OCTOBER 2022 - NEWSLETTER

Community spirit shone at Road World Championships

What a week in Wollongong at the UCI 2022 Road World Championships, where our city’s beauty and community spirit was showcased for the world to see amidst the incredible international cycling action. Congratulations to the organising team @Wollongong 2022 and the enormous group of volunteers who contributed to the event’s success.

Pictured is RDA Illawarra’s CEO Debra Murphy enjoying the community spirit with a team of volunteers from The Disability Trust.

Leadership Illawarra Program EOIs close 24 October

Applications (EOI’s) for the next Leadership Illawarra Program close 24 October – so take action now if you’d like to join the 2023-24 program, commencing in February. Scholarships sponsored by RDA Illawarra, Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong and The Illawarra Connection are available – apply here.

This year we will celebrate 10 years of the Leadership Illawarra Program with over 100 Alumni benefiting from the experience.

The initiative is a collaboration between RDA Illawarra, the Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong and The Illawarra Connection that equips the region with an ongoing pipeline of inspired and well-connected visionaries from all industry sectors who will lead the Illawarra region into the future.

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Illawarra employers learn more about Visa Programs

The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) and RDA Illawarra ran a briefing to help educate employers on the different types of visa programs available to bring in skilled migrants to address the region's skills shortage.

Employers were grateful to learn directly from DoHA and NSW Government representatives and have their questions answered.

RDA Illawarra is involved in the assessment of 491 and 494 visa classes.

For more information on visa programs visit these links:

Wollongong Industrial Lands Business Survey

Are you a business operating within an industrial precinct in Wollongong?

Wollongong City Council is reviewing the planning controls that apply to all industrial zoned land and uses across the Wollongong local government area (LGA).

Council have launched a short online survey and are keen to hear from all businesses operating on these lands (or undertaking industrial related activities elsewhere) about their needs and ideas for improvement. The survey closes Friday 28 October 2022.

For further information, please visit: our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/industrial-lands-review.

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Advice for Optus customers following cyberattack

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is supporting Optus through their recent cyber attack. Optus customers are encouraged to have a heightened awareness across their accounts to protect themselves from fraud.

Refer to advice from the ACSC for additional cyber security steps you can take to protect yourself and your business here.

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Zig Zag Hub Presents Young Eyes Festival of Innovation

The Young Eyes Festival is coming soon on Saturday 8 October 9:00am - 4:00pm at Wollongong Town Hall. This free event is suitable for all ages and will showcase the creative ideas of our local, rising entrepreneurial superstars.

Enjoy a full day of workshops featuring virtual reality, minecraft, robotics, drones, sustainability and the metaverse. The event will also hold expo stands in innovation and market stalls from young local entrepreneurs. The keynote speaker is Penny Wong, emerging Technology Consultant and Director with RadMis Advisory.

The highlight of the festival will be The Pitch Fest where local high school finalists will pitch to a panel of expert judges. The winner will go on to become the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ and win a 12 month launch to market program.

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Illawarra Hospitality is Hiring for Summer 2022-23

The Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program, in partnership with Business Illawarra, has launched a hiring campaign to recruit workers into hospitality roles across the Illawarra. The “Illawarra Hospitality Is Hiring” campaign runs from September to December 2022 and gives cafes, restaurants and other hospitality businesses the opportunity to promote the positions they need filled, with the Local Jobs Program matching jobseekers into those roles.

Businesses can visit the campaign website to pledge the jobs that need filled. The team at the Local Jobs Program will then work with employment service providers, as well as The Hiring List to match jobseekers into these roles. All pledged jobs will also be posted to the jobs board of the campaign website and promoted heavily across the region.

If you’re looking for work, register your details on The Hiring List to ensure the Local Jobs Program team can match you into a role. You can also view the jobs that have been pledged on the campaign website.

For more information about the campaign visit the email info@iscjobs.com.au.

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iAccelerate's 'RiSE' Information Session

iAccelerate is holding a free information session about their RiSE program on Monday 10 October at 12:30pm or Tuesday 11 October at 5:30pm. You can ask questions to a panel of entrepreneurs who have been through the program.

The event will be followed by a 12 minute video giving you a taste of the upcoming Test your Business Idea workshop.

ABC Trailblazers program applications open now

The ABC’s Trailblazers program is calling on individuals or teams of up to 3 people (aged 18-28) who are up to great things in regional Australia. If you know someone who is working on an innovative project aimed at strengthening regional Australia, please encourage them to enter and be part of the 2023 cohort of changemakers. Applications are open now and close 20 October 2022.

Successful applicants will receive an incredible package of support, including media, networking and mentorship opportunities to help them share the story of their project with the nation.

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