Women's Business Network Lunch: Achieving productivity in risky times

Join us for a great networking opportunity and to hear from Dr Catherine de Fontenay from the Productivity Commission.

Catherine will outline how businesses can use new approaches to borrowing, hiring and networking to boost innovation and productivity in risky times.

When: Tuesday 21 May, 11.30am-2pm
Where: Riversdale Golf Club, Mount Waverley
Cost: $70 (includes two-course meal)
RSVP: Tuesday 14 May 2024

Save the date: Monash Business Awards April Breakfast

Join us for the next Monash Business Awards breakfast in April to hear from keynote speaker Nathan Burke, former Australian Rules footballer and head coach of the Western Bulldogs AFLW team. 

Burke will draw on his years in sport and the corporate world to share seven lessons workplaces can take from professional sport. With AFL booming as a business, get an insider’s view of how to inspire success in business and sport. 

When: Thursday 18 April, 7-9am
Where: Huntingdale Golf Club, Windsor Avenue Oakleigh South
Cost: $49.95 (Early bird discount price until 27 March)

Congratulations to Monash Business Awards nominees

The first four nominees for the 2024 Monash Business Awards (MBA) were announced at the recent MBA breakfast.

The nominees were:

• OC Connections Limited
• Honeycomb Health
• Showbiz Cinemas Waverley
• JayBee Square Wheelers Square Dance Club.

In this month's First For Business e-news we highlight two of these nominees.

OC Connections Limited is a leading disability support provider located in Oakleigh driving work opportunities to those living with a disability. OC Connections believes in empowering individuals with disabilities to thrive, achieve their goals, and lead fulfilling lives. 

Honeycomb Health is a thriving community of dedicated healthcare professionals located in Burwood. Under the guidance of Dr Miriam Blashki, Honeycomb Health operates as a general practice intricately connected to a network of diverse health practitioners, each contributing their expertise to provide comprehensive care for body and mind.

Financial assistance for employment opportunities

Expanding Horizons is an exciting two-year initiative aimed at building employers' confidence and capacity to recruit job seekers with disability. The project is delivered by Monash Council and Holmesglen Institute. 

Did you know people with disability and their employers may be eligible for Australian Government assistance through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)? 

EAF gives financial help to buy a range of work-related modifications, equipment, Auslan services and workplace support services.

Learn more about EAF, eligibility guidelines and how to apply on the Job Access website. 

Small Business Bus comes to Monash - 8 April

Register for a 45-minute session to receive FREE tailored advice to support you in starting, building or transforming your business. The Small Business Bus visits Pinewood Shopping Village, 2 Centreway, Mount Waverley (outside Salon Eclipse) on Monday 8 April 2024.

Tendering: What are social impact suppliers?

Most government contracts and tenders require suppliers include an element of social impact or social outcome.   

Learn what social impact means and find suppliers that qualify on the Victorian Government's Buying for Victoria website.

Growth opportunity and new jobs for Vic Medtechs

The MedTech Market Growth Program will provide $50,000 matched funding to up to 20 medtech startups and scaleups working on medical devices and diagnostic products. The funding will help to equip startups with the skills, services and resources they need to push their life-saving products to market. 

Learn Local: Courses for the community

Learn Local are not-for-profit community organisations registered and funded by the Victorian Government.

Learn Local offers a wide range of flexible courses that can be tailored to classroom, online or a bit of both. If you have staff interested in upskilling, check out the range of Learn Local courses near you.

‘Introduction to AI’ scholarships

Artificial intelligence (AI) ‘scholarships’ are now on offer to one million Australians. The free 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' microskill course is provided by the National AI Centre (NAIC), coordinated by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and the Institute of Applied Technology - Digital (IATD).  

The course provides a non-technical introduction to AI fundamentals and is designed for people at the beginning of their AI literacy journey, making it ideal for workers seeking to upskill, individuals starting their career in AI, and small to medium business owners.

SEMMA Welding for Defence breakfast

Join SEMMA for an exclusive breakfast information session, as part of a three-part series aimed at preparing metal fabricators and manufacturers for the challenges and opportunities in supplying to defence.

Equip yourself with the knowledge to meet the evolving requirements of defence projects and ensure the success and security of your work. 

When: Tuesday 19 March, 8-9.30am
Where: 55 Villas Road, Dandenong South

Helping small businesses close the gender pay gap

The Victorian Government marked International Women’s Day 2024 with the release of a new toolkit to help small businesses close the gender pay gap.

The Pay Equality Toolkit will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve pay equality in their workplace, and includes a resource to help assess the opportunities for businesses, as well as guides and templates for creating an equal pay policy. 

ATO targets under-reporting of sales

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has raided businesses suspected of using, manufacturing and supplying electronic sales suppression tools (ESSTs) to under-report tax obligations. This activity follows the release of the SFCT ESST Intelligence Bulletin in September 2023, which warned businesses about ESSTs. 

It has been illegal to produce, supply, possess, use or promote ESSTs in Australia since October 2018 and there are harsh penalties for those who do. 

Business Victoria: Online workshops, courses and mentoring

Looking to start, grow or take a fresh look at your business? You can register for a short course or webinar or access a FREE online business advice session from an expert.

• Social Media & Content Marketing – 21 March, 10am-1pm
• Generating Cash Flow – 26 March, 1.30-3.30pm
   

Free business mentoring for Monash businesses

If you are a local business located in the City of Monash, you are eligible for up to four FREE one-hour mentoring sessions with an industry expert. Email ecodev@monash.vic.gov.au if you are interested in accessing this service.

Worksafe manual handling learning programs

WorkSafe has launched Manual Handling Basics, a free education program for Victorian employers, supervisors and managers. 

This online program hosted on Microsoft Teams is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to learn how to prevent injuries due to hazardous manual handling in the workplace.

Make your shop stand out from the pack

First impressions count, and when it comes to retail and hospitality it can mean the difference between a new customer or a lost opportunity.

Visit the Monash Council visual merchandising page to find out how to make a stand-out shop front, an eye-catching window display, a fresh retail space, or a positive shopping experience.

Eastern Innovation Business Centre

Do you want a professional workspace where you can cultivate connections and grow your business?

Workstation desks, offices, meeting rooms, labs and virtual offices are available at Eastern Innovation Business Centre. 

Located in the heart of Monash, Eastern Innovation is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, and helping businesses become serious industry players. 

Take the step to working with ease, by booking a tour today! Subscribe to Eastern Innovation's newsletter to stay up to date with news from this exciting hub.
 

Monash businesses save thousands through Business Energy Savers program

Local businesses save thousands of dollars every year with energy efficient upgrades with support from Monash Council.

Register your interest with the Business Energy Savers team for free advice and trustworthy quotes. Read how local business SOM Blinds were able to install a 10kW system and saved $2400 per year.

A new tool for hospitality to get started with reuseables

Sustainability Victoria has released a new guide to eliminating single-use takeaway packaging for hospitality businesses. The practical tool is full of tips on how to choose the right system for your business, cost considerations, and how to tell your customers and staff about the change.

All the advice in the guide is based on the real-world experiences of the Reuse Pilots Fund recipients.