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9 October 2025
In this edition of Business Link - last chance to vote for your favourite local business, the Self-Employment Assistance program, Edgy Veg, plus networking, workshop and grant opportunities.
Last chance to vote for your favourite local business!
Voting is about to close for the Mount Alexander Business Awards' People's Choice category.
The awards celebrate the people and enterprises that drive positive change in our local economy – through innovation, care, sustainability and community connection.
The People's Choice category is a chance to show your favourite business some love.
📅 Voting closes on Sunday 12 October.
Got a business idea? Learn about the Self-Employment Assistance Program
Asuria delivers the Workforce Australia – Self-Employment Assistance program in our shire, offering free support to help you start or grow a small business. Services include business advice sessions, workshops, business plan development, accredited training, and up to 12 months of personalised coaching. Eligible participants may also access financial support. We spoke to Elly Jenkins from Asuria to learn more about this federal government program.
Can you give us a quick overview of the Self-Employment Assistance program – what it is, who it’s for, and what kinds of support are available for participants?
For more than 10 years, we’ve been helping people turn their business dreams into reality. Today, over 2,000 individuals are starting or growing their own small businesses. Asuria and the Self-Employment Assistance Program provides all the necessary groundwork for new and existing small businesses, and offers flexible services that best suit your needs, including exploring self-employment workshops, small business training, business advice session, business health check and small business coaching.
What are some of the key benefits for people who take part – whether they’re starting a new business, growing an existing one, or turning an idea into something more?
The program empowers participants to turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into achievable, sustainable realities backed by expert support every step of the way. Whether someone is developing an idea, growing an existing business, or relaunching after a career change, the program provides the flexibility and support needed to take the next step with confidence. The program provides personalised guidance on your business as well as financial support through government assistance for eligible participants.
How can someone in the Mount Alexander region get involved – and what should they do if they’re interested in applying or finding out more?
If you’re a small business with four or fewer employees, or an individual looking to start your own business in the Mount Alexander region, Asuria’s Self-Employment Assistance Program is here to support you. Reach out to our friendly customer service team to find out how we can help you take the next step in your business journey.
Ask for local mentors based in Castlemaine, Ramesh Singaram and Tony Ciancio, on 1800 773 338.
If you’d like to learn more about how the program can help people just like you, check out Start Me Up, a brand-new TV series that celebrates the bold Australians turning big ideas into thriving small businesses.
Asuria is a Silver Partner of the Mount Alexander Business Awards 2025, presenting the award for Outstanding Workplace.
Mount Alexander Shire food businesses – it’s your time to shine!
The Edgy Veg Awards are back – a month-long celebration of creativity, flavour and veg-forward food. Whether you’re a café, restaurant, pub, winery or bar, the Edgy Veg Awards are your chance to show off your most vegelicious creations. Do you have a plant-based dish that wows omnivores and vegans alike? Want to put your business on the map?
Compete for the title of the Most Vegelicious Dish and gain community recognition, new customers, and a spotlight on your commitment to health and the environment.
Sign up now – and help make plant-based food delicious, fun, and unforgettable!
Cyber Security Awareness
IDCARE provides the federal government's Small Business Cyber Resilience Service which helps small businesses respond to cyber incidents and build resilience to scams, identity fraud, fake invoicing and other cyber risks.
With the spotlight on cyber security in October, it's a great time to get free help:
- A free cyber health check to measure cyber resilience and identify risks.
- One-on-one consultations with cyber advisors.
- Access to cyber psychology support.
- Ongoing resources, tips, and action plans to lift cyber maturity.
Explore the weekly themes of Cyber Security Awareness Month and take action to improve your cyber security.
Long Paddock Cheese wins again
The awards keep coming for Long Paddock Cheese & the Cheese School.
In this year's Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards, they took out Champion Cheese for their semi-hard Banksia. Congratulations to the team!
Have your say on the future of food safety regulation in Victoria
The Victorian Government is streamlining food safety regulation by establishing a new, independent regulator – Safe Food Victoria – to deliver food safety regulation more efficiently. Reform will consolidate these food safety regulators and the legislative framework they operate under.
Public consultation is now open and closes on 17 October 2025. Contribute by completing a survey or making a submission.
📅 Wednesday 29 October 2025
🕔 5.30 - 7.30pm
💲BMA members free, $15 for non-members
'Meet the Finalists' Business Mount Alexander networking event
As an official Silver Partner for Mount Alexander Business Awards 2025, Toyota Castlemaine is teaming up with Business Mount Alexander and Council to host a special networking event.
Mount Alexander Business Awards finalists will be announced on 17 October. Come and spend an evening with them and connect with fellow professionals in the new Toyota Castlemaine showroom.
ACA is hosting its first regional event in Victoria - in Castlemaine
The Association of Consulting Architects Australia (ACA) is holding an event exploring the business and sustainability of practice and projects in the regions. Architects and allied professionals are invited to strengthen their practice and build connections over an exciting two-day program.
📅 25 - 26 October 2025
Sustainability Victoria Market Accelerator grant
Sustainability Victoria has launched a new funding round to help bring recycled‑material innovations to market. Funding will be targeted toward projects that improve the markets for priority and/or problematic recycled materials including organics, plastics, paper/cardboard, tyres, glass, textiles, e-waste (including solar PV), batteries and other problematic material streams.
Businesses, social enterprises, charities and non-profits are eligible to apply.
💲Grants of $15,000 - $50,000 (ex GST) are available per project
📅 Applications close on 5 November 2025.
International markets: real time insights & exporter tools
Global Victoria, in partnership with Austrade TradeStart services and Regional Development Victoria, is running a series of free in-person workshops across regional Victoria.
All Victorian businesses are welcome, from export beginners to experienced traders. Businesses focusing on food and beverage, manufacturing and other goods for export will benefit most.
📍Bendigo GovHub
📅 Tuesday 21 October 2025
🕔 9.00am - 2.00pm
💲Free
Focus on Mental Health
October is Mental Health Month, a time when the Australian community comes together to raise awareness and promote better mental health for all.
Organising mental health training, presentations, and eLearning programs for your workplace helps share the latest information available in the mental health sector to increase our shared understanding of the challenges we face as a community.
Blackdog Institute offers a huge range of workplace programs and services, plus a variety of webinars and resources available free and on-demand.
It's National Safe Work Month
This year’s theme - safety: every job, every day - encourages all workplaces, regardless of occupation, industry, location, and size, to prioritise safety in their job every day.
Access resources from Safe Work Australia that will help your business identify hazards, assess & control risks and review controls.
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.
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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.