Covid-19 Business Support in the Surf Coast - Update #4 No images? Click here Taking care of Surf Coast businesses - 27 May 2020Hi from the Surf Coast Business Support Team COVID-19 restrictions are easing from 1 June, which is fantastic news. I know that many businesses are keen to open and start trading and just as many are concerned about how to implement a CovidSafe plan to give confidence both to their staff and customers. In this update, we share some templates and resources we have found across different websites to help businesses with their CovidSafe plans. This is a long newsletter but we've designed it to scan and find the thing you need. I am also really pleased to announce a 1:1 Specialist Advice program we created to connect Surf Coast businesses to subsidised specialist advice on their business from a local expert. #StrongerTogether #BuySurfCoast The Surf Coast Business Support team 1:1 Specialist Advice for Covid-19 affected businesses The 1:1 Specialist Advice Program is designed to connect Surf Coast businesses to local specialist advice subsidised to help support businesses through the impacts the COVID-19 crisis has had on their business.Eligible businesses will be able to access an initial consultation of professional advice paid for by Council in one of the following categories: How does it work?Click on the relevant link below to access the 1:1 Specialist Program. After completing the online form above, requests will be assessed by the Business Support Team against the selection criteria and matched depending on their needs. Consultations will take place via phone or video conference. If ongoing assistance is required after the initial subsidised consultation, participants can choose to continue to use the specialist service at their own cost. Access to the 1:1 Specialist Advice Program is subject to applicant eligibility. This is a temporary program that provides limited funding directly to specialist suppliers that are engaged by the Council to support businesses. Victoria's changing Covid-19 Restriction Levels The Victorian Government has announced the gradual easing of restrictions throughout the state from 11:59pm Sunday 31 May 2020.The Department of Health and Human Services website has had a major update with new guidelines and advice for businesses and for people. For BusinessesFrom 1 June: includes dine-in for up to 20 people, some accommodation, beauty, market stalls & outdoor amusement parks can re-open. See all of the details per type of business on the website below. For PeopleEveryone still has to Stay Safe and do the three to slow the spread:
Everyone is asked to use their common sense in their activities. It’s up to all of us to make this work. How to develop a CovidSafe Plan for your business The National 3-Step Framework and Roadmap announced by the Prime Minister to ease restrictions and make Australia CovidSafe includes a requirement for each business to develop a CovidSafe plan for their business What is a CovidSafe Plan?It is a plan that will help you as a business owner to:
What does a CovidSafe Plan look like?The Australian Government have released a template for businesses to develop a CovidSafe Plan. It is an editable PDF which provides examples in each of the three sections of the plan. Safe Work Australia has released a two-page CovidSafe checklist which can be used in conjunction with the plan. The CovidSafe Plan for businesses has three sections: 1. Keeping People Safe
2. Adapting Your Business
3. Accessing Support & Assistance
Why is it important to have a COVIDSafe plan?COVID‑19 will be with us for some time, so it’s important that your business has a plan - and continues to plan – to keep your workplace healthy, safe and virus-free. Police can issue fines for non-compliance with these restrictions. Who can help?Sector GuidelinesSafe Work Australia is the national authority to provide advice on CovidSafe practices relevant to different industry sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, retail and office workers. Download PostersDownload Shopfront Posters and Stickers, Instructional Posters, communicate Temporary Changes or posters on Hygiene from the SafeWorkAustralia website. Farm BioSecurityAs seasonal workers begin to travel between regions, Plant Health Australia have released new tools to support BioSecurity practices on farms who employ seasonal workers. Victorian Hospitality Guidelines released on 25 May Some businesses have found it difficult to find the Hospitality Industry Guidelines released on 25 May 2020. We managed to find a copy and have included it as a download below. It provides more detail than the DHHS Website. 👌 Restaurants and cafes - Key points to note from 1 June are:
Consider Food Safety Requirements Food Standards Australia have provided a pre-opening checklist to ensure businesses are ready and have good food safety and hygiene practices before reopening or returning to dine in operations. If your business has been closed or you have been providing take away and delivery services for a period of time, there may be things you need to put into place to ensure the food you sell is safe. This includes things like: checking the condition of equipment, pest control, flushing clean water through machines and checking food in cool stores if they may have been without power. How is Council supporting local businesses right now? Taking Care of Business SurveyWe are using the Taking Care of Business Survey to keep track of business changes as restrictions ease. It is fast, easy and any member of your team can do it. It really helps us promote your business when we have the correct information. We update this information daily on the BuySurfCoast website. www.BuySurfCoast.com.au WebsiteOur BuySurfCoast.com.au website will continue to promote local businesses as Covid-19 restrictions ease. We can share instructions to your customers on how to keep CovidSafe. The website is still being promoted on social media and in the Surf Coast Times every week. Business Concierge ServiceThe Business Support Team has worked with other Council departments to support 11 businesses to navigate the food, health,building and planning regulations still in place. If you need advice on how to deliver a new style of business service, ask the business concierge via email business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au. Summarising the Business SupportOur Business Survey showed that many businesses wanted one place to find a short summary of the support available from State and Federal Government. We have this information on our website and post updates on the Surf Coast Business Collective Facebook. $1 million has been allocated in the 2020-21 budget to support businesses and community in Covid-19 recovery. Recovery initiatives may be Council-led or business sector/community-led, with proposals subject to assessment criteria included in the guidelines. Mayor Rose Hodge welcomed the COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Guidelines, which were developed by listening to the needs of local businesses, trader groups and the broader community. “From 381 business surveys, to regular virtual support meetings with locals – we are hearing first-hand from the community about their most pressing needs now and their potential needs during the recovery phase. The Recovery Assistance Guidelines lay the foundations for how we can help meet these needs, whether that’s in the next few weeks, months or even years.” “More details about the funding rounds and application processes will be widely communicated when details are finalised,” Cr Hodge said. The Mayor believed it was important to highlight initiatives already underway to support the community in this challenging time. “Council has launched a business mentor program and the Buy Surf Coast campaign, which has been letting people know since March that local businesses have adapted and are still open for business,” she said. The COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Guidelines are dependent on the adoption of the proposed $1 million support package allocation in the Budget 2020-21, to be considered by Council in June. Stay in touch with the Surf Coast Business CollectiveWe want to stay in touch with you to help you keep doing business in whatever way is possible in these changing times. You can follow our latest business information on the following pages:
Or contact the Surf Coast Business Support team: business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au |