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Dear Palmerston Business Representative,
Welcome to the February edition of the Palmerston Business Newsletter. This issue highlights the achievements of local businesses making an impact across the Territory and outlines key opportunities and updates to support your growth in 2026.
Inside, you’ll find upcoming workshops to strengthen digital capability, opportunities for food and event operators, progress updates on key projects, and important Australian Government updates affecting businesses, from compliance changes to new support programs.
As we move into the year ahead, City of Palmerston remains focused on building a connected, capable and future-ready business community. Whether you’re looking to grow, streamline or explore new opportunities, our Economic Development team is here to support you.
Business Award Winners
We’re proud to recognise Palmerston businesses that have been acknowledged at Territory and national award levels. These achievements highlight the strength, capability and innovation of our local business community and reinforce Palmerston’s growing reputation as a place to do business.
Congratulations to the following businesses on their outstanding achievements:
AKJ Services – NT Indigenous Business Network Award
Beare Homes – Master Builders NT Awards and HIA NT Awards and finalist in the 2025 Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards
By Ash Brand Studio – Northern Territory Export and Business Awards
Cyan Print – Local Business Awards
Darwin Orthodontics – Local Business Awards
Darwin Youth Services – Northern Territory Export and Business Awards
Diamond Barbers – Local Business Awards
Elite Joinery NT – Master Builders NT Awards
McT Design and Construction – Master Builders NT Awards and HIA NT Awards
The Bid Agency – Inside Small Business Awards Top 50
We congratulate all recipients and thank them for their contribution to Palmerston’s economy and community.
Pop-Up Dining 2026 - Apply Now
Applications for Pop-Up Dining permits for 2026 are now open, providing food businesses with the opportunity to trade in high-visibility community locations across Palmerston.
Pop-Up Dining offers operators a platform to increase exposure, test new concepts and connect with new customers in high-foot-traffic settings. Applications are open to both new and existing operators, with limited spaces available.
Further information and application details are available here.
Event Vendors
City of Palmerston is always looking to engage local food, beverage and entertainment businesses to be part of our major events and community activations.
Participating as an event vendor provides exposure to large audiences, opportunities to showcase your product or service, and a chance to connect directly with the local community. Businesses interested in being considered for future events are encouraged to register their details.
To get started, complete the Event Vendor Expression of Interest form here
Arts Funding Information Session in February
Palmerston artists and creatives are invited to attend City of Palmerston’s Arts Funding Information Session this month.
This one-hour session, held at the Palmerston Library, will provide practical guidance on preparing project funding applications for NT Government funding rounds opening in February. City of Palmerston will facilitate the session, sharing best-practice approaches to developing strong and competitive applications.
The session will also cover City of Palmerston’s Community Funding Program, along with relevant Territory and federal funding pathways that support projects benefiting local artists, audiences and communities. A Q&A and networking opportunity will be included.
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 February, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Location: Palmerston Library Community Room
Cost: Free, light refreshments provided
Bookings are essential - register
Systems, Automation, and Productivity Workshops in March
The Palmerston Business Futures Forum highlighted a strong need for practical digital skills to support local businesses. Throughout March 2026, the Business Enterprise Centre NT and City of Palmerston will be hosting a series of free workshops at the Palmerston Library Community Room.
These sessions are designed to give businesses hands‑on tools to boost efficiency and confidence in the digital space, and enhance resilience and competitiveness of Palmerston businesses. Attendance is free, but bookings are essential.
Let's Have a Conversation on Parking in Palmerston
As a local Palmerston business, you and your customer’s parking experience is important to us. We are reaching out to have a conversation about parking in Palmerston and everything in between.
Are there enough parks, is it easy, is it safe, how can we invigorate the space? What ideas do you have? We’d love to hear from you. You can find all the information on the draft Parking Policy here, including how to provide feedback and get in touch.
LGANT Arrangements Open for Tender
Local Government Association Northern Territory (LGANT) in partnership with Local Buy have announced arrangements open for tender from the 1st until the 27th of February.
Local Buy is a trusted procurement service that LGANT has partnered with since 2015 to support NT councils and local businesses. Focused on simplifying procurement, Local Buy connects councils and approved purchasers with pre-qualified suppliers, saving time and resources while ensuring compliance with legislative and governance standards.
If your business would like to know more about these arrangements or how to get involved, please contact localbuy@lgant.asn.au for further information and support.
Aboriginal Business Support Workshops
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) was created to assist and enhance the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia, and provide services for home ownership, start or grow a business, and invest in their future.
Good planning and preparation when starting a business can improve the likelihood of success. Business Essentials workshops are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to increase their knowledge of business fundamentals and take the next steps towards business ownership.
The workshops are also suitable for existing business owners who want to brush up on some business basics.
These 2-3 hour long workshops are free, delivered live online, and are offered as an integrated series but can also be taken individually.
You can browse their resources and plan your 2026 workshop schedule here: https://www.iba.gov.au/business/business-skills-workshops/
New Rules for Businesses Sending Branded Text Messages
Branded text messages are SMS/MMS messages where the sender's name (like "myGov" or "YourCompany" appears instead of a random number.
The way businesses and organisations send branded text messages is changing.
From 1 July 2026, businesses that send branded text messages must register with the new SMS Sender ID Register.
If you don't register your sender ID, your branded text messages to customers will be labelled as coming from 'unverified' after 1 July 2026. Get all the information on the new rules from Australian Government's business website at: https://business.gov.au/news/new-rules-for-businesses-sending-text-messages
National AI Plan
The National AI Plan is the Australian Government's plan to grow the AI industry in Australia. The plan has three goals:
- Capture the opportunity by building smart infrastructure, backing domestic AI capability and attracting global investment.
- Spread the benefits through widespread AI adoption, supporting and training Australian workers, and improved public services.
- Keep Australians safe with legislative and regulatory frameworks that mitigate AI harms, while promoting widespread responsible practices and international engagement that upholds Australia’s values.
You can read or download a copy of the plan at: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-ai-plan
Real Jobs, Real Wages
Real Jobs, Real Wages helps businesses to employ individuals and to transition them into secure work, as well as supporting the capability of businesses when employing people with greater challenges to work.
The Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations hosted a free webinar showcasing the Real Jobs, Real Wages pilot and how it can help employers. The webinar highlighted the support and financial incentives available to help you grow and diversify your workforce.
You can watch the recording of the webinar or download the presentation at: https://www.dewr.gov.au/real-jobs-real-wages/announcements/webinar-replay-real-jobs-real-wages-recruitment-support-grow-your-workforce
Growing Your Business Checklist
Do you need support with growing your business? Would you like to explore opportunities for growth and understand your obligations as your business changes?
business.gov.au has a helpful checklist tool to assist you. Advice and support is available from: https://business.gov.au/planning/growing-your-business-checklist#atid=c677bbb71ab8350f
Do you have a great story or exciting update about a Palmerston business, or your own? We’d love to hear from you!
Council's Economic Development team is here to support you. We want to share and celebrate the positive stories within our business community, so please reach out and let us help showcase success in future editions of this newsletter.
📩 Email us at ecodev@palmerston.nt.gov.au or call 08 8935 9922.
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