Jobs and Skills Showcase 2026 | Business workshops | Free resources for farmers | Grants and financial support | Government annoucements and much more
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January 2026
Welcome to this month’s Cardinia Business Newsletter.
We’re starting 2026 with a wide variety of opportunities designed to support local businesses in building capability, attracting staff, and planning for growth. From the upcoming Cardinia Jobs and Skills Showcase to the launch of our Lean Business Series 2026 and a range of practical workshops, there are plenty of ways to learn, connect, and strengthen your business for the year ahead.
This edition also includes information on grants, government programs, workforce initiatives and key resources to support businesses across all sectors. You’ll also find important guidance on preparing your business for bushfire risk this summer, including updating your Bushfire Preparedness Plan and understanding local alerts to keep your staff, customers and assets safe.
Over the coming months, we’ll be introducing members of our Social and Economic Development team so you can get to know the people working alongside you to help your business thrive.
Explore this edition to uncover all the specifics and maximise the incredible opportunities it offers! If you have any enquiries, please contact us via email at business@cardinia.vic.gov.au.
Local news
Exhibitor spaces are limited! Hurry!
Join us at the Cardinia Jobs and Skills Showcase on 18 March 2026 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre. This event offers a valuable opportunity for businesses to engage with local job seekers, network, highlight employment opportunities, and contribute to career advancement in Cardinia Shire.
Are you ready to transform your business for the future?
Work smarter, not harder. Build a stronger, more resilient business.
Presented by Tim Niewand, MBA, GAICA, the Cardinia Lean Business Series 2026 gives you practical tools and strategies to streamline operations, reduce waste, and build resilience in a rapidly changing economy.
Free resources for farmers
The Cardinia Shire Council offers complimentary resources to support our local farmers, such as:
- Managing Stress on the Farm: An accessible booklet aimed at assisting farmers in recognising stress indicators and addressing them proactively.
- Farm Relief Tool: A resource connecting farmers with Australian Government financial aid and community assistance for drought, natural disaster, or biosecurity preparedness and recovery.
Please contact Adam our Food and Agribusiness Officer to request a copy
Pakenham Spend & Win is here!
Join Victoria's Big Build Pakenham's Spend and Win competition by supporting local Pakenham businesses until February 20, 2026. Spend $10 for a shot at a $100 Visa gift card or $100 for a chance to win a $1,000 Visa gift card. All entries are eligible for the grand prize: a $2,000 donation to a community organisation picked by the winner.
Help Us Share Our Cultural Future
Provide input on two new policies to enhance arts and culture in Cardinia Shire, regardless of your level of involvement. Your feedback matters!
Setting the agenda for advocacy efforts
Council has set a bold vision for the future with the adoption of its Advocacy Agenda 2025–29 to drive Council’s advocacy efforts in the lead-up to the 2026 State election and beyond.
Business events and training
Local opportunities
2026 Lean Business Workshop Series
Cardinia Shire is excited to introduce the Lean Business Series 2026. This comprehensive six-part program aims to assist local businesses in enhancing productivity, optimising operations, and laying the groundwork for long-term growth. Businesses can attend one or all of the workshops, depending on their own requirements and areas of interest.
Register to attend
Business Victoria - Generating Cash Flow Workshop
Join us on Wednesday, 18 February, 2026, from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a FREE Business Victoria workshop tailored to small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking insights on enhancing cash flow management.
Register to attend
Business Planning Workshop
Attend our Business Plan Accelerator Workshop at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on 23-24 February 2026. Fast-track your business plan alignment with goals in just 2 days. Learn key success factors, customise your plan, and leave with a tailored plan for expert review to achieve your objectives.
Book here
Business Coaching Program
Local businesses are invited to join Cardinia Shire Council’s Business Coaching Program, where they can receive tailored expert guidance and personalised support from matched coaches. Participants can benefit from three free one-on-one advice sessions, offering independent and confidential insights from industry experts.
Learn more
Online training opportunities
Cybersecurity
This self-paced online course is about helping you understand the importance of cybersecurity and how to protect your business from the consequences of an attack. Learn key strategies about how to stay on top of this ever-moving topic.
Read more
Maximising your marketing
This self-paced online course is about understanding what marketing is and what the key actions are that are required to be successful in marketing your business.
Register here
Taking your business online
This course will help you understand available support for informed decisions on online business activities. Gain foundational knowledge and strategies on technology, social media, email, and success measurement.
Register here
Business Events
The AI Marketing Stack
This practical Melbourne Innovation Centre online workshop on 4 February 2026, focuses on optimising the tools you already use to save time, improve quality, and get immediate productivity wins.
Register to attend
Cyber Fitness Bootcamp
Join Melbourne Innovation Centre's Cyber Fitness Boot Camp on 17 February 2026 to learn practical, easy steps to strengthen your small business’s online security and stay protected in today’s digital world.
More information
More information on events can be found on the Cardinia Business website.
Grants and financial support
Breakthrough Victoria Fund
This program aims to commercialise great ideas and innovations that create jobs in emerging industries and deliver prosperity for Victoria over the next decade and beyond. It supports people and innovations from the first spark of an idea right through to companies with ambitions for large scale growth.
📽️ Click the image above to watch the video.
Tiny Towns Fund
The Tiny Towns Fund provides assistance to local communities for implementing high-quality tourism and community facility initiatives, including splash parks, bike trails, playgrounds, upgrades to community halls and libraries, public art installations, and other projects. Each town can receive funding of up to $50,000 through one or multiple proposals. The deadline for applications is February 4th, 2026.
Victorian Rural Women's Leadership and Mentoring Program
This program supports women in developing skills, confidence, and networks for leadership and decision-making to promote gender equality and empower women in agriculture and communities.
Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund
This program aims to capitalise on Victoria's competitive advantages in research, increase the efficiency of the Victorian health system and improve health outcomes for Victorians.
Business Skills Mentoring program
The Business Skills Mentoring program will provide up to 1,000 eligible small business owners with 3 one-hour mentoring sessions to be used within 3 months.
Looking for business grants and programs? Discover government grants, funding, and support for Australian businesses with the business.gov.au grants and programs finder. Answer questions to find eligible programs.
You can also register your business details at Grant Guru and receive information on grants straight into your inbox. Sign up here
Government programs and announcements
Tobacco licensing scheme
Victoria's tobacco licensing scheme has been active for over five months. Businesses are getting their licences now. Apply soon to avoid missing the deadline. Starting 1 February 2026, Tobacco Licensing Victoria will enforce the scheme. Without a licence, businesses can't sell tobacco and will face penalties if they do so.
New rules for businesses sending text messages
The way businesses and organisations send branded text messages is changing. From 1 July 2026, businesses that send branded text messages must register with the new SMS Sender ID Register.
Have your say in new Small Business Consultative Group
The Australian Government is forming the Small Business Consultative Group for small business owners to share experiences with the government. Volunteer member applications open, closing on 16 January.
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program
The SEE Program provides access to foundation skills training for all eligible Australians seeking to improve their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills, enabling them to actively participate in the economy and society.
Employment news
Workforce support for your business
The Real Jobs, Real Wages pilot is a government initiative that helps employers grow and diversify their workforce and create an inclusive and supportive working environment. Watch the webinar replay – "Real Jobs, Real Wages: Recruitment support to grow your workforce" – to learn more.
New payday super legislation
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation guarantee at the same time as salary and wages. Make sure you're across the changes.
Business operations and support initiatives
Plan and prepare for a bushfire
Businesses are encouraged to create a clear bushfire response and emergency plan that includes preparing premises, maintaining emergency kits, training staff, and establishing communication, evacuation, and record‑protection procedures.
Read more at Business Victoria - Plan and Prepare for a Bushfire.
Other useful links include:
- Welcome to CFA | CFA (Country Fire Authority)
- Create a bushfire response and emergency plan
- Preparing your business for bushfire
- Looking out for your livestock, pets and other animals
- Plan and prepare for fire | vic.gov.au
How to prepare, respond and recover from a natural disaster
Preparing your business for summer also means planning for a natural disaster. While it may seem unlikely, preparation now could save lives as well as your business.
Creating an emergency plan, reviewing your insurance, and knowing where to go for trusted information are just a few ways to prepare your business in the event of a fire, flood, or storm.
Read the Business Victoria article and get prepared
Tomato potato psyllid information for businesses
TPP was first detected in Victoria in November 2024, marking its initial detection outside Western Australia. In October 2025, it was found in Melbourne's northern suburbs. TPP targets plants from the Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae families as hosts and can also settle on non-host plants, known as 'carriers'. Victorian businesses moving TPP host or carrier plants interstate after December 8, 2025,
must follow the entry rules of destination states.
Check state import conditions for details.
Summer business checklist: tips for busy and quiet businesses
January may feel like a crossroads: one path leads to summer business opportunities, the other to beach days and barbecues with loved ones. Before taking action, review your summer strategy with Business Victoria's checklist.
Read Business Victoria's checklist
Questions? Feedback? We would love to hear from you!
Send an email to business@cardinia.vic.gov.au or visit the Cardinia Business website.
