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10 April 2025
In this edition of Business Link, find out how you can share your insights with local businesses, plus explore training, events, and support to help your business thrive.
Do you have Business Insights to Share?
Do you have a topic you think every local business should know more about? Whether it’s based on your lived experience or professional expertise, we’d love to hear from you. It could be anything from social media and marketing to scaling up—or even staying sane while running a business!
Mount Alexander Micro and Small Business Day is happening on Thursday 27 June, and we’re inviting local experts, business owners and service providers to get involved. You might want to host a workshop, lead a masterclass, join a panel, or have a table in the expo space.
This is a fantastic opportunity to share your knowledge, connect with others, and contribute to our thriving local business community.
To express your interest, simply email us a short overview (up to 150 words) outlining your idea before COB on the 17th of April.
Less Rain, More Pressure: Rural Financial Counsellors Step In
Over the last year Castlemaine has recorded 24% (140mm) less rainfall than the long-term average and farmers across the shire are feeling the impact.
As seasons grow more unpredictable, support services like the Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria – West (RFCS) are proving essential. Business Link spoke with David Stafford, CEO of RFCS to learn how they’re supporting farmers, rural small businesses, and regional communities through financial challenges, change, and recovery.
“The RFCS is a not-for-profit organisation. Our team of financial and wellbeing counsellors offers free, confidential, and independent support to people impacted by drought, bushfires, floods, economic downturn, health issues, and family pressures,” David explains. “Many of us have farming or financial backgrounds ourselves — and we live and work in the communities we serve.”
The RFCS can assist you with:
- Understanding your financial position
- Navigating government support and grant options
- Negotiating with banks, creditors, and insurers
- Creating cash flow budgets
- Developing practical strategies to stabilise and strengthen your business
- Building wellbeing strategies that support your mental health and resilience
A recent RFCS client shared: "The RFCS helps you work through all the things you don't think of. When you're in dire straits, you don't always know the different avenues you can take.”
Central Goldfields Village Business Expo - 9 May
There’s still time to secure your spot in the exhibition hall at the upcoming Village Business Expo – a vibrant regional event designed to bring together over 200 business owners, industry leaders and decision-makers from across the region.
Driven by Maldon local and social entrepreneur Luz Restrepo OAM, this year’s Expo builds on the success of last year’s event, offering fresh opportunities for small and micro businesses to connect, learn and thrive.
The day will feature inspiring panel discussions, one-on-one mentoring, hands-on networking activities – and Biz Networking Bingo! With over 30 businesses already signed up, only a handful of exhibitor spaces remain.
📍 Location: Maryborough Harness Club
📅 Date: Friday 9 May 2025
⏰ Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Council Plan input cut-off date is 22nd April
Time is running out for our business community to contribute to the Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP)!
This is your final chance to directly shape the priorities that will guide Council’s work over the next four years – including support for local businesses, infrastructure, economic development and community wellbeing.
Every piece of feedback will influence the final plans. Whether you take part in a face-to-face session or complete the short online survey, your input will help set the direction for our Shire.
Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape a stronger future for Mount Alexander.
SisterWorks - Small Business Empowerment Program
SisterWorks is launching a free 7-week Small Business Empowerment Program in Bendigo.
Designed specifically for migrant, asylum seeker, and refugee women, this course offers foundational knowledge for starting or growing a business.
Participants will benefit from one-on-one mentoring, opportunities to sell products through SisterWorks retail shops, and access to a supportive network of experienced mentors and business resources.
Sessions run weekly in Bendigo.
📍 Location: Yo Bendigo Bldg, 45 Mundy Street, Bendigo 3550
📅 Start date: Wednesday 23 April 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00am - 2:30pm
Got an ag-tech idea?
LaunchVic are calling on local innovators to join the Circular Agriculture Challenge—a six-week program helping early-stage entrepreneurs turn ideas into impactful, sustainable ag-tech solutions.
Think reducing farm waste, creating new value from by-products, or using tech to boost efficiency. Selected teams receive $15,000 equity-free funding, mentoring, and access to ag industry experts. Two teams will go on to receive $35,000 to grow their ideas further.
Training Course: Day to Day Management and Supervision of Staff
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry course is tailored for individuals new to management or those who have transitioned into supervisory roles without formal training.
This program offers practical tools and strategies to enhance leadership capabilities, focusing on effective staff supervision, performance management, and motivation techniques. By participating, you'll gain valuable insights to foster a productive work environment and drive team success. For more details and registration, visit the Victorian Chamber's website.
📍 Location: 286 Napier Street Bendigo VIC 3550 Australia
📅 Start date: Wednesday 28 May 2025
⏰ Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
💵 Cost: $695 (members) / $910 (non members)
Good news stories
We love featuring good news stories from businesses across the shire.
If your business has any recent achievements or awards, email business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au so we can feature the good news in Business Link.
What's On
Stay up-to-date and sign up to the What's On newsletter here. Discover things to see and do, and all the best places to eat, drink and stay across the region via our tourism website.
Click here to add your own event.
For updates on local events and things to do, follow Castlemaine, Maldon and Surrounds on Facebook and Instagram.
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Mount Alexander Shire Council
email: business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au web: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au
Mount Alexander Shire Council acknowledges that the traditional custodians of this
land, the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, proudly survive. We acknowledge their continued practice of custom and their close cultural, spiritual, physical, social, historical and economic relationship with the land and waters that make up
their country, which includes Mount Alexander Shire.