📰 Local business news | 💻 Business Workshops | 💼 Employment News | 💰 Grants | 💙 Business support initiatives
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September 2024
Welcome to the latest edition of the Cardinia Business Newsletter!🌟
In this September issue, we are excited to bring you a wealth of information, covering various topics such as:
Local News: Updates on upcoming council elections and the ‘Grow’ art exhibition celebrating sustainable farming.
Road Upgrades: Significant progress has been made on Pakenham roads and the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road upgrades, with new lanes and intersections opening soon.
Workshops: Upcoming face-to-face workshops on marketing, social media, and business planning.
Employment News: Introduction of ‘right to disconnect’ laws and a webinar on workplace law changes.
Grants: Information on available grants, including the Energy Resilience Community Fund and the Victorian Aboriginal Business Investment Program.
Feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries. For direct communication, you can reach us via email at business@cardinia.vic.gov.au.
Local news
Upcoming Council Elections
The Election Period (also known as Caretaker period) will commence 12pm on 17 September 2024 (nomination day) and will conclude at 6pm on 26 October 2024 (election day).
Under the Local Government Act 2020, Council must carefully consider all activities undertaken prior to and during the election period, that could be seen to impact the result of the election in any way. During the election period, communication and promotion of events and activities will be temporarily impacted.
For more information, please visit Council elections 2024.
Grow Art Exhibition
Join us at Cardinia Cultural Centre throughout September for ‘Grow'—a free innovative art exhibition celebrating sustainable farming.
Explore powerful photographs and artworks depicting local farmers' triumphs, challenges, and dreams. This exhibition is a visual journey exploring present-day farming and sharing visions of a future in sustainable agriculture.
Do you have a space or room to book?
We are always looking for new spaces to host our meetings, workshops, and events. Do you believe that your business may have a space that could be a perfect fit for our needs?
We would like to know more about your venue and the possibilities for booking it. Please take a few minutes to fill out this form and provide us with detailed information about your space.
Updates on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade
Major Road Projects Victoria reached a milestone by opening the new bridge on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road over the Princes Freeway. Traffic now flows on the northbound lanes, while construction of southbound lanes is ongoing. Future plans involve converting roundabouts at the freeway interchange to traffic light intersections, with road closures planned for late September.
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade is completed while work continues on the McGregor Road Upgrade for new lanes and intersections to open soon. Business access will be maintained during construction.
For more information and updates on these projects, individuals are encouraged to visit the Pakenham Road Upgrade and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade pages or contact Major Road Projects Victoria.
We encourage you to share this information with staff, suppliers, customers and other visitors to minimise disruptions and subscribe online at roadprojects.vic.gov.au/subscribe for updates on both projects or by texting HKWR and PKHM to 0499 073 073
Boost your Business Workshops
More information on face-to-face events in Cardinia Shire can be found on the Cardinia Business website.
Boost Your Business Workshop: Marketing Basics
Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Cardinia Cultural Centre
9.30am to 11.30am
Today is the last day to secure your ticket!
Boost Your Business Workshop: Social Media
Tuesday 29th October 2024
Cardinia Cultural Centre
9.30am to 12.00pm
Designing with Canva Workshop (Part One) *
Tuesday 12 November 2024
Cardinia Cultural Centre
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
*This workshop is being delivered in collaboration with Melbourne Innovation Centre, as part of the Digital Solutions Program.
Business Plan Accelerator Workshop
19th & 20th November
Toomah Community Centre
9.00 am – 3.30 pm
Find government-run or government-funded events and training for your business on the business.gov.au website
Employment news
Right to disconnect laws
The new 'right to disconnect' laws came into effect for businesses with 15 or more employees on 26 August 2024. Learn more about what this means for you.
Webinar: Changes to workplace laws
Several changes to workplace laws have started as part of the Closing Loopholes reforms, including changes to casual employment and the new right to disconnect. The Fair Work Ombudsman is holding a webinar on 12 September 2024 to answer questions about the changes.
Helping workers join our booming manufacturing sector
The Chisholm Engineering Priority Workforce Project has recruited 111 people into Victoria's manufacturing sector. This initiative focuses on providing on-the-job training and employment opportunities, particularly for women, to address workforce shortages in engineering and manufacturing.
Guideline: Race discrimination in the workplace
The guideline provides an introduction to workplace racism in Victoria and is an essential tool for all employers to tackle racism at work. The guideline sets five minimum standards that employers must meet to comply with their positive duty to prevent race discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act.
5 tips to help you hire employees for the summer season
If you're thinking about hiring extra staff to cover the busy holiday period, you'll need to start the process early. Here are 5 tips to help ensure the hiring process goes smoothly.
Available grants
The Go-Green Co-Innovation Program is now open, offering small to medium-sized businesses funding to support green co-innovation projects with Singapore businesses.
The Industry Growth Program provides an Advisory Service for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects that are within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) and help build Australia’s manufacturing capability for the future.
Interested in applying for the Research and Development Tax Incentive? Don’t miss the debut of the Guide to Registering for the R&D Tax Incentive webinar on Wednesday, 11 September at 3pm AEST. The updated software development sector guide for the R&D Tax Incentive can help you understand when software activities that are excluded as core R&D activities might be eligible as supporting activities.
Applications for the Engage! 2025-27 program by the Victorian Government are now open. Organisations need to collaborate with youths aged 12 to 25 to design these activities.
The new Tiny Towns Fund supports local communities in delivering quality tourism and community facility projects, such as splash parks and bike trails, playgrounds, community hall and library upgrades, public art, and more.
The First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program offers free, tailored mentoring and advice to First Nations-owned businesses in the tourism sector
The India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator program is now open for applications. The program supports start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises with mature and innovative technology to expand to Indian markets.
Business support
Prepare your business for an emergency
Tips to prepare your business for an emergency situation - before it happens. Find out how to put your emergency management plan into practice, to make sure your business and staff are ready.
R U OK?Day
R U OK?Day, is the 12 September and the most important message you can share is to remind everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day, because life happens every day.
Download the Guide to Supporting R U OK? and check out the free resources for lots of tips on how you can share the R U OK? message and promote connection in your business.
What to do when you haven't been paid
Running a business isn't always smooth sailing. Sometimes it’s a struggle to get paid for the work you've done.
Follow 6 steps by business.gov.au to help recover debts owed to you and find advice for protecting your small business from unpaid debts in the future.
Avoiding cash flow problems
To avoid cash flow problems due to rising expenses, small businesses should focus on maintaining financial stability. Regularly evaluate your business to pinpoint any required changes. Visit the Business Victoria website for advice on steering clear of financial difficulties.
Government announcements
Recognising and protecting your business from cybersecurity threats
New tool to help work out your business registrations
Running a side hustle: What you need to know
What's new on business.gov.au: Business addresses
Have your say: Revitalising National Competition Policy
Consumer rights and your responsibilities
Questions? Feedback? We would love to hear from you! Send an email to business@cardinia.vic.gov.au, or visit the Cardinia Business website.
