24 April 2024

In this newsletter have your say on the draft 2024-2025 Budget, take a look at a survey on travel experience in the region, look after your mental health and learn more about local business incubator, Workspace.

Have your say on our proposed Council Budget for 2024-2025

Flood protection initiatives, a public art installation, and recreation projects in Campbells Creek, Norwood Hill, Newstead and Harcourt are some of the highlights of our proposed Budget for 2024/2025.

The Budget outlines our priorities for the upcoming financial year. We've incorporated your feedback and developed a budget that will enable us to deliver more than 100 services to the community.

Have a read and tell us what you think at before Wednesday 8 May.

Bendigo and the Surrounding Region Visitor Survey

Bendigo Regional Tourism is undertaking visitor research to better understand the visitor journey and preferred methods of accessing visitor information in the region.

Surveying visitors about their experience provides important information that will help improve visitor information services throughout the region in the future.

Print out the poster and pop a copy on your front door, counter or other prime position to encourage visitors to do the survey. Residents in the region can also take a shorter version of the survey to capture local experience of Visitor Information Centres.

Survey respondents will go into the draw to win one of five $100 Good Food vouchers.

The survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/bendigovisitors

Survey closes: 30 April 2024
Prizes announced: 7 May 2024

Webinar – Cyber Security Essentials for Your Small Business

This one-hour course is designed to strengthen your cyber defences and empower your business to thrive securely in this digital age.

It is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments and is designed to help businesses stay well-informed about cybersecurity best practices.

You'll be armed with knowledge to safeguard your business and be given practical steps you can apply right away.

Date: Wednesday 1 May
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am
Cost: Free

Local Spotlight: Workspace

Workspace Australia Ltd is a registered charity established in 1998 to improve employment opportunities throughout regional Victoria.  Originally located at Halford Street in Castlemaine, an additional site was officially opened by The Hon Maree Edwards MP this year at the former Castlemaine Secondary College campus on Etty Street. 

We met with CEO Rebecca Dempsey, and Mentor and Support Merv Rushton, recently.

Can you explain what Workspace is and what it does?
It's the largest business incubator provider in Australia, operating small business centres that offer factory and office spaces at affordable prices, along with free mentoring and advice. The organisation operates seven sites across regional Victoria located in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Donald, Dunolly, Eaglehawk and Gisborne. Over the last seven years, Workspace has maintained a 91% success rate for small businesses succeeding in the first three years of operation, compared to the national average of only 40%. 

What is happening at the former Castlemaine Secondary College campus on Etty Street?
Workspace has now completed Stage 1 of development works at the former Castlemaine Secondary College, having fully refurbished the former administration and science buildings. Regional Victoria's first ever commercial kitchen incubator space has been created on the ground floor of the former science building, with space for up to eight kitchens. The first floor of this building has been developed into 15 offices spaces ranging from 10sqm to 24sqm. The former administration building has been completely refurbished to accommodate a further 19 businesses. All spaces are now fully accessible, and feature state-of-the-art security and internet capabilities.

What kind of businesses can join the Workspace Incubator program, and is it only for start-ups? 
To qualify for a space a business must be either a start-up, a business currently operating from home or a business relocating from another shire.

What spaces do you have available at the moment?
The Etty Street site currently has available one commercial kitchen space and 14 office spaces ranging from 10sqm to 24sqm. Various spaces still remain available at the Halford Street premises that range in size from 10sqm to 50sqm.

How long can a business stay at Workspace? What does it mean to ‘graduate’?
A business can stay for a period of 5 years. After this time, it is expected that they will then graduate from the centre, allowing another business the same opportunity they have been provided. A business has graduated when it has leased, purchased or built commercial space. The list of successful local businesses to have graduated from Workspace is long, and includes businesses like Coffee Basics, Goldfields Beauty Therapy, Tarrangower Times, Pud and Castlemaine Osteopathy.

If you have local business news you'd like us to shine a light on, we would love to hear from you. Email us at business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

NewAccess for small business owners: Free mental health support with Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue is an independent, not-for-profit organisation offering a range of free mental health services.

The NewAccess initiative is a six-session guided coaching program that is designed to support the mental health of small business owners. It can help you reduce stress and overwhelm from everyday life stressors like running a small business, relationships, health or loneliness. It is open to small business owners with fewer than 20 employees.

Talk through your mental health challenges, develop a problem statement and create a plan based on your needs. Find out if the program is right for you by getting in touch below.

Digital Jobs program

Does your organisation need talented people with digital skills? 

The Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs program is building the state’s digital workforce by training and upskilling mid-career Victorians with capability in the digital skill sets most needed by industry, so they can transition into digital careers. 

If your business is searching for great people with digital skills, you can access this new talent pool by offering a 12-week paid work placement for the career changers. The Victorian government is providing a $5,000 wage subsidy for this placement.

To find out more about the program and how you can access the talent pool, then join the online information session. More details in the link below.

Date: Wednesday 1 May
Time: 10.00am to 10.45am

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Mount Alexander Shire Council
email: business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au  web: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Mount Alexander Shire Council acknowledges that the traditional custodians of this
land, the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, proudly survive. We acknowledge their continued practice of custom and their close cultural, spiritual, physical, social, historical and economic relationship with the land and waters that make up
their country, which includes Mount Alexander Shire.