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January 2025 Edition
Hi there,
In this month's newsletter
- Introducing the Surf Coast Shire’s Refreshed Business Support Hub
- South West Farmer Wellbeing Supports now available
- and join the Free Webinar series: Tourism Reimagined
Your One-Stop Destination for Business Support
We’re excited to announce that the Surf Coast Shire Council’s Business Development team has launched a refreshed and updated Business Landing Page.
Designed to be a centralised hub to support businesses across the Surf Coast Shire; whether you’re a new business starting out or an established enterprise looking for support, this hub provides the tools and resources you need.
Why Visit the Business Hub?
✅ Easy access to Council services – Streamlining your interactions with the council.
✅ Essential business resources – Covering permits, grants, networking opportunities, and more.
✅ Latest news and events – Stay informed about upcoming workshops, funding opportunities, and business development initiatives.
✅ Business Concierge Service – A personalised support service to help you navigate council processes with ease.
South West Farmer Wellbeing Support
There is specialist assistance available to those in the agriculture industry affected by the recent Grampians National Park bushfire and the ongoing drought.
As well as financial counselling, the RFCS Victoria West service offers wellbeing support to help with mental stresses resulting from financial issues.
Contact the RFCS Victoria West at 1300 735 578 or check out the wellbeing supports on their website: wswrcs.com.au/wellbeing
The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) is another valuable resource available to the agricultural industry, supporting drought and fire affected producers and families
Check out the NCFH Support Hub to access these valuable resources tailored for Victorian farmers and agricultural communities.
Free Webinar Series: Tourism Reimagined and the Future of the Great Ocean Road
The Tourism Reimagined webinar series explores the future of tourism along the Great Ocean Road
This five-part online series will bring together internationally recognised speakers, local experts, and government agencies to discuss how the region can shift toward sustainable, resilient tourism.
What You’ll Learn:
- Insights on regenerative tourism
- Current tourism challenges and opportunities
- Collaboration with policymakers and community leaders
Webinar Details:
📅 24 February – 19 March 2025
🖥️ Online
How to Register:
Visit Tourism Reimagined on Eventbrite to secure your spot!
Free Better Business Skills Workshops
One of the key findings of the recent Surf Coast Business Survey was that Surf Coast businesses wanted to participate in training and networking opportunities.
As a result, we released the Better Business Skills workshops program, and have successfully held sessions on Conflict Resolution and Ai for Small Business.
We also launched our dedicated Better Business Skills website where you can keep up to date about upcoming events, register your interest and reserve your place for workshops.
Our next Better Business Skills workshop: Building your Google Presence, is already booking fast, so make sure you visit the page and reserve your place today
What is the Business Concierge service?
The free Business Concierge service is designed to take the stress out of getting permits and to make the experience as smooth as possible at each stage of the process.
You can submit a business proposal online or use use our Business Permit Self Assessment tool when you visit our website.
Or just contact the Business Concierge directly on 5261 600 or business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.
Also check out our FAQs about permits for businesses
You can explore all of the services the business team offers by visiting:
Business Support Team:
5261 0600 or business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
