, ‘well, let’s just do it’.”

He said starting the business came with plenty of hurdles, particularly for someone like himself who had very little tech experience and knowledge of the industry.

"When we were getting ready for the business pitch in Melbourne, I drew all the plans and screens out on paper first,” he said.

“When I showed my younger brother he laughed and said ‘you can’t take that there’, so we ended up putting together this PowerPoint presentation with little hyperlinks and taking that instead."

Since launching the platform Find My Crew, business owner Tom and FMC team member Ellie have spent a lot of time over the past few years cultivating a warm, supportive and farm-focused community online. IMAGE: Facebook.

Despite the steep learning curve and multiple challenges along the way, Tom said the support from the agricultural community had been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

“You don’t realise how willing people are to get behind people until you put yourself out there,” he said.

Since launching in 2024, Find My Crew has steadily grown its online presence, with Tom crediting team member Ellie Marinkis with helping build a strong and engaging social media community around the business.

 Tom and Ellie modelling some of Find My Crew's new merch, released in April 2026. IMAGE: Facebook.

“Some of the things Ellie does are pretty funny, and I think that’s helped people connect with us,” he said.

“I didn’t think building a work platform would be that exciting for people, but everyone’s really embraced it.”

Alongside connecting workers and employers, Tom said Find My Crew has also become a space focused on community support within the agricultural sector, helping each other through the various challenges that come with being in the industry.

“There’s a lot of farmers backing and supporting each other, which has been really good to see," he said.

“When people come together, that’s what it’s all about."

To keep up with Tom and Ellie and the Find My Crew journey, visit findmycrew.com.au or follow them on Facebook.

And to hear Tom's full interview speaking with Jess on The Country Viewpoint, checkout Episode 157 (2026) of the Country Viewpoint Podcast.