🎉 Welcome to 2025 | 💼 Jobs and Skills Showcase | 🤝 Business Coaching | 👩🏫 FREE Workshops | 💰 Grants | 📢 Government & Employment news | ✔️ Support initiatives
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January 2025
Welcome to the January 2025 edition of the Cardinia Business Newsletter!
This month, we’re excited to bring you a range of opportunities and updates to support your business growth. From the upcoming Jobs and Skills Showcase on March 26, where you can connect with local job seekers, to free one-on-one business coaching sessions, there’s plenty to help you thrive. Don’t miss the chance to join the Community Panel and shape Cardinia Shire’s future.
Stay informed with important updates on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade and take advantage of free workshops on government grants and business planning. Explore various business grants, including the Forestry Transition Program and the Breakthrough Victoria Fellowship Program. Plus, get ready for new food safety standards and resources to prepare for extreme weather.
We’re here to support you with the latest employment news and business support initiatives, ensuring your success in 2025! If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact us via email at business@cardinia.vic.gov.au.
Local news
Register Now for the Jobs and Skills Showcase!
Attention Cardinia Shire Businesses! Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your business at the upcoming Jobs and Skills Showcase. With over 50% of the event space already booked, act fast to secure your spot!
This is your opportunity to:
- Advertise job openings
- Engage with local job seekers
- Present your business services
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
Let’s make the 2025 Cardinia Jobs and Skills Showcase the best one yet.
Apply Now for the Business Coaching Program!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new 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 business thrive.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow and succeed.
Join our community panel and help shape Cardinia Shire’s priorities for the future
Join our community panel to help shape the Council's 4-year plan and related documents. No experience needed, just a collaborative spirit to represent your community's perspectives. Panel members will attend 4 workshops in February 2025 and receive financial compensation for their input. Submit your Expression of Interest by January 22, 2025. Criteria must be met for participation.
Update on Pakenham Roads Upgrade
Last year, the Pakenham Roads Upgrade completed major works to upgrade the Princes Freeway, Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road and McGregor Road.
Construction on Racecourse Road is ongoing, with nightly closures on Racecourse Road and Bald Hill Road beginning from 7 January to prepare for major works from February.
Works on the McGregor Road citybound entry ramp are also underway, with the ramp closed from 9:30am, Tuesday 14 January until mid-March for widening. Detours in place via Southeast Boulevard and the newly upgraded Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road freeway interchange or via Henry Road and Cardinia 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
Business Victoria - Winning Government Grants and Tenders
Grow your business confidence in engaging with the government through practical tips and strategies for tender responses, quoting, and grant applications.
The topics covered include:
- How government purchases goods, services, and infrastructure
- How government approaches the market and evaluates suppliers
- Key government policies that suppliers need to know
- Tips for applying for a grant
- How to market your business' unique capabilities to the government
- Discovering additional resources
Event Details
- Date: Wednesday, 5 March 2025
- Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre
- Cost: FREE
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
Start Your Business Journey with Free Courses
Considering starting your own business but lack skills or confidence? A business skills short course could be perfect for you! Fully funded courses include Certificate III/IV in Entrepreneurship, Micro Business Skill Set, and New Business Ventures.
Free for eligible participants and online. Don’t miss this chance to gain essential knowledge for your business success.
More information on events in Cardinia Shire can be found on the Cardinia Business website.
Business Grants
Looking for business grants and programs?
For Australian businesses, use this free search to find government grants, funding, and support. Answer questions to discover eligible programs.
Forestry Transition Program
Round 2 of the Forestry Transition Fund is now open to support businesses, workers, and communities transitioning out of native timber. This round offers a $20,000 employment incentive for ex-native timber workers. Apply by 31 October 2025.
Breakthrough Victoria Fellowship Program
Breakthrough Victoria has introduced the Breakthrough Fellowship Program, a groundbreaking initiative to cultivate research entrepreneurship in Victoria. This $7.5 million program aims to create 50 new companies and generate 50 jobs, nurturing entrepreneurial talent and boosting investment opportunities for the future.
Mental Health Capital Renewal Fund
The Mental Health Capital Renewal Fund, worth $60 million, supports mental health facilities in Victoria based on Royal Commission recommendations. It enhances safety through minor infrastructure projects for carers, consumers, and staff. Submissions for the 2024-25 funding round will close at 5.00 pm on Friday 28 February 2025.
Critical Technologies Challenge Program
Can you use quantum technology to help solve challenges in biosecurity, First Nations health, transport and logistics, and energy? If you have an innovative solution, put it to the test. Applications open 15 January 2025.
Government announcements
Preparing businesses for high-risk weather seasons—Summer 2024-25
As the high-risk weather season approaches, including increased bushfire risk throughout the summer, Business Victoria recommends you check out the resources available to ensure businesses are prepared to deal with any impacts from extreme weather events.
Taking the time to plan and prepare for disasters can minimise the risk of impact and disruption, minimise losses, and support recovery.
Making It Easier To Do Business
Victoria's Economic Growth Statement aims to tackle challenges and boost economic growth through targeted initiatives in five key areas.
The statement focused on making it easier to do business and invest in Victoria. It included plans to:
- Reform regulations in the food, environment, and construction sectors
- Increase land for industrial use
- Overhaul environmental effects statements
- Lift the cap on waste to energy projects
- Build new skills
- Reach every community
New Food Safety Standards
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand have introduced new food safety and
compliance standards for berries, leafy green vegetables and melons into the national
Food Standards Code. Currently, horticulture businesses are not regulated by food safety
authorities for growing activities. When these standards come into effect from 12
February 2025, these businesses will be regulated by Agriculture Victoria.
Apply now for the Gippsland Agricultural Leadership Program.
The Gippsland Agricultural Leadership Program will run for the first time in 2025, equipping local farmers, land managers, and agricultural industry professionals with the skills to think innovatively in addressing the evolving challenges in the agriculture sector.
Applications close Friday, 31 January 2025
Melbourne To Host One Of The World's Largest Business Events
Melbourne will host the 14th World Chambers Congress from September 2-4, 2025, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. This event, known as the ‘Business Olympics’, will attract 2,000 global business leaders and international delegations, highlighting Victoria’s business opportunities. This is the first time Melbourne will host the event, which was last held in Australia in 2017.
Changes for businesses from 1 January 2025
As the new year begins, several important changes will affect businesses.
Victorian Wine Strategy
The strategy aims to boost the wine sector, promote tourism, create jobs, and drive economic growth through comprehensive and inclusive measures.
Employment news
Business protections in place as criminal underpayment law starts.
Small business employers should be assured that honest efforts to pay the right wages and other entitlements for their employees can protect them from prosecution now that criminal underpayment laws are in effect.
Changes to entry-level classifications in awards
Some awards have new definitions and minimum pay rates for entry-level classifications from 2025.
Find out if your award is affected at List of affected awards. Make sure you also check whether the changes take effect from 1 January or 1 April 2025 for you.
Business support initiatives
TradeStart Network
The TradeStart network assists small and medium-sized exporters to achieve long-term success in international markets.
It offers exporters the combined resources of Austrade and partner organisations from export markets, providing local assistance and a direct link to Austrade’s Go Global Toolkit and overseas network.
Tools for small businesses to manage taxes and superannuation
Australian Taxation Office – Small Business Information service offers a range of free tools to help small businesses get their tax and superannuation correct.
Questions? Feedback? We would love to hear from you! Send an email to business@cardinia.vic.gov.au, or visit the Cardinia Business website.
