📢 Jobs and Skills Showcase | 💰 Business Group Support Grants | 🤝 Cardinia Business Coaching Program | 👩🏫 Business Workshops | 📋 Government Announcements | 💻 Employment News | 🤗 Business support initiatives
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February 2025
Welcome to the February edition of the Cardinia Business Newsletter!
This month, we bring you a range of opportunities and updates to help your business succeed. Highlights include the Jobs and Skills Showcase, where you can exhibit your business, and the Business Group Support Grants, offering funding for community initiatives. Additionally, take advantage of the free Business Coaching Program and the enhanced Casey Cardinia Jobs portal for simplified recruitment.
Stay informed about the Pakenham Roads Upgrade and upcoming workshops on government grants, Canva’s AI tools, and business planning. Discover various business grants and funding opportunities, and keep up with the latest government announcements and employment news, including reports on the Australian labour market and food supply chain workforce.
Dive into this edition for all the details and make the most of these fantastic opportunities! If you have any inquiries, please get in touch with us via email at business@cardinia.vic.gov.au.
Local news
Register now for the Jobs and Skills Showcase!
Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your business at the upcoming Jobs and Skills Showcase. Limited exhibitor spaces remain, so act fast!
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Blvd., Pakenham
- Cost: $30.00 per business/exhibitor
Business Group Support Grants—NOW OPEN
The Cardinia Business Group Support Grant Program is a funding program open to incorporated business groups and trader organisations operating within Cardinia Shire to implement initiatives to support the business community, stimulate growth, and foster economic prosperity.
Grant applications close 5pm, Friday 28 February 2025.
Cardinia Business Coaching Program
We’re thrilled to invite Cardinia Shire businesses to participate in the Business Coaching Program. This is your chance to:
- Receive free, one-on-one, tailored coaching
- Get matched with one of our seven industry-expert business coaches
- Address your unique business needs
Our coaches bring a wealth of local knowledge and experience from diverse industries, ready to help your Cardinia business thrive.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow and succeed.
Free Hiring Solution for Your Business
Local businesses can now take advantage of the enhanced Casey Cardinia Jobs portal, a valuable resource at their fingertips.
This user-friendly online platform provides an efficient and free method to hire skilled local employees, simplifying recruitment efforts and supporting community development.
Update on Pakenham Roads Upgrade
Upgrade work on Princes Freeway, Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, and McGregor Road finished in late 2024. Early stages of Racecourse Road Upgrade are underway. Nightly and weekend closures planned for Racecourse Road and Bald Hill Road in February. McGregor Road citybound entry ramp closed until mid-March for widening; detours available via Southeast Boulevard or Henry Road.
For updates, visit Pakenham Road Upgrade page or contact Major Road Projects Victoria or subscribe at roadprojects.vic.gov.au/subscribe or text PKHM to 0499 073 073 for updates.
Boost your Business Workshops
Winning Government Grants and Tenders Workshop
Boost your business confidence in government interactions with practical tips on tender responses, quoting, and grant applications. Topics include government procurement processes, supplier evaluation, key policies, grant application advice, showcasing your business to the government, and finding extra resources.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday March 5 2025
- Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre
- Cost: FREE
Designing with Canva - Automate content with Canva's AI tools
Streamline your workflow with Canva's new AI tools to save time and boost productivity. Learn about innovative workflows, speed up design processes, and excel in digital design. Discover how to use Canva's latest AI tools effectively, leverage the Magic Studio suite for easy designing, and create content efficiently for stronger brand presence.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday 18 March 2025
- Time: 10:00 am to 01:00 pm
- Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre
- Cost: FREE
This workshop delivered in collaboration with Melbourne Innovation Centre, as part of the Digital Solutions Program.
Business Plan Accelerator Workshop
The Business Plan Accelerator Workshop is designed for business owners to accelerate the development of a business plan to support individual business objectives.
Event details
- Dates: 28 & 29 April 2025
- Time: 9.00 am – 3.30 pm
- Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre
- Cost: FREE
More information on events can be found on the Cardinia Business website.
Business Grants
Looking for business grants and programs?
Discover government grants, funding, and support for Australian businesses by using this free search tool. Answer questions to find eligible programs.
Creative Projects Fund
Music Works Grants support Victorian music industry professionals in all genres and career stages for creative or commercial projects, covering new works, collaborations, development, marketing, tour support.
10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund
The Victorian Gig Fund offers grants up to $11,000 for licensed live music venues in Victoria or those hosting live performances in outer-metropolitan or regional areas to cover artists' fees.
Creative Projects Fund
The Creative Projects Fund backs projects by Victorian artists, groups, and organisations collaborating with creative and non-creative personnel.
NAIDOC Local Grants Now Open!
Do you have any events planned for National NAIDOC Week (6-13 July) to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of First Nations peoples? Past grants have funded activities like flag-raising ceremonies, storytelling, cultural displays, language programs, bush tucker gardens, etc.
Government announcements
Give your business some love this Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air, so today is the perfect day to give your business a little love too. Spend some time working on your business rather than in it.
Check out these tips to give your business some love.
Guidance for businesses that sell second-hand products online
If you run a business selling second-hand products online you must make sure these products meet basic rights called consumer guarantees, including that they are safe. New guidance on the ACCC Product Safety website can help you understand your responsibilities.
Cyber Security Training for Small Businesses
Protect your business in 2025 with the Cyber Wardens Foundations free 20-minute introductory webinar specially designed for small businesses. This session will help you identify the key cyber security red flags that could pose a risk to your operations.
Start 2025 strong: new year, new skills
Invest in your employee’s future and set your business up for long-term success. The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program provides a practical and cost-free way to upskill your workforce’s language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.
Mandating cash acceptance
While people are using digital payments more, there is an ongoing place for cash in society. Have your say on mandatory acceptance of cash for the purchase of essential items by 14 February 2025.
National Small Business Strategy
The National Small Business Strategy outlines how different levels of government will work together to better support Australia’s nearly 2.6 million small businesses.
Employment news
Australian Labour Market for Migrants January 2025 report out now
The January 2025 ALMM report provides a detailed assessment of Australia’s labour market performance over the past year. While the report shows that the labour market remains strong overall, some indicators suggest a softening in conditions.
Securing the food supply chain workforce a priority for the future
The report by Jobs and Skills Australia outlines strategic approaches to securing Australia’s food supply through workforce planning, emphasising the significance of a skilled workforce for the resilience and sustainability of the food supply chain. It provides actionable recommendations across eight key themes.
Business support initiatives
Business Energy Tips
Boost your business' energy efficiency, cut costs, and support the environment with Business Energy Tips. Discover effective ways to save energy, reduce expenses, and make a positive impact on the planet.
Victorian Energy Upgrades for businesses
The VEU program provides businesses with discounts on energy-efficient products, cutting costs and reducing emissions. It has helped over 141,000 businesses upgrade since 2009.
Make your business greener in 2025!
Learn 5 simple, expert-backed ways to reduce energy use and increase sustainability with Sustainability Victoria.
Online tools for employers and their representatives
Join the Fair Work Ombudsman's webinar for a demonstration of their website and top tools. These tools can help with calculating the right level of pay, employing staff, record keeping and ending employment.
Learn about your rights and obligations
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has an online education program designed to help small businesses learn more about their rights and obligations under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Questions? Feedback? We would love to hear from you! Send an email to business@cardinia.vic.gov.au, or visit the Cardinia Business website.
